Beebe Healthcare, along with the state of Delaware, Sussex County, and its EMS Paramedics have entered into a partnership aimed at improving the quality of life and lower hospital readmissions for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
The Mobile Integrated Healthcare COPD Pilot Program, the first in Delaware, was approved by Sussex County Council this month.
The program will begin in September and allows Beebe Healthcare’s medical center at the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus to identify patients who have or might have potential needs around their COPD condition. Once they enroll in the program, specially trained Sussex paramedics conduct home visits.
COPD is a chronic disease often related to smoking that often results in hospitalization and relapses.
“Beebe Healthcare and Sussex County EMS have envisioned this partnership for a number of years,” said Rick Schaffner, Interim CEO at Beebe Healthcare. “I think this innovation benefits all who live and visit Sussex County. We’re very grateful for the ongoing participation and think partnerships like these are really going to make our healthcare system work more effectively in the future.”
The partnership will provide patients with COPD more tools and education that will reduce the risk of another emergency department visit or hospital stay.
The paramedics’ visit can help patients by:
- Enhancing understanding of the condition, current medications, and equipment the person uses as well as how to maintain it
- Identifying any potential programs and services that could boost their quality of life and promote positive health outcomes
- Solving transportation barriers like finding a pharmacy that delivers or transportation service
- Connecting them to community development organizations, and much more depending on each individual’s needs.
The free and voluntary pilot program is made possible through Beebe Medical Foundation which applied for and received grants of $31,200 from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and $61,500 from Discover Bank.
For the pilot program, enrollment will be based on number of emergency department visits and inpatient stays relating to COPD. Enrollment will be offered only to those patients during their admission at Beebe. However, there are a number of options that are available to the community.
For more information about Beebe Healthcare, go to www.beebehealthcare.org.To find out how Beebe Healthcare is Creating the Next Generation of Care for the community, go to www.nextgenerationofcare.org.
