Pulmonary Disease Navigator Program Case Study

This case study details the implementation of a Pulmonary Disease Navigator (PDN) program aimed at reducing 30-day readmission rates for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at Intermountain Health. The initiative was driven by the need to address the high costs and significant health impacts associated with COPD, which affects millions of individuals in the United States. The study outlines the development of a COPD Playbook, which serves as a guide for managing the disease, and highlights the use of integrated electronic health record (EHR) tools to facilitate care coordination. The program resulted in a 7% reduction in 30-day hospital readmissions for COPD patients. Key lessons learned include the importance of aligning care pathways with specific disease management goals, enhancing patient awareness of their care plans, and the need for improved IT solutions to support population health management. The case study emphasizes the role of multidisciplinary teams in achieving these outcomes and the ongoing commitment to quality improvement in chronic lung disease care.