Telemedicine as a Proposed Solution Towards Efficiency of Healthcare Delivery for Einstein Pulmonary Patients on PAP/NIPPV for Hypercapnia

Hypercapnic respiratory failure is a prevalent medical problem, comprising a substantial number of ED visits and readmissions. The target population that are at high risk for developing hypercapnia are patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep disordered breathing (SDB) overlapping with COPD, and patients with neuromuscular disorders. These patients are commonly managed in the progressive care units or the intensive care unit for extended periods of time, which can over-utilize health systems resources. Einstein Medical Center's patient population includes multiple low-income communities / neighborhoods. Their educational background varies and constant education and counseling is an integral part of the treatment plan. These patients are particularly vulnerable due to a lack of geographic access and difficulty contacting healthcare providers via phone. Some of the patients may not be able to afford co-pays for clinic visits or are not able to follow up with a physician. In addition, patients treated with non-invasive ventilation in the hospital and require home therapy either never receive the device or are sub-optimally trained in its appropriate utilization. These patients may also be morbidly obese with mobility issues, which is another obstacle preventing patients from following up with their providers.

Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy/ non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) are effective treatments to avoid acute hypercapnic respiratory failure; however, low compliance and poor follow-up are often recurring issues. These high-risk patients present in the emergency department acutely hypercapnic and encephalopathic with subsequent ICU admission and mechanical ventilation.This Telemedicine Outreach Program aims to utilize E-touch devices (Vivify-Go) in collaboration with home visits by EMS (Emergency medical services) to improve compliance and the efficiency of healthcare delivery. These efforts will hopefully lead to a decrease in acute decompensated respiratory states and hospital readmission rates.