Authors (including presenting author) :
Yip YP(1), Sze SSP(1), Ma WC(1), Fung SP(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Medicine
Introduction :
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is important for management of patients with COPD. There is strong evidence that PR can reduce symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce the readmission for COPD patients. Due to COVID pandemic, PR service is suspended for 2 years and the referral rate for Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) is low after service resumption in 2023. The reasons of low referral are multi-factorial. Different strategies are required to improve the PRP referral and enrolment.
Objectives :
To enhance the referral rate and participation rate of PRP
Methodology :
(1)Monthly monitoring of the number & sources of PRP referral; as well as the number of attendance and enrolment rate:
Monthly monitoring of the above data was commenced since January 2024, aim to have a clearcut of statistics on the referral rate and participation rate.
(2)Enhancement of staff’s awareness & knowledge in PR:
Knowing the result of existing PRP referral sources, distribution of PRP flyers to referring parties had been conducted. Also, 1-2 in-house promotional talks among staff yearly, presentation of PRP updates in different seminars and meetings in KEC cluster were delivered. Staff rotation to PR is conducted regularly to enhance their exposure on PR.
(3)Implementation of HA Go Telehealth since August 2024:
Tele-PRP has been studied in many countries with promising results, which could act as an alternative way to deliver PR to suitable patients. PR nurse & PCA staff would screen PR participants for their willingness and mobile device, then assist participants to install HA Go app and provide training on using HA GO telehealth. Additional oximetry monitoring device would also be provided to telehealth participants for monitoring during Tele-training sessions and to enhance participants’ awareness on self-management of health status.
Result & Outcome :
Since the commencement of monthly monitoring of referral and enrolment statistics in January 2024, it was found that there was limited referral source and various promotions to health care providers have been conducted to enhance their knowledge and understanding of PRP. The referral sources have been expanded from 6 in 2023 to 9 in 2024. The number of referrals in 2023 and 2024 were 162 and 274 respectively, referral rate had been increased by 69%. For the number of attendances in 2023 and 2024, they were 1158 and 2130 respectively. The participation rate had been increased by 84%. Moreover, as HA Go Telehealth on PR was officially launched in August 2024, which facilitates and simplifies patients’ registration process of telehealth appointment, thus enhances the accessibility of attending PR. There are 18 Tele-PR sessions conducted in 2024, while only 1 Tele-PR session conducted (via Zoom only) in 2023. All Tele-PR participants were satisfied with the process of Tele-PR. To conclude, strategies implemented were effective in enhancing the referral rate and participation rate of PRP in HHH.
