The BreatheEasy program is designed to offer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an option for optimal management of their care. When patients with maximally treated COPD would like to avoid further re-hospitalizations and are not candidates for further surgical procedures, the BreatheEasy program can assist the physician, patient and family to manage the symptoms of COPD at home.
The goals of the BreatheEasy program are to:
- Improve quality of life and help the patient accomplish
important goals
- Increase the ability of the patient to cope with the illness
- Increase family caregiver confidence and coping
- Closely monitor and manage symptoms to reduce
episodes of crisis
- Reduce hospital admissions and Emergency Room visits
- Reduce emergency overnight phone calls to physician
The BreatheEasy program helps patients meet these goals through:
- Regularly scheduled visits by staff with specialized training
in COPD evaluation and symptom management
- A COPD medication kit placed in the home
- Specialized protocols and treatment pathways designed
for end-stage COPD
- Patient education materials specifically designed for end-stage
COPD patients
- Use of emotional, spiritual, and complementary approaches
to care as appropriate