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New Resource in North Central Texas Aims to Prevent Unnecessary ER Visits and Hospitalizations from Chronic Lung Disease
Today, Community Healthcare of Texas, along with the American Lung Association and National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), announced the release of a new guide that may improve the quality of life and reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations for those living with advanced lung disease. The “Advanced Lung Care Patient and Caregiver Guide” is a home care resource to help people with chronic lung disease and their caregivers learn and practice skills to prevent or manage some respiratory symptoms at home while under the care of their medical team.
Chronic lung disease can be a tremendous burden for people living with the disease and their families. In 2016, there were more than 2 million emergency department visits and more than 650,000 hospitalizations due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is one of the most prevalent chronic lung diseases. COPD also costs the healthcare system more than $50 billion a year – primarily due to ER visits and hospitalization. This guide aims to help patients learn and practice strategies to reduce or prevent unnecessary medical visits and support them at home, depending on preference and medical need.
“We know it can feel overwhelming at times when a person or family member has severe lung disease. That is why it was so important to us to work with NPHI to develop and share this guide, which serves as a reference to the many questions and concerns people with lung disease and their families have,” said Deb Brown, Chief Mission Officer for the American Lung Association. “An important part of living with chronic lung disease is finding the right support, both for the patient and the caregivers. The American Lung Association is committed to supporting those living with chronic lung disease. Whether you have COPD, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, or another type of chronic lung disease, this guide will help you learn new home care strategies to manage symptoms.”
The “Advanced Lung Care Guide” represents the best standards of care for lung disease in a home setting, as defined by the American Lung Association, with the collective input of over 90 advanced illness and hospice care organizations. This resource is for people experiencing severe symptoms from chronic lung disease, which includes COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer.
“For more than 27 years, patients and families across North Central Texas have turned to Community Healthcare of Texas for expert care and support when experiencing a life-limiting illness. The “Advanced Lung Care Guide” and our partnership with NPHI and the American Lung Association make it possible for us to offer an additional layer of support for our patients diagnosed with chronic lung disease,” said Viki Jingle, Chief Executive Officer for Community Healthcare of Texas.
The free guide includes tips for symptom management and self-care, medications, diet, advance care planning, and more. It is available to people living with chronic lung disease and their caregivers and families and can be viewed or downloaded directly from the Community Healthcare of Texas website.
About Community Healthcare of Texas
As the largest not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider in Texas, Community Healthcare of Texas has cared for adult and pediatric patients throughout North Central Texas since 1996. Community Healthcare of Texas offers hospice care, palliative care, education, emotional and spiritual support, and grief care to families as they travel the path of serious and terminal illnesses. Community Healthcare of Texas-Providence Hospice serves patients and their families across 25 Fort Worth, Dallas, and Waco counties. For additional information, contact Deidrea Laux at dlaux@chot.org or (817)929-9135.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit Lung.org.
About the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)
NPHI is a collaborative of 90+ not-for-profit, community-integrated hospice and palliative care providers dedicated to ensuring patients and their families have access to care that reflects their individual goals, values and preferences. Representing providers from 31 states and the District of Columbia, NPHI and its members help design more innovative and effective models of care, advocate for comprehensive and community-integrated care customized to meet each person’s unique needs, and build collaboration between national thought leaders, decision-makers, and other healthcare stakeholders to improve hospice care. Learn more about NPHI at hospiceinnovations.org.
