A health care initiative focused on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) management in Donegal has resulted in a 20% drop in COPD admissions and a 50% drop in readmissions at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The HSE has said that, historically, Letterkenny University Hospital saw 38% of emergency department admissions related to respiratory conditions, with 28.7% of COPD patients readmitted within 30 days - the highest in Ireland.
The HSE launched a Community and Acute Respiratory Excellence (CARE) Virtual Ward (CVW) in Donegal consisting of a 20-bedded remote care model in November 2023.
An independent evaluation of the programme published on EHealth Ireland has said CARE Virtual Ward "has redefined respiratory care in Donegal".
Patients are provided with a patient app and a wearable Bluetooth enabled monitoring device to track respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and heart rate.
They are cared for at home while their data is reviewed daily via a traffic-light triage system. Notifications within the app prompt patients to complete daily questionnaires and tasks assigned by a clinical team.
If a task remains incomplete, an automated follow-up is initiated to the clinical team to follow-up with patients to ensure they are completed.
This approach enables early intervention when signs of deterioration appear and provides a step-down option after hospital discharge, reducing readmissions.
Patients also receive multimedia education, personalised care plans, and rescue medication packs, with referrals accepted from GPs, Respiratory Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and the COPD Outreach Team.
The independent evaluation has detailed reductions in hospital use, improved patient outcomes and €4.2 million in cost saving.
Liam Bradley, a patient who has been engaging with the CARE Virtual Ward said it has "changed" his life.
"Honestly it's hard to put into words what it’s done for me, it’s just changed my life. I found it very comforting that you had your IPAD and that there was somebody, somewhere looking at it," he added.
HSE Integrated Healthcare Area Manager in Donegal, Dermot Monaghan, said the program supports people in communities while easing pressure on acute hospitals.
Mr Monaghan said the integrated approach ensures that care is in place to allow people to live with a chronic disease and "in most cases increase their ability to live their lives to the full which in the very recent past, would not have been possible".
Dr Abdullah Mohammed Bukhari who is the Clinical Lead for the CARE Virtual Ward, Donegal believes the model that could transform how the management of chronic conditions.
"This evaluation shows that integrated, digitally enabled care is both practical and effective. It is a model that could transform how we manage chronic conditions in Ireland".
