Q&A: Treating patients with COPD, asthma early through digital, remote monitoring

With sensors and digital resources from Propeller Health, clinicians at UC Davis Health can closely monitor daily activities of patients with COPD and asthma for early intervention, according to a press release from UC Davis Health.

The goal behind this collaboration is to help high-risk patients with these respiratory diseases, and it will do so by combining data from Propeller Health’s platform with the hospital’s electronic health record system, the release said.

According to the release, tools from Propeller Health will allow clinicians to see how often a patient uses their inhaler, “everyday medications” and rescue medication; knowledge of these items will allow for early intervention.

To learn more about this collaboration and digital health monitoring, Healio spoke with Brooks Thomas Kuhn, MD, MAS, associate professor of medicine at UC Davis Health and co-director of the UCD Comprehensive COPD Clinic.

Healio: Why is this collaboration focused on improving care for patients with asthma and COPD? How do you identify patients with asthma and COPD who are eligible to participate?

Kuhn: Patients with severe asthma and COPD suffer from a high burden of symptoms persistently and are marked by acute exacerbations in symptoms. We plan to identify patients with both high levels of baseline dyspnea and frequent/severe exacerbations to apply the Propeller remote patient monitoring tool.

Healio: How will the Propeller program help clinicians at UC Davis Health provide appropriate care to patients in this program?

Kuhn: We chose the Propeller tool to measure controller and rescue inhaler use. This information will both inform our respiratory therapist-led monitoring clinical team, as well as the patient.

Healio: Technologies in the Propeller program send data to the hospital’s EHR system. What data are captured in these records? How could knowledge/monitoring of these data lead to early intervention?

Kuhn: Propeller measures inhaler actuation. Controller medications — daily prescribed respiratory medications — can reduce exacerbations and symptoms if taken regularly. Propeller can help clinicians see if these medications are regularly taken and help remind patients to take these important medications. In addition, rescue inhaler use — short acting medications used as needed for increased dyspnea — can be measured and help identify acute exacerbations early.

Healio: In terms of care, what barriers will be brought down with this collaboration? How will it combat common disparities among these patients?

Kuhn: Barriers to health are exacerbated the physical disfunction and limitation caused from COPD/asthma. Propeller helps limit the need for in-person evaluation with aims to identify and treat acute exacerbations early to prevent hospital and emergency room visits.

Healio: How important is digital monitoring/health technology in caring for patients? What impact do you think these technologies could have on patients with other respiratory diseases?

Kuhn: Digital health is not the future, it is a need for modern, comprehensive care. Remote patient monitoring helps improve care for those at highest risk for decompensation.

Healio: In 1 year from now, what do you hope this collaboration will have accomplished?

Kuhn: We hope to improve access, identify and treat exacerbations early and improve the care of these highly symptomatic patients.

For more information:

Brooks Thomas Kuhn, MD, MAS, can be reached at btkuhn@ucdavis.edu.

References:

UC Davis Health collaborates with Propeller Health to improve clinical outcomes of COPD patients. https://propellerhealth.com/press/press-releases/uc-davis-health-collaborates-with-propeller-health-to-improve-clinical-outcomes-of-copd-patients/. Published March 27, 2023. Accessed March 27, 2023.