Non-profit partners with telehealth firm on virtual rehab for COPD patients

Image of doctor holding a tablet with a graphic display of lungs

For physicians treating patients with COPD, getting those patients to complete their therapy following hospitalization is a big challenge.

The COPD Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established to improve the lives of people with COPD and other respiratory illnesses, has partnered with Kivo Health, a company that provides telehealth pulmonary rehab for COPD patients to improve access to virtual pulmonary rehabilitation.

The program provides patients with an in-home rehab kit that includes a tablet and wristwatch, real-time oxygen and heart rate monitoring, guided breathing exercises, and lung health education with a credentialed respiratory therapist.

COPD Foundation CEO Jean Wright, MD, said pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to reduce symptoms, mortality, and costs for COPD patients.

Dr. Wright said patients don’t need to be tech savvy or have internet access to use the kit, which has resulted in a nearly 90% adherence rate.

According to Dr. Wright, the majority of patients fail to complete their therapy after hospitalization due to severe symptoms, transportation barriers, travel costs or other factors limiting access to care. Kivo Health’s 8-week, Medicare-supported pulmonary rehab program is aimed at removing those barriers.

 

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