Respiratory disease management.   Respiratory disease, which includes asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is one of the most debilitating chronic conditions. The fear and anxiety that people feel when they can’t breathe or when they see their child gasping for air can be crippling. Often, the sense of panic lasts far longer than the immediate acute episode. While asthma and COPD are both respiratory conditions, they have distinctly different impacts within the workforce. The prevalence of COPD increases with age and smoking status. A full 53% of people aged 55 to 64 with COPD cite the condition as a primary factor limiting their ability to work. Asthma on the other hand is more likely to impact the young than any other age group. For employees, absenteeism often is driven by the need to care for children with the condition. Medical and pharmaceutical treatment costs, along with the cost of missed time from work and school, totals an estimated $14 billion in asthma-related costs annually.

The common denominator between asthma and COPD is that, like most chronic diseases, the conditions can be managed. People with respiratory disease can control their conditions to avoid acute episodes and reduce reliance on costly medical interventions by understanding and complying with medication treatments, managing their environments, and learning self-assessment strategies.

Cardium Health offers respiratory disease management for employer groups and other benefit plan sponsors, featuring AirLogix. With a people-centered, integrated and multi-disciplinary approach, we help individuals move from knowing what they should do to control asthma and COPD to actually doing it. Through one-on-one telephonic counseling and educational mailings, participants gain a better understanding of what happens during an episode, how their medications work, how to identify and manage early warning signs, and how exercise and simple lifestyle changes can improve quality of life.

Employers who provide a respiratory disease management program for their employees realize demonstrated dollar-for-dollar savings by reducing the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to asthma and COPD. Beyond this, the incalculable benefits of reduced absenteeism and improved productivity translate into higher margins and happier, healthier workplace environments.

	Objectives	Counselor Interventions
	Reduce use of rescue inhaler Improve the quality of life of participants with respect to performance of activities in their daily life Reduce daytime and nighttime symptoms Increase medication compliance Encourage self-management	Disease-specific education    - Identify early warning signs    - Develop an action plan Diagnostic testing education    - Peak flow meter use Medication Compliance    - Education    - Adjustment    - Administration
	Reduce ER visits and hospitalizations Improve the quality of life of participants with respect to performance of activities in their daily life Increase medication compliance Encourage self-management	Disease-specific education    - Identify early warning signs    - Develop an action plan Diagnostic testing education Medication Compliance    - Education    - Adjustment    - Administration Reinforce importance of breathing exercises

additional resources
Respiratory Disease Management  [ PDF 76KB ]   |   Participant Scenario  [ Pop-Up ]

resources for plan sponsors
Respiratory Disease Management   [ PDF 73KB ]

related links
Real Caring   |   Standards of Care