title: Developing a specialist-nurse-led 'COPD in-reach service'.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and implement a respiratory clinical-nurse-specialist-led chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 'in-reach service' for an emergency admission unit within a large acute county hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collected during the service development were compared with existing data when no COPD in-reach service was available. Data were compared on average length of stay, readmission rates, 'early assisted discharge' and patient experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The COPD in-reach service reduced average length of stay for COPD patients by 2.53 days and readmission rates were reduced by an average of 4.5 per month; 17% of patients were discharged on an early assisted discharge scheme, and overall patients felt more prepared and ready for discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The COPD in-reach service has been proven to be of great benefit both financially and in terms of patient experience.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Zara
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pogson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000451:nursing*; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Early assisted discharge; In-reach service; Nurse-led services; Readmission