Bronchodilators can be effective in reducing COPD symptoms - Smoking cessation is the key treatment, but patients with chronic COPD benefit from long-acting anticholinergics - Managed Healthcare
BlueChoice monitors COPD patient outcomes. In 2006, there were 5.5 ER visits per thousand members with COPD, down from 7.7
the previous year, a 28% drop. Hospital admissions declined from 65 per thousand in 2005 to 48.5 in 2006. Average length of
stay was 4.7 days in 2004, 4.8 days in 2005, and 3.8 days in 2006.
SPECIALIZED PHARMACISTS
Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc., has set up a specialized COPD Therapeutic Resource Center in Spokane,
Wash. Pharmacists who work at this center have a focused practice, working with COPD patients.
"Pulmonary disorders are complex, and sometimes it's difficult for patients to understand which medications they should be
taking depending on their symptoms," says Ron Erkens, RPh, pulmonary specialist pharmacist. "If patients aren't using bronchodilators
regularly, we reach out to them by phone to find out what the obstacles may be."
Elaine Zablocki has been reporting on healthcare for more than a dozen years. She can be reached at mhc@ezab.net
This article is based on information supplied by The Medical Letter http:// http://www.medicalletter.org/) ( http://www.medicalletter.org/),
a non-profit organization that publishes newsletters offering critical appraisals of new drugs and comparative reviews of
older drugs. The Medical Letter is completely independent of the pharmaceutical industry. It is supported entirely by subscription
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