To investigate the feasibility and impact of a Virtual Care Pathway using Remote Patient Monitoring for high-risk COPD patients in Ireland, particularly in the context of the country's high COPD hospitalization rates.
Key Findings:
97.3% of exacerbation episodes managed on the platform were completed without hospital admission.
Mean length of stay was reduced by 51.5% from a regional baseline of 11.8 days to 5.15 days (p < 0.001).
Estimated gross hospital cost avoidance was €949,000.
Significant improvements in Borg dyspnoea and CAT scores beyond minimal clinically important differences, highlighting the complexity of patient experiences.
Interpretation:
While patients preferred the platform due to hospital-related anxieties, concerns about technology reliability and the hidden burdens on families were noted, emphasizing the need for careful consideration in future implementations.
Limitations:
Sample excluded digitally excluded patients, which may not represent the broader COPD population and could skew the understanding of technology adoption.
Qualitative data revealed anxieties around technology that were not accounted for in the model, indicating a need for further exploration.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that without careful design of hybrid digital-analogue pathways, Ireland may reinforce existing health inequities in COPD care, necessitating a focus on inclusive strategies.
