2002 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
EVALUATION OF A THERAPIST DRIVEN PROTOCOLS IMPACT ON PULMONARY RELATED HOSPITALIZATION LENGTH OF STAY (LOS);
Frank Miller, RRT, Cheri Schuler, RRT, RPFT, Arcenio Galindo, RRT. Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ.
Background: A respiratory therapy protocol program was implemented on our medical-surgical floor, as an eleven (11) week pilot study. All patients with physician orders for respiratory therapy, or a respiratory consult order, were placed in the protocol program. The protocol program utilizes a severity/acuity scoring system to direct patient care in accordance with the AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Methods: One outcome measure we chose to monitor was the impact on pulmonary diagnosis-related (DRG) groups LOS. The pulmonary DRG groups we chose to monitor include; respiratory infection (DRG 079 & 080), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (DRG 088), simple pneumonia (DRG 089), and respiratory significance (DRG 099 & 100). We had our Decision Support Services (DSS) provide monthly reports for the specified pulmonary related DRG groups and the associated average LOS for both the pilot study period and the eight (8) months immediately prior to the start of the pilot
Results: Each of the pulmonary related DRG groups showed a significant reduction in hospitalized LOS.
| Impact to DRG Group Average LOS | 2001 pre-pilot | 2001 Pilot | %Change |
| DRG Groups (079 & 080) | 3.6 | 2.5 | (31%) |
| DRG Group (088) | 3.2 | 2.5 | (22%) |
| DRG Group (089) | 3.3 | 2.8 | (15%) |
| DRG Groups (099 & 100) | 2.3 | 2.0 | (13%) |
Conclusion: Implementation and utilization of therapist driven protocols appear to be effective in reducing hospital length of stays for patients admitted with a pulmonary related diagnosis.
OF-02-103