C95-07 A Pediatric Home Ventilator Management Program Reduces Hospitalizations by 54%

Rationale The prevalence of pediatric patients requiring home mechanical ventilation in the United States has been increasing, with a crude incidence rate of approximately 2.4 per 100,000 children, marking a 37% rise over a 14-year period.1 These patients often have complex medical conditions, including neuromuscular diseases, chronic lung diseases, and central nervous system disorders. Managing these patients at home presents significant challenges, necessitating coordinated care among healthcare providers, caregivers, and support services.2 Evaluate impact of an AI-driven, software-based, ventilator outcomes management program (Nexus) on hospitalizations amongst home-based, pediatric patients managed on home mechanical ventilation by durable medical equipment companies. Methods 5,003 home-based pediatric patients managed from January 2018 - February 2025 using a goal-based, AI-driven, outcomes software [Nexus, Encore Healthcare, Tennessee], administered by respiratory therapists (RT) via in-home and telerespiratory visits. Patients were enrolled via prescriptions for home ventilation. Enrollees were managed by US-based DMEs, with the Nexus platform being the only commonality. Assessments populated individualized plans of care with risk/acuity-based schedules of visits and goals. The AI-driven software guided the RT in identifying and then working with the patient’s physician to resolve issues and identified care gaps. Enrollees received over 194,000 assessments and AI analytics processed over 7.7 million datapoints. Enrollees’ months on service averaged 17.5 months, with >2,000 active patients averaging over 26 months. . The 12-month hospital admissions’ history was self-reported without claims confirmation and post-onboarding admission was confirmed by RT via patient interviews. Results Patient self-reported hospital admissions post-onboarding were measured at 12 months and compared to admission history for prior 12 months. Enrollees reporting at least one hospitalization in the 12 months prior to enrollment experienced 54% fewer admissions post-enrollment and 23% fewer respiratory infections. Calculated as a per patient per month rate, enrolled patients experienced 68% fewer admissions vs. their 12-month prior history. In total, patients experienced 2,522 fewer hospitalizations while enrolled in the program vs. the prior year. Using an average readmission cost of $73,000 for a pediatric ventilator patient, the program has resulted in an estimated total US healthcare cost savings of over $184 million.3 Conclusion Home-based, pediatric ventilator management programs led by respiratory therapists using AI-driven software with plan of care goals, can have a significant impact on pediatric admissions, quality of care metrics, and overall cost of care. An AI-powered platform offers home therapists a uniform, systematic tool to ensure consistent outcomes’ improvement across large populations This abstract is funded by: None