Enhancing Cost-Effective Care with a Patient-Centric Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Program

Coronary obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an escalating health problem for individuals, their families, and the public at large, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. A 1-year pilot program was conducted at a managed care medical group to empower COPD patients with self-management skills and improve their quality of life through enhancing cost-effective care. A total of 141 COPD patients were enrolled in the intervention group that imparted self-management principles, and provided telephonic nursing outreach and an action plan for symptom exacerbation. The same number of patients in the control group accessed care from their physician or urgently through emergency departments. At the conclusion of this program, paid claims in the intervention group were significantly (P<0.001) decreased compared to the control group. Primary care physician visits were also significantly (P<0.001) greater in the intervention group than in the control group. Although not statistically significant, hospital admissions, bed-days, and emergency department visits showed downward trends in the intervention group. Working with their clinical team, motivated patients can gain health benefits through self-management in an era of rising COPD prevalence and cost of care. (Population Health Management 2011; 14: 133-136)