Question

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

1. List 2 Non-Pharmacological interventions

2. Explain the outcomes for these interventions; how would the hospital staff know an intervention worked? Which lab values, assessments would indicate improvement?

3. Identify at least one clinical practice guideline from a professional medical association (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control, etc.).

3 A. Explain how a healthcare administrator would use these practice guidelines to ensure the highest quality of healthcare in his or her facility.

Answer 1

1)

Two Non - Pharmacological interventions in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are :-

• Smoking cessation.
• Breathing exercises.

2)

These interventions plays a significant role in the management of COPD. They have a good outcome. These interventions effectively improve the symptom control and quality of life, and modify the disease progression.

The hospital staff can know the effectiveness of these interventions by the help of improvement in the clinical features of the patients. They can judge the results of these interventions by the help of some assessments and lab investigations.

The lab values and assessments that would indicate improvement are :-

• Pulmonary function test ( Spirometry)
• Chest X-ray
• CBC
• Pulse oximetry
• Arterial blood gas (ABG) test
• Sputum test

​​​​​​​3)

Clinical practice guidelines for COPD

• Non pharmacological management of stable COPD : Smoking cessation, breathing exercises, supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, etc.
• Pharmacological management of stable COPD : Beta-agonists, anticholinergics, inhaled or oral corticosteroids, theophylline, mucolytics, etc.
• Non pharmacological management of COPD exacerbations : non invasive positive pressure ventilation.
• Pharmacological management of COPD exacerbations : antibiotics, oral corticosteroids, anticholinergics.

​​​​​​​4)

A Healthcare administrator should regularly monitor the treatment of the patients in his / her facility. He / she should regularly check whether the patient is treated according to the prescribed guidelines or not. A healthcare administrator should regularly organize a meeting with the doctors and nurses of his facility and receive their feedbacks regarding the treatment of patients.

This is how, a healthcare administrator would use the practice guidelines effectively to ensure the highest quality of healthcare in his or her facility.

​​​​​​​