StratiHealth Sponsors Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Use of Respiratory Therapists to Improve Outcomes, Quality of Life & Reduce Costs for the Care of Patients With COPD
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 30, 2014 -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will include patients admitted for an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) for FY 2015.
We must now consider tangible and effective alternatives that will help improve the overall treatment and management of patients; if we are to improve health outcomes and reduce the costs associated with the treatment and management of patients with COPD.
Respiratory therapists are allied health specialists that are specifically educated and clinically prepared to focus on the treatment and management of patients with COPD. The key, of course, is in developing programs and services that are centered on the patient with interventions that improve their education, engagement and empowerment with self-management techniques. In addition, it is of paramount importance to improve monitoring and prevention measures to ensure patient adherence to their treatment plan and mitigate emergency room encounters and hospital admissions.
There are countless examples in regional and even some national managed care organizations on the effectiveness of Respiratory Therapists; yet despite the overwhelming logic to utilize the more cost effective resource, little has been done to fill the disease management gaps. That said, we must demonstrate the value of respiratory therapists through validated clinical studies.
Said Vernon Pertelle, president and CEO of StratiHealth: "Respiratory therapists should be the mainstay of management strategies in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) as well as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs). The challenge historically has been lack of coverage for the role in traditional post acute care environments; however, 'The New Healthcare Normal' creates opportunities to leverage a very valuable member of the healthcare team to improve performance in the era of Value Based Health Care."
The clinical trial will be conducted with the ultimate goal to validate respiratory therapists as the key resource to improve the treatment and management of patients with COPD to improve health outcomes while reducing costs.
For information about the clinical trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
To participate, email Vernon Pertelle with your company information, key contact and phone number at vernonpertelle(at)stratihealth(dot)net.
About StratiHealth
StratiHealth provides services and solutions in the health care industry for the following sectors: Acute Care (hospitals, health systems); Ambulatory & Primary Care (urgent care, medical group and physician practice); Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs); Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs); Home Medical Equipment/Durable Medical Equipment (HME/DME) providers; Home Health & Hospice; Medical Device Manufacturers/Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences companies.
Our services include:
Management Consulting
Health Care Operations
Regulatory Compliance
Health Technology Assessment
Clinical Research
Telehealth
Respiratory Patient Centered Care
Vernon R. Pertelle, StratiHealth, http://www.stratihealth.net, +1 (760) 473-0368, [email protected]
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