The effect of a post acute respiratory outreach service for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on hospital readmission rates

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a Post Acute Respiratory Outreach Service (PAROS) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on hospital utilization. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients was examined, using a nested comparison, to test the hypothesis that PAROS would affect hospital utilization in the 12 months following the intervention. Patients admitted with COPD and subsequently enrolled in PAROS were compared with age, sex and diagnosis-matched controls admitted with COPD, who did not receive PAROS. Results: Of 216 patients admitted with COPD during the 1-year study period, 28 were referred to PAROS. A total of 25 suitable co..