Implementation of an information and education program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly reduces the number of hospitalizations and can save Canadians millions of dollars.

This is evidenced by the results of a pilot study conducted by scientists from the Queen Elizabeth II Center for Health Sciences (Halifax, Nova Scotia).

Study author Dr. Graham Roker said at a CHEST meeting that ER visits dropped by 62% and hospital admissions fell by 68% among participants in a new COPD patient support program..

In total, the program saved $749,000 for 89 participants over a 6-month trial, and only in direct hospital costs.. This is 3 times less than the cost of implementing the entire program.

“This is a program that I believe will benefit a large number of patients.. It sets new standards that we are implementing across the region,” said Dr. Roker.

Dr. Michael Christian, of the University of Toronto, noted that in the United States, the savings from such a program would be much greater, because the cost of hospitalization in Canada is lower than in the United States.. True, to the last statement, Dr. Gulshan Sharma (University of Texas) answered from the audience that “now everyone is struggling with this”.

Today, Medicare introduces penalties for a high readmission rate within 30 days of a patient's discharge, so US hospitals are trying their best to implement the most effective treatments that reduce the rate of return of patients..

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Dr. Rocker said that while the program is limited to a 20-mile radius from the hospital, it brings great benefits to people in rural areas where patients traditionally feel isolated..

The INSPIRED program includes the support of a multidisciplinary team of specialists that identifies and contacts patients with COPD in the hospital every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, and then monthly for 3 months.

Patient interaction includes:.

• Home visit and consultation shortly after discharge.

• Training of the patient and his family members, guardians.

• Drawing up a written action plan for exacerbation of COPD.

• Drawing up a written plan of action in case of an attack.

The program was developed taking into account the opinion of Dr. Rocker and other well-known experts in the field of COPD. Post-study interviews with 18 program participants showed that people learned to better control their symptoms, became less anxious and more confident in their health..

If we talk about objective indicators, then the number of visits to the emergency department fell from 173 to 66 within six months, that is, a decrease of 62%. The number of hospitalizations decreased from 107 to 37, i.e. by 68%.

Inpatient days dropped from 1,129 to 382, \u200b\u200bsaving $749,000 in hospital costs alone.

medbe. en.