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A. Aljassem, No Disclosures. To assess whether admission to a dedicated pulmonary mobility unit (PMU) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decreases the length of hospital stay (LOS), cost of hospitalization, and 30-day readmission rates. Quasi-randomized trial. A regular medical floor (RMF) versus a dedicated pulmonary mobility unit (PMU) as part of a RMF. Admission criteria for the PMU include a primary diagnosis of COPD, anticipated LOS of 3-5 days, and ambulatory with or without assistance at home. Management strategies in the PMU included early pulmonary and physical rehabilitation. The first 111 subjects were admitted who met the above criteria: 44 were admitted and treated in the PMU and 67 on a RMF. All patients received standard treatment for COPD exacerbation. PMU patients received one hour daily physical and/or occupational therapy. LOS, cost of hospitalization, and 30-day readmission rate. Average LOS on the PMU was 4. 3 versus 5. 5 days on the RMF, a 22% decrease overall (P=. 019). Cost of hospitalization also decreased with admission to the PMU. Patients treated on the PMU experienced hospital charges of 5, 232 versus 7, 173 on the RMF (P=. 021). Thirty-day all cause readmission rates were also decreased from 19% to 9. 1% in the RMF and PMU groups respectively, but were not statistically significant. Thirty-day readmission rates for COPD exacerbation alone were similar between the two groups, with 9. 0% on the PMU versus 9. 1% on the RMF. Although LOS was decreased it did not negatively impact readmission rates. A structured pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD patients reduced the LOS, rates of readmission, and hospital costs. Educating patients as to their disease process with dedicated team management can improve care without increasing costs.
Aljassem et al. (Mon,) studied this question.