Using Respiratory Care Practitioners to Reduce Readmissions by Managing Cardiopulmonary Patients in a Skilled Nursing Facility

Patients with complex cardiopulmonary disorders pose unique challenges to acute and post-acute care teams. They present with multiple comorbidities, are at high risk for hospital readmission, and struggle with adherence to their treatment regimens. Despite their medical challenges, however, they are typically discharged from acute care with no respiratory support. When seen in the skilled nursing facility (SNF), they require a higher level of care than most SNFs can successfully provide. The goal of this pilot was to determine if the addition of a respiratory care practitioner (RCP) to the interdisciplinary care team at a SNF could reduce readmissions in complex cardiopulmonary patients.