Description
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) 90 day research and development project found that Emergency Department (ED) visits have been rising steadily in the US since 1995. Dependence on ED appears high across all payer categories (not driven primarily by uninsured individuals or those without a primary care physician). Other countries are experiencing similar trends. Retrospective review shows that 50% of these visits could have been avoided by care in other settings. Reduction in ED visits represents a significant cost saving opportunity. IHI’s 90 day research and development project focusing on the patient journey viewed from the patient perspective could be used to design a framework for the creation of coalitions to reduce avoidable emergency department visits. IHI actively searched for organizations willing to prototype this patient perspective framework, and the BC Partners team decided to participate. BC Partners’ focus population is people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This population has the largest cost associated as an ambulatory care sensitive condition in avoidable ED visits. Over 92,000 people in the province have diagnosed COPD. This population is chosen as we have several other initiatives in alignment: COPD/CDM incentive fee, COPD/Shared care redesign practice support program module, integrated health networks.
Project Goals
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Improve the experience of care for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by creating an integrated seamless approach with a focus on improved primary care, ensuring appropriate use of specialists and emergency departments, while reducing costs to the system
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Improve experience of care and provider professional satisfaction in working with this population and other parts of the system
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Demonstrate prototype to apply province wide in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/shared care initiatives
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