 
Heart failure is a major health problem in the United States. It is a condition that affects nearly 5.7 million Americans causing over 1 million hospitalizations every year. There are approximately 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year, and it is the leading cause of hospitalizations of people over 65 years of age. Heart failure patients can enjoy better health and quality of life by learning about heart failure and symptom management.
At Doylestown Hospital we are committed to providing extensive care to patients with all types of heart disease. It is the mission of the Heart Failure Program to provide high quality, comprehensive services to heart failure patients and their families in a caring, responsive, healing environment. We provide this through utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of the heart failure patient to promote self-management and wellness in the community.
The Heart Failure guidelines used at Doylestown Hospital for the diagnosis and management of heart failure are from a joint effort of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA).
Doylestown Hospital participates in the AHA's Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) program. This is a hospital-based quality improvement program designed to ensure up-to-date, evidence-based care for heart failure patients. Strategies employed in the GWTG-HF have proven successful in lowering 30-day mortality rates and readmissions in heart failure patients. In 2012, Doylestown Hospital achieved the Gold Award through this program.
In addition, Doylestown Hospital has been awarded Advanced Heart Failure Certification by The Joint Commission (Nov. 2010). Certification is based on compliance with consensus-based national standards, effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care, and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.
Heart Failure Program Coordinator
Christine Passarelli, RN, BSN
cpassarelli@dh.org
215-345-2917
Physician Champions
Renee Sangrigoli, MD (215) 345-6050
Medical School: Temple University
Residency: Temple University Hospital
Fellowship: Temple University Hospital
Richard Mascolo, MD (215) 345-1900
Medical School: SUNY-Syracuse Coll. of Medicine
Residency: University of Massachusetts Hospital
Fellowship: University of Massachusetts Hospital
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