Organizations Collaborate to Assess Impact of Virtual Care on COPD Readmissions

Hartford HealthCare is conducting a study with digital health company Wellinks to evaluate whether a virtual management solution can lower readmissions among recently hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Wellinks offers a virtual-first COPD management solution, aiming to increase access to care and remove patient barriers. Hartford HealthCare, a health system consisting of 36,000 workers and 400 locations, will implement the system for the study.

The solution provides pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercises and education, as well as personalized health coaching. It leverages connected devices, such as a spirometer and pulse oximeter, along with a patient application.

"Wellinks and Hartford HealthCare share an understanding about the importance of scientifically validating novel approaches of care," said Syed Hadi, MD, a Hartford HealthCare hospitalist, in a press release. "Although COPD is the third leading cause of death by disease in the United States, estimated to cost $49 billion in care annually, innovation in COPD care has trailed other disease states. Acute exacerbations of COPD often result in hospitalization, and a quarter of patients will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days."

Immediately after a hospital release, COPD patients enrolled in the study will receive 16 weeks of treatment through the Wellinks solution. Hospital readmission rates will be the primary measuring factor that researchers will use to determine the effectiveness of the system. The study will additionally assess patient engagement and satisfaction with the system.

"Wellinks is designed to bridge these [care] gaps to engage and empower patients regardless of their access to traditional in-person resources. We are eager to work with Hartford HealthCare to advance the clinical evidence for virtual-first COPD care while helping more patients live fully and breathe freely," said Abi Sundaramoorthy, MD, chief medical officer at Wellinks, in the press release. 

Although this project focused on COPD patients, efforts to reduce hospitalizations and readmissions are common in the industry.

A study published in April 2021 showed that a remote patient monitoring program focused on treating both chronic conditions and COVID-19 resulted in a lower level of readmissions. The program cut the health system's 30-day readmission rate in half, translating into a savings of $500,000.

There are certain factors that play a key role in ensuring the success of these efforts. For example, patient education is essential for better outcomes in pre-and post-care management and chronic disease management. Providing patients with post-discharge instructions on managing chronic diseases can positively impact readmission rates.

Another study published in June 2020 provided evidence that heart failure patients with low health literacy levels have a higher risk for hospitalization.