Impact of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Stewardship Program on COPD Patients, Quality Improvement Project

Authors

Salem N. Thabet, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Muhammad A. Naveed, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Mamta S. Chhabria, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Leela K. Boppana, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Michael N. Gurell, Rochester Regional HealthFollow

Department

Internal Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has multiple benefits in COPD patients. There are multiple barriers to utilize PR including lack of knowledge about the benefits of PR by providers.

Objective: We are conducting a Quality Improvement project to improve the referral rate of patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD to PR.

Methods: All patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of acute exacerbation of COPD requiring systemic steroids to Rochester General Hospital in the period between 7/1/2019 and 7/31/2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Between 7/15/2020 and 11/15/2020, we started a PR stewardship program, where we daily review patients hospitalized with acute COPD exacerbation, and then a note will be placed in the chart for the primary team to consider referring patients to PR upon discharge, patients' charts were reviewed after discharge. The rate of referral before and after the intervention was compared.

Results: During the pre-intervention period, 16 patients (mean age 67.7) with confirmed COPD by spirometry were hospitalized for COPD exacerbation, among them only 2 were referred to PR upon discharge (12.5%). During the post intervention period, 16 patients (mean age 65.0) were admitted with acute COPD exacerbation, among them 10 were referred to PR upon discharge (62.5%) [50% difference (16.5%-71%, 95% CI), P value = 0.004].

Conclusion: In our QI improvement project, we conclude that having a PR stewardship program to review patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbation significantly improves the referral rate to PR, and might help to improve utilization of those programs by patients who need them.

First Page

110

Last Page

112

DOI

10.55729/2000-9666.1024

Volume

12

Issue

1

Publication Date

1-31-2022

PubMed ID

35711879

Recommended Citation

Thabet, S. N., Naveed, M. A., Chhabria, M. S., Boppana, L. K., & Gurell, M. N. (2022). Impact of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Stewardship Program on COPD Patients, Quality Improvement Project. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, 12 (1), 110-112. https://doi.org/10.55729/2000-9666.1024