Respiratory care
-
Editorial Comment
Can Respiratory Therapists Impact COPD Readmissions and Costs?
-
In the United States, care for COPD patients is frequently delivered by respiratory therapists (RTs). After implementing a therapist-driven protocol for COPD treatment, we sought to improve identification of COPD patients. We hypothesized that using an electronic medical record screening tool to identify subjects with COPD combined with a therapist-driven protocol would positively impact length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates. ⋯ Utilization of the electronic medical record to identify subjects with likely COPD combined with a therapist-driven protocol directed by RT assessment was associated with a trend toward decreased LOS and reduction in readmission rates. There was a significant reduction of respiratory-triggered rapid responses in subjects with a primary diagnosis of COPD.