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COPD management programs represent an opportunity to reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes, as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is one of the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. By 2020, it is expected to become the third-leading cause of death and the fifth-leading cause of disability-adjusted life years.

In 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) added COPD to its Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program as a target for improved care and cost savings. At the time, 1 in 5 COPD patients were being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Unless these patients are monitored through COPD management programs, the likely of reducing hospital readmissions and associated healthcare costs is slim.

Cardeum can help you design and implement COPD management programs that will reduce both hospital readmissions and healthcare costs.

Patients with COPD may suffer recurrent exacerbations, with a worsening of symptoms and reduction in lung function that may not be recovered in a small proportion of patients. Long-term chronic disease self-management is an extremely important skill that patients and family members need to learn. The adoption of lifestyle changes and new health habits is also important to improving the quality of life for patients with COPD.

Cardeum’s COPD management programs empower patients to care for their own disease and engage more efficiently with their healthcare providers. Our remote patient monitoring programs have seen significant improvement for patient populations and includes:

• A telehealth device in the home
• Daily monitoring of vital signs
• Individualized coaching
• Timely patient education
• Medication compliance
• A specialized clinical team trained in chronic disease management

The Cardeum ehealth program addresses the reasons self-management of the disease fails.

Our Approach to COPD Management Programs

Our programs focus on the timely transfer of clinical data alerts when patients with COPD start to exacerbate. Typically, symptoms worsen for three to five days before an exacerbation needs treatment, so this window of opportunity can lead to earlier interventions and reduced hospitalizations. The aim of our COPD management programs is to improve symptoms, avoiding hospital admissions, or reducing length of stay. Through education, coaching, and medical monitoring program design, Cardeum can work with employees, patients, and the at-risk population to manage and prevent health issues related to COPD.

Program Participant Results

Our programs have seen results that include the lessening of the need for home visits, which allows better use of limited staff time and resources without compromising care. Through one-on-one coaching, our programs have also improved patients’ knowledge and motivated them to change behaviors that help them manage their illness. Education combined with telemonitoring provides people the comfort level to feel more secure with this disease while staying in their home.