APELDOORN – Gelre hospitals and healthcare organization Vérian have been working together for years in the care of patients with COPD, both in the hospital and at the patient’s home. Care for COPD patients who are acutely admitted due to a lung attack has now been further improved in the Apeldoorn region with a new care pathway.
The aim is to reduce the number of readmissions to hospital due to a lung attack and improve quality of life. This is done by preparing patients better and faster for self-care during admission to Gelre Apeldoorn. After discharge from the hospital, patients are guided by Vérian’s specialized pulmonary nurses. They do this at the Lung Diseases outpatient clinic of Gelre Apeldoorn or at the patient’s home. This support helps to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home.
COPD is a collective name for chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These are respiratory diseases that make breathing difficult. An infection in the airways and lungs in combination with COPD can quickly increase shortness of breath. In a lung attack there is a sudden worsening of symptoms that lasts longer than two days. Patients then have to cough a lot, have tough mucus and are very short of breath. An acute admission to hospital is usually required.
Shorter hospital stay and better quality of life
As a project leader, pulmonary nurse Elvera Nap-Haanschoten from Gelre hospitals has improved this care for COPD patients with everyone involved. She says: “The acute admission due to a lung attack now lasts five instead of seven days, during which we provide very targeted guidance to patients. We discuss the patient’s wishes, goals and treatment options, paying attention to both physical and psychosocial aspects. In addition, we pay special attention to continuing to exercise, use of medication, nutrition, quitting smoking and proactive care planning.”
Discover causes faster
“We notice that we now discover more and more causes that trigger a lung attack during admission. This allows us to better guide COPD patients during this admission in what they can do themselves to prevent another lung attack and possible readmission as much as possible. We teach patients to monitor their symptoms themselves and to proactively manage their health. Vérian’s pulmonary nurse builds on this during aftercare at the Pulmonology outpatient clinic or at the patient’s home. This way, patients know what they can do themselves and when to contact which healthcare provider according to the lung attack action plan.”
“We are convinced that this updated approach to the COPD care pathway during acute admission will yield positive results for our patients, their overall well-being and quality of life. This new transmural care path ‘Admission due to a lung attack in COPD’ is a collaboration between Gelre hospitals, healthcare organization Vérian and general practitioners and will be further developed after evaluation,” continues Elvera Nap-Haanschoten.
A respiratory nurse gives inhalation instructions to a COPD patient during an admission to Gelre hospitals. (Source: Medical Photography, Gelre hospitals)
2023-11-27 13:02:42
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