Contributed in part by: Timothy Malinowski Jr. MS, APRN, AGPCNP-BC

Proactive Heart Failure Management Lowers HF Readmissions to 13% at 90 Days

At ACC.25, Timothy Malinowski presented strategies for remote heart failure management. In this article, learn how new technology cuts HF readmission rates, review the clinical data, and see how it was implemented in a major heart failure program.

Cutting heart failure readmissions: The proven impact of remote patient monitoring

High rates of heart failure (HF) readmission remain a significant clinical and financial burden. ZOLL Heart Failure Management System (HFMS) reduces 90-day HF readmissions by 38%.¹ At ACC.25, Timothy Malinowski presented a use case of how his clinic utilized remote patient monitoring to prevent readmission for 74 of 85 heart failure patients after 90 days.

Key challenges prescribers face

Fewer than 10% of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) receive guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) at 100% target doses.^2,3
~1 in 3 heart failure patients are readmitted within 3 months. 90% of which can be attributed to fluid overload^4,5
Heart Failure is one of the 6 conditions listed in the CMS Hospital Readmissions Reductions Program (HRRP) which risks 1-3% of total Medicare reimbursements based on performance in reducing readmissions.⁶

There is a need for remote patient monitoring to help these patients and those who care for them.

From reactive to proactive: ZOLL Heart Failure Management System (HFMS)

ZOLL HFMS offers non-invasive, short-term remote patient monitoring, designed to detect fluid shifts before symptoms escalate.

How it works: A patch-based device emits radar waves to measure interstitial edema. Changes in signal strength and path are analyzed by ZOLL and are sent to the prescriber via an alert.
Who it’s for: Patients who have had a hypervolemic event or those undergoing titration of diuretics or GDMT where close volume status monitoring is beneficial.
Who it’s not for: Patients experiencing symptomatic volume overload and/or being actively monitored by an implanted device

The BMAD Trial demonstrated that use of ZOLL HFMS results in a 38% relative risk reduction in HF readmissions at 90 days after a HF hospitalization. Follow-up results show a lasting 29% readmission reduction out to one year.⁷ Original results were presented as a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.23 with 90-day results published in JACC Heart Failure.

1-year results of the Benefits of MicroCor in Ambulatory Decompensated Heart Failure (BMAD) trial demonstrate that the use of ZOLL Heart Failure Management System* (HFMS) in clinical practice reduces heart failure readmissions by 29% at one year.

Use Case: ZOLL HFMS results in a South Carolina heart failure program

A major heart failure program in South Carolina is staffed by an APRN (Timothy Malinowski) and two RNs, who remotely manage ~800 HF patients per year. Using various monitoring devices including ZOLL HFMS, they monitor for early signs of HF exacerbation. Outcomes:

120 patients received ZOLL HFMS in 2024
85 patients activated the device (71%)
74/85 (87%) patients had zero heart failure readmissions within 90 days
These results align with the broader evidence published JACC: Heart Failure, which shows a 38% relative risk reduction in HF readmissions at 90 days.

From Timothy Malinowski: “Looking at our data compared to just standard treatment without any monitoring, this 90-day data and this 30-day data at our hospital system was better to the point that our hospital system really wants to look at expanding this.”

Get ahead of fluid build up with ZOLL HFMS

Proactive monitoring strategies are essential for any heart care team looking to improve the patient and provider experience.

ZOLL HFMS offers significant advantages in the care of HF patients:

Evidence-Based: Clinically proven to reduce 90-day and 1-year HF readmissions
Improved Outcomes: Helps keep patients euvolemic and out of the hospital
Convenient: Non-invasive and shipped to the patient’s home
Efficient: ZOLL manages the data and sends timely alerts

LEARN MORE ABOUT ZOLL HFMS Request Info

References

Boehmer, J, Cremer, S, Abo-Auda, W. et al. Impact of a Novel Wearable Sensor on Heart Failure Rehospitalization: An Open-Label Concurrent-Control Clinical Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol HF. 2024 Dec, 12 (12) 2011–2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchf.2024.07.022
Greene, S, Butler, J, Albert, N. et al. Medical Therapy for Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: The CHAMP-HF Registry. 2018 Jul, 72 (4) 351–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.070
Do et al. 2024. Comorbidities and determinants of heath on heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy adherence: All of us. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200351
Khan MS, Sreenivasan J, Lateef N, et al. Trends in 30- and 90-Day Readmission Rates for Heart Failure. Circ Heart Fail. 2021;14(4):e008335.
Fonarow GC, Abraham WT, Albert NM, et al. Factors identified as precipitating hospital admissions for heart failure and clinical outcomes: findings from OPTIMIZE-HF. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(8):847-854.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024, September 10). Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).
Boehmer, J. (2025) Reduced heart failure rehospitalization at 1 year for patients wearing a radiofrequency based sensor [Abstract]. In Proceedings of the THT 2025 Conference. Boston, MA.

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