Handheld Ultrasound Evaluation of the Inferior Vena Cava to Guide Heart Failure Treatment

The purpose of this study is to see if using a portable handheld ultrasound to guide diuretic therapy for heart failure patients will prevent hospital readmissions. This study will use a handheld ultrasound called a Vscan to look at a large vessel in the body called the Inferior Vena Cava (a vein leading to your heart) . The study aims to see whether changing diuretic therapy based on the size of this vessel will result in the less hospitalizations for heart failure patients as compared to just symptom guided therapy. This study is composed of two independent non-interacting trials-one in the outpatient setting and one in the inpatient setting.