COPD
Living with a pulmonary condition like COPD can be extremely challenging – to the point where performing the simplest tasks can become difficult and exhausting.
Living with a pulmonary condition like COPD can be extremely challenging – to the point where performing the simplest tasks can become difficult and exhausting. Waypoint Home Health Care’s team of experienced nurses and therapists is committed to caring for and teaching patients with pulmonary issues (such as COPD, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Lung Cancer, Asthma, and Pleural Effusion) the skills they need to manage their condition at home. Our clinicians (many with years of experience in acute care settings) are dedicated to improving our patients’ quality of life and preventing repeated hospitalizations due to pulmonary flare-ups and complications. Under the direction of the patient’s physician, Waypoint clinicians will assist and educate on lifestyle changes, symptom recognition and pulmonary treatments to help patients feel better, stay more active, enjoy more quality time at home and slow pulmonary disease progression.
Program Goals
- Help patients feel better, stay more active, and enjoy more quality time at home
- Ensure patient safety while using oxygen and other pulmonary medications
- Manage the patient’s respiratory condition by helping the patient recognize when symptoms worsen and educating patient on what steps to take
- Slow the progression of the patient’s respiratory condition
- Improve the patient’s ability to stay active and independent
- Reduce chances of unplanned hospital visits
- Decrease fall risk due to fatigue and weakness related to the patient’s respiratory condition
- Ensure the patient is taking medications properly
Treatment
- In-home use of CO2 Monitor and Pulse Oximeter to monitor O2 levels and CO2 retention
- Assessment of patient/caregiver ability to administer oxygen as ordered and management/education of oxygen equipment safety
- Assessment of patient/caregiver ability to administer pulmonary medications as ordered and management/education of dosage and delivery devices to prevent complications/infection
- Education about pulmonary medications
- Education about energy conservation, diaphragmatic breathing and relation techniques
- Education about productive coughing and deep breathing exercises such as pursed-lip and diaphragmatic breathing
- Facilitation of screening patients who experience oxygen deprivation at night and upon exertion
