2. Breathlessness project
A Respiratory Quality Improvement Project
“Breathlessness is a common symptom which can be caused by a
number of different conditions. Early diagnosis of the cause of
breathlessness can improve outcomes for patients.
The aim of this pilot breathlessness project is to test new
models of care to facilitate access to diagnostics and accurate
diagnosis in an efficient and effective way.”
3. Three Test Sites
Grange
Bordon
Wickham
Surgery Location (semi-rural) Patient list size
(1) Wickham West Hampshire 12,113
(2) Badgerswood South East Hampshire 12,540
(3) The Grange South East Hampshire 6,500
4. Ken’s Journey
• Age 57 years
• Breathless with wheeze
(MRC 2)
• Worse at work (a life long
welder)
• Ex-smoker; 10 pack year
• Time off work, poor QOL
• Spirometry fixed
moderate obstruction
• Normal cardiac
assessment
• FeNO 50 ppb
• +ve skin prick testing
grass, tree and HDM
5. GRASP Inclusion Criteria
107
COPD
case-finding search
Asthma
case-finding search
Excluded diagnosed conditions related to breathlessness e.g. COPD, heart failure
Heart failure case-finding
search
972
130
357
6. Practice records search - case finding
COPD
914
HF
52
Asthma
180
COPD
58
HF
78
Asthma
177
68
6
13
GRASP 87 Patients
Manual filter 34 patients
Patient attendance 19
Surgery
1&2
20
Surgery 3
GRASP 313 Patients
Manual filter35 patients
Patient attendance 23
10. 6 month evaluation
Patients 12 months
Pre clinic
6 months post clinic
(Aug – Feb 2016 )
GP non-elective/OOH visits
1 > exacerbations
46 3
1> ED Visits 5 0
1> Hospitalisations 3 0
Deaths - 0
Moved from area - 2
Improved Compliance - 16
11. Initial Health Economics
• Cost per patient of clinic attendance £142
– Includes GRASP identification, manual search, medical,
nursing and admin staff for clinic
• National tariff for new patient outpatient appointment
– Respiratory multi professional £241
– Cardiology multi professional £189
» excluding market forces factor and additional investigations
• Reduction in:
– GP (£45) and OOH visits (£114), plus £41 per prescription
– ED visit
– Hospital admissions
12. Ken’s Journey
Continued
“The team coming to the surgery
was beneficial to me. It reassured
me having all the tests done and I
am so very pleased with what
they have done. I am very
satisfied and impressed. Thank
you!”
• Further tests in
secondary care
• PEFR diary, CT scan and
lung function testing
• Diagnosed workplace
asthma
• Bespoke treatment and
self-management
• Improved quality of life
14. Summary
• Specialist secondary care case-finder breathlessness
clinics in primary care can:
• Identify at risk patients and accurately confirm diagnosis
• Optimise treatment and improve management
• Specialists clinics allow for:
• Tailored HCP education and mentorship clinic
• Reduction in secondary care referrals
• Early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes
• ‘Joined up’ care
16. Patient Journey
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
GP visit
Diagnosis
Assessme
nt
Drug
treatment
s i.e.
relievers/a
ntibiotics
Practice
Nurse
Visit
Review 2
weeks
after
diagnosis
GP Visit
PF
Spirometr
y
Drug
treatment
Chest X-
ray at
hospital
GP Visit
Review &
Treat
PN Visit
Review &
Treat
ED Visit
Review &
Treat:
Nebs
Steroids
GP Visit
Within 7
days
Step up
treatment
Hospital
Admissi
on
MAU
LOS
X-ray
Drugs
Tests i.e.
BT/PF/etc
Outpati
ent visit
(1)
Spir/LFT X-
ray/BT
Rxs/Ass/
Sats/Histo
ry/comorb
idities/refl
ux
Outpati
ent visit
(2)
Rx/Treatm
ent
escalated
GP Visit
1 or 2
visits to
GP
Could
have 2nd
admission
GP or
consulta
nt
referral
to
severe
asthma
clinic
Consult
ants and
specialis
ts X 7
visits
1
GP Visit
(1st)
£
2
PN Visit
(2nd)
£
3
GP Visit
(3rd)
£
4
Chest X-
Ray
£
5
GP Visit
(3rd)
£
6
PN Visit
(4th)
£
ED Visit
7
£
8
GP Visit
£
9
Admission
to hospital
£
1
0
£
1
1
Outpatient
visit (2)
£
1
2GP Visit
£
1
3
Consultant
/GP Referral
£xx
Respiratory
Clinic
1
4
• There could be up to 14 steps in a 12 month patient journey prior to referral to a
respiratory clinic.
• The patient may have had more than one admission into hospital (50% of all asthma
admissions are severe asthmatics)
Factor in x 2
Admissions PBR Tariff
Outpatient
visit (1)
22. 5 Reasons
1. Improving the lives of patients with breathlessness
2. High quality ‘breathlessness’ investigations in the
right place at the right time
3. Innovative and integration approach of diagnostic
tools, clinical teams and digital platforms leading to
exceptional health outcomes in patients with
breathlessness
4. Flexible service personalised for each patient,
empowering self-management
5. Leaving a legacy of education and strong networks
23. Winner of HSJ Value Award in Use of
Diagnostics 2015!
“Our winner has a fantastic multidisciplinary team approach.
The impact is excellent, well evaluated and it works with high
risk patients, which in the longer term will reduce death rates.”
Notes de l'éditeur
Improving in disease control, quality of life, optimisation of medication and self-management
Manual reviewed for – ED visits, ooh visits and hospital admissions and excluded other known diagnosed conditions relating to SOB e.g. respiratory, cardiac, thyroid conditions
GP reviewed
Patient Review – physiologist – medical consultant review and respiratory nurse review
Developed breathlessness CRF
Mentorship clinics with nurses and G.P’s
Education sessions – differential diagnosis and spirometry interpretation
Respiratory nurse follow -up
There are some causes of SOB that we just can’t do anything about!