The Heart Foundation has launched an app it says is about bridging a gap in patient care by providing doctors, nurses and pharmacists with easy access to cardiology guidelines.
It says the new Smart Heart Guidelines app provides access to clinical guidelines for heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndromes.
According to Heart Foundation Clinical Evidence Manager, Cia Connell, the app is a valuable clinical decision aid for health professionals across the country.
The Heart Foundation’s clinical practice guidelines are developed in partnership with the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
“By using the Smart Heart Guidelines app to access our guidelines, you can be sure you are providing the best evidence-based care for every patient with heart failure, atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes,” said Ms Connell.
“It’s ideal for time-poor health professionals to use in their daily work because you can refer to the information you need quickly and easily on your mobile phone or tablet.
“We know gaps exist between guideline recommendations and current practice in hospital and community settings, so this is a tool to help close those practice gaps and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.”
The free medical app features interactive algorithms and calculators to guide decision-making and is designed for easy navigation to specific sections of the guidelines.
More than half a million Australians are living with AF, while an estimated 110,000 people are living with heart failure.
The latest figures show an estimated 375,000 Australians have had a heart attack, and 230,000 have experienced angina.
“The widespread impact of heart disease highlights the importance of ensuring patient care is in line with current recommendations, whether that be during a visit to hospital, a GP clinic or local pharmacy,” said Ms Connell.
“The Smart Heart Guidelines app can help achieve this by improving access to our guidelines, which are nationally recognised as best practice in the diagnosis and management of heart diseases.”
Health professionals can download the Smart Heart Guidelines app for free via the Apple App Store and Google Play.