Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

DNP Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Committee Chairperson

Cheryl Schlamb, DNP, CRNP

Committee Member

Jacquelyn Owens, DNP, CRNP

Committee Member

Donna Rugh, DNP

Abstract

Abstract

This evidence-based practice Process Improvement (PI) project involves using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) to decrease rehospitalization rates for home health patients with a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The project includes having therapy clinicians complete the CAT during their in-home skilled visits, between home health nursing visits to increase the frequency of completion. The goal is to recognize symptoms of exacerbation early, engage patients in their own care, encourage communication with providers, initiate early intervention at home, and prevent rehospitalization. Patients with COPD experience frequent symptom exacerbations leading to anxiety, poor quality of life, and challenges at transitions of care. A multidisciplinary approach to COPD management improves self-care (McGill, 2020). The rehospitalization rates for the months of November 2023 through February 2024 were compared to the rehospitalization rates of the implementation period of November 2024 through February 2025 for patients with COPD. Regular practice is for Registered Nurses to complete the CAT during home visits. Therapists were educated on use of the CAT to utilize the tool for all patients with COPD during the implementation period. Some barriers were identified through survey and chart review revealing challenges to increased frequency of CAT use during home health episodes.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD Assessment Test, home health, care transitions, COPD management, self-management of COPD, CAT score

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