New Program Reduces COPD Hospital Readmissions

A treatment plan designed to help hospitals reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) related readmissions and costs also improves patient outcomes and quality of life.

The COPD Seamless Treatment and Exacerbation Prevention (STEP) Plan, a partnership between Nonin Medical (Minneapolis, MN, USA) and Tri-anim Health Services (Dublin, OH, USA), includes a four-pillar approach based on successful COPD treatment and management programs already in practice:
Care-team alignment—full alignment between hospital administration and clinical staff, a trained hospital COPD coordinator, coordination with the primary physician, and full patient participation in care;
In-patient hospital care plan—accurate diagnosis and treatment, in-patient training on home equipment, and daily rituals using the "teach back" method;
Outpatient home care plan—"daily rituals" activity plan, rapid access to the clinician for patients experiencing signs of exacerbation or relapse, and patient contact post discharge as needed to assure plan and medication adherence;
Home-care devices—home oxygen (including lightweight portable oxygen) supply, a pulse oximeter, an airway clearance device, and a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) spacer, as needed.

“Most hospitals have programs to treat the acute aspects of COPD, but post-discharge programs supporting the chronic disease aspects tend to fall short,” said Rick Eagle, vice president of sales at Nonin Medical. “Nonin's COPD STEP Plan addresses both the acute treatment and chronic management aspects of the disease by providing a seamless transitional care plan from hospital to home to clinic.”

“November is national COPD awareness month, and Nonin's COPD STEP Plan is just the latest example of our shared commitment to providing value-added products and programs that reduce costs and make a positive impact on patient care,” said Fred Hunter, vice president of marketing for Tri-anim Health Services.

COPD is a debilitating lung disease, the third-leading cause of death worldwide, and prevalence is increasing as baby boomers reach the prime age for disease manifestation. In the US, 20% of patients who are hospitalized for COPD flare-ups are readmitted within 30 days, representing a significant cost for most US hospitals using current care models. In fact, readmission rates are so high that the Affordable Care Act (ACA, colloquially known as ObamaCare) fined over 78% of U.S. hospitals for their readmission performance related to COPD during 2015.

Related Links:
Nonin Medical
Tri-anim Health Services