COPD Case Study at Columbia Memorial Health, Hudson, NY
“A 54-year-old woman with a known history of COPD has been actively monitored through UTM’s Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) system for the past two years. Recently, her pulse oximetry readings began trending dangerously low—dropping to 85–87% over a three-day period, well below her typical range of 93–95%.
Upon contact, the patient reported experiencing flu-like symptoms for nearly three weeks. Despite multiple attempts, she was unable to secure a timely appointment with her pulmonologist, who was booked out for another month. In the interim, she sought care at an urgent care facility where she was tested for both influenza and COVID-19, but results were negative, leaving her without a clear diagnosis or treatment plan.
UTM’s software recognized the urgency of her declining oxygen levels and prolonged illness, so I escalated the case to our care team. The case manager promptly sent a direct message to the patient’s pulmonologist, including a summary of her vital signs from the past month. The response was swift: the pulmonologist contacted the patient the same day, prescribed antibiotics and steroids, and scheduled her for an in-office visit within 48 hours.
At the appointment, she was diagnosed with a severe case of influenza—an illness that, if left untreated, could have significantly worsened her COPD. The patient expressed deep appreciation for the intervention, crediting the UTM system and care coordination for facilitating rapid access to her specialist and ensuring she received timely, appropriate treatment.” – Jack Love .RN