Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people globally, significantly impacting their quality of life. As healthcare professionals, you understand the importance of providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to manage this chronic condition effectively. Apria Healthcare, a leading national provider of home medical equipment and clinical support, offers a suite of programs designed to support COPD patients at every stage of their journey. Here’s how Apria’s innovative COPD programs can enhance patient care and improve outcomes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW OF APRIA’S CLINICAL CARE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS
Overnight Oximetry (ONO) Program
The Overnight Oximetry (ONO) Program is crucial for early intervention in COPD management. This program involves monitoring patients’ oxygen levels overnight to detect any desaturation events that could indicate hypoxia or other worsening respiratory conditions. Overnight Oximetry can also include a capnography measurement which will provide the level of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCo2) to reflect the patient’s ventilation status. The collected data allows physicians to make timely adjustments to treatment plans, ensuring patients receive the necessary interventions before their condition escalates.
- Description: Monitors patients’ oxygen levels overnight (with or without ETCo2) to detect any desaturation events or evaluate the adequacy of ventilation. Apria can facilitate the overnight oximetry for any COPD patient regardless of current therapy.
- Importance: Early intervention in COPD management.
- Key Features:
- Remote monitoring
- Timely interventions
- Benefits: Data collected allows for timely adjustments to treatment plans; patients receive necessary intervention before condition escalates.
APN Mail Order Medication Program
The Apria Pharmacy Network® (APN) offers a comprehensive Mail Order Medication Program designed to provide our patients with the utmost convenience and reliability.
- Description: Provides home delivery of respiratory medications and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) supplies, ensuring patients receive their medications without the need for pharmacy visits.
- Importance: Facilitates adherence to treatment regimens by eliminating barriers to medication access.
- Key Features:
- Convenient Home Delivery: Medications are delivered directly to patients’ homes at no additional cost.
- Automatic Refill Reminders: Courtesy calls ensure patients never run out of essential medications.
- Expert Support: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists are available to address patient inquiries.
- Free Delivery Service: Reliable delivery service with no additional charges.
- Exceptional Service: Pharmacists provide clinical counseling to ensure proper medication use.
- Insurance Handling: Billing experts manage and file all insurance claims, maximizing benefits and reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
- Wide Range of Medications: Includes nebulized medications such as Brovana®, Perforomist®, Yupelri®, and others.
- Benefits: Enhances medication adherence, reduces patient burden, and potentially lowers healthcare costs through efficient insurance billing and comprehensive support.
COPD Care Follow-Up Program
Designed for patients with mild to moderate COPD, Apria’s COPD Follow-Up Program provides continuous patient education and regular assessments. This program provides a risk assessment of the patient with COPD using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Apria will bring results of the CAT assessment to physicians so that physicians can consider necessary adjustments to their care plans, helping them manage their condition effectively.
- Description: For patients with mild to moderate COPD.
- Importance: Empowers patients with knowledge and resources to stay engaged in their care.
- Key Features:
- CAT and clinical assessments
- Treatment recommendations
- Benefits: Can lead to better adherence and improved health outcomes.
Capnography with Overnight Oximetry Program
Apria also offers a Capnography with Overnight Oximetry Program through an accredited independent diagnostic testing facility. This program is designed to provide a data-driven approach to proactive disease management, allowing COPD patients to be screened for potential CO2 retention. The oxygenation and ventilation readings provide a side-by-side comparison of the patient’s current levels, which can be crucial in determining if a change in therapy is warranted. End-Tidal CO2 is less invasive than arterial blood gas (ABG) testing and can be used when an ABG is not practical or available.
- Description: This program screens COPD patients for potential CO2 retention by monitoring oxygenation and ventilation levels side-by-side, helping determine if a change in therapy is warranted.
- Importance: Serves as a valuable tool for documenting the severity of the disease state for the COPD population.
- Key Features:
- Side-by-side comparison of oxygenation and ventilation readings
- Less invasive than ABG testing
- Benefits: Offers precise, data-driven insights for proactive disease management, less invasive monitoring for patients, and timely adjustments to their therapy.
Advanced Bi-Level Follow-Up Program
For patients currently prescribed advanced bi-level therapy, the Advanced Bi-Level Follow-Up Program offers COPD patients advanced treatment options, compliance monitoring, and regular clinical follow-up assessments to manage and modify therapy efficacy. This program will also monitor End-Tidal CO2 (ETCO2) levels with a physician order, to assess the ongoing ventilation status of the patient while on bi-level therapy. Patients are using bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) devices with a backup rate for therapy, which assists in maintaining adequate ventilation and improving respiratory function. Patients must be prescribed a BiPAP ST or BiPAP VAPS device to be in this program.
- Description: For patients currently prescribed advanced bi-level therapy.
- Importance: Regular monitoring and adjustment are crucial at this stage to ensure patients receive optimal care tailored to their specific needs.
- Key Features:
- Regular efficacy monitoring and adjustments
- ETCO2 testing with physician order
- Usage monitoring and coaching
- Benefits: Increased adherence to therapy, timely therapy adjustments, improvement in patient’s respiratory function, and steps towards a better quality of life.
Ventilation Follow-Up Program
The Ventilation Follow-Up Program is tailored to patients who require ventilation assistance. For COPD patients, this program is often provided in the later COPD stages. Apria’s program provides routine follow-up assessments and ventilator checks performed by our licensed professionals on a monthly and quarterly basis. The comprehensive assessment includes CAT testing and clinical oversight to assess and adjust therapy and ensure patients’ care is optimized to properly manage their condition and maintain their quality of life. Patients must be prescribed a ventilator (either non-invasively or invasively) to be in this program.
- Description: For any patient currently prescribed home ventilation therapy, both invasive and non-invasive.
- Importance: Providing frequent follow-up assessments, CAT testing, and comprehensive clinical support provided by a licensed practitioner ensures that patients receive the necessary care to manage their condition and maintain optimal ventilation therapy.
- Key Features:
- Frequent follow-up assessments and equipment checks
- Usage management CAT assessment trending Personalized care plans
- Benefits: Can contribute to hospital readmission reduction plans, reducing COPD exacerbations, and enhancing a patient’s quality of life by providing ongoing support and education.
APRIA’S ROLE IN THE CARE CONTINUUM
Initial Diagnosis and Early Intervention
Apria supports patients from the start of their diagnosis by providing essential education and early intervention strategies. Early intervention is critical in managing COPD, and Apria’s programs are designed to educate patients about their condition, supply them with all of the equipment they need and inform them about the importance of adhering to treatment plans.
How Apria Achieves This:
- Patient Education: Apria provides comprehensive education on COPD, helping patients understand their condition and the importance of following their treatment plans to slow its progression.
- Smoking Cessation Support: Apria encourages smoking cessation where applicable to help patients quit smoking, which is crucial in managing COPD.
- Early Clinical Care Intervention Programs: Apria’s programs include early-stage interventions such as nocturnal oxygen therapy and combination drug therapy to manage symptoms effectively.
- In-Home Testing: Apria facilitates in-home testing, such as overnight oximetry, capnography, and home sleep testing to monitor patients’ oxygen levels and ETCO2 levels and detect any early signs of deterioration or ventilation challenges.
- Comprehensive Equipment Supply: After a provider writes a prescription for therapy, Apria supplies patients with all the equipment they need to manage their COPD throughout the patient's progressive care needs.
Ongoing Management and Support
Continuous support is a cornerstone of Apria’s approach. Respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals play a vital role in providing personalized support and collaborating with the physician to adjust treatment plans as needed.
How Apria Achieves This:
- Home Visits: Respiratory therapists conduct regular home visits to assess patients’ conditions and provide personalized care.
- Telehealth Services: Apria utilizes telehealth services to offer remote consultations and support, ensuring patients have access to care regardless of their location.
- Remote Monitoring: Apria uses advanced remote monitoring devices to continuously track patients’ health metrics, such as oxygen levels and CO2 levels. Timely Reporting: Apria provides all reporting to physicians and care teams to evaluate patient’s current therapy success. Apria then administers the CAT survey to continually monitor patient’s progress.
- Innovative Treatment Options: Apria offers advanced treatment options including bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) devices, non-invasive ventilation, and high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy devices to improve respiratory function.
- Regular Follow-Ups: Apria schedules regular follow-ups to review patients’ progress, identify treatment plan adjustment needs to address with the physician, and address any concerns.
REFER YOUR PATIENTS TO APRIA FOR OPTIMAL COPD CARE
Apria Healthcare’s comprehensive programs are designed to support COPD patients at every stage of their journey. By offering early intervention, continuous support, and long-term care, Apria can support improvement in the quality of life for COPD patients throughout all four stages of the disease. As healthcare professionals, you play a crucial role in guiding your patients towards the best possible care. Consider referring your COPD patients to Apria’s programs to ensure they receive the comprehensive, patient-centered care they deserve.
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