Hospital stays differ widely between patients and depend on the reason for hospitalization. Patients with heart failure should be discharged from the hospital when:

• Symptoms of heart failure have been adequately controlled
• Reversible causes of morbidity have been treated or stabilized
• Patients and caregivers have been educated about medications, diet, activity and exercise recommendations, and symptoms of worsening heart failure
• Adequate outpatient support and follow-up care have been arranged