title: Use of a care bundle in the emergency department for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and usefulness of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care bundle designed for the initial management of acute exacerbations of COPD and to assess whether it improves quality of care and provides better outcomes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The level of care provided in the emergency department (ED) for COPD exacerbations varies greatly, and there is a need for a more systematic, consistent, evidence-based quality improvement approach to improve outcomes and costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective before and after study was carried out in a university teaching hospital. Fifty consecutive patients were identified in the ED with COPD exacerbations and their management was reviewed. Following the education of ED staff and the implementation of a COPD care bundle, the outcome for 51 consecutive patients was analyzed. This COPD care bundle consisted of ten elements considered essential to the management of COPD exacerbations and was scored 0-10 according to the number of items on the checklist implemented correctly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following implementation, the mean bundle score out of 10 improved from 4.6 to 7 (P<0.001). There was a significant decrease in the unnecessary use of intravenous corticosteroids from 60% to 32% (P=0.003) and also a marked improvement in the use of oxygen therapy, with appropriate treatment increasing from 76% to 96% (P=0.003). Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism also improved from 54% to 73% (P=0.054). The 30-day readmission rate did not significantly improve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a bundle improves the delivery of care for COPD exacerbations in the ED. There is more appropriate use of therapeutic interventions, especially oxygen therapy and intravenous corticosteroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cormac
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donaghy
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.affiliation: Department of Audit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Callanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland ; Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057189:Checklist; D018450:Disease Progression; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064872:Patient Care Bundles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: COPD; bundle; checklist; exacerbations; steroids