The Effect of Virtual Support on 30-day All-Cause Readmission Rates for COPD Patients Discharged from Saint Louis University Hospital

In a post pandemic era, technology can play a beneficial role in managing chronic respiratory conditions, such as COPD, that put patients at higher risk of readmission. The use of telehealth has increased over the past decade and using telehealth interventions are associated with a significant reduction in readmission rates for COPD patients (Bhatt et al, 2022). In our research we looked at the effect of virtual support and health literacy on patients with a COPD diagnosis who had been discharged from SLU hospital. The goal of our interventions was to decrease the amount of 30-day readmissions. Participants in our study were called bi-weekly for three weeks after discharge. A bi-weekly screening using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), in addition to symptom assessment and medication education, was performed during each of the telehealth visits. Although full patient participation was a challenge for our target population, this bi-weekly intervention helped reduce the number of readmissions within the 30-day post discharge period. Overall, the ability to apply telehealth interventions is crucial to supporting patient-centered care, reinforcing education, reducing cost, and lowering morbidity and mortality rates associated with COPD.

Colleen Martin

Colleen Martin is from Cleveland, Ohio and will be graduating with her bachelor’s of science in nursing. After graduation, Colleen will be starting as a new graduate nurse resident in an adult cardiac ICU at University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Emily Reames

Emily Reames is from Peoria, Illinois and will be graduating this May with a major in Nursing and a Minor in Spanish. After graduation, Emily will be working in the PICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Grace Wempe

Grace Wempe is from Fort Worth, Texas and will be graduating in May with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing with a minor in Spanish. After graduating, Grace will be moving to Washington, D.C. to begin a year long nurse residency program. She will be working in Washington Hospital Center’s Surgical Cardiothoracic ICU.

Olivia Korpecki

Olivia Korpecki is from St. Louis, Missouri and will be graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. After graduation, Olivia will begin working as a nurse in Barnes Jewish Hospital’s Cardiothoracic ICU.

Jessica Shermulis

Jessica Shermulis is from Merrionette Park, Illinois and intends to graduate in May with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon graduation, Jessica aspires to work as a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse in Chicago.

Lauren Carroll

Lauren Carroll is from O’Fallon, Missouri and will be graduating with a Bachelor’s of science in nursing. After graduating, Lauren will be working as a new graduate nurse in the PICU at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

Anna Gardner

Anna Gardner is Lindenhurst Illinois! After graduating from the nursing program at St. Louis University, Anna will be working as a new graduate nurse in the Cardiothoracic ICU at Barnes Jewish Hospital.

Zoha Ahmed

Zoha Ahmed is from Plainfield, Illinois and will be graduating in May with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduating, she plans to work as a pediatric nurse in Chicago.

We are grateful for the guidance of Shelly Von Der Lancken and her faculty sponsorship. We also want to extend a thanks to Erin Rackey our main contact at St. Louis University Hospital and to John Taylor and Fiona Biodic for their help.

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