UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

Data prior to the development of the role indicated a significant patient need in the area of COPD management at STGH. She has developed the rapid access pathway for patients, telemedicine service to provide reassurance, education and a direct point of contact and a RANP led clinic for diagnosis and management of COPD (no consultant involvement). Nora provides diagnostics, referrals, education, training, support, a direct point of contact for patients and acts as clinician and companion for patients with COPD attesting to her patient focus and advocacy. Nora took the lead in a quality improvement project to improve the care for patients with AECOPD presenting to the ED in STGH. This involved working with physicians, allied health professionals and hospital management to develop an accessible, effective, safe and efficient service for patients presenting with AECOPD. This project has led to the National COPD Improvement Collaborative to replicate the learning at STGH and the service provided by Nora. She was also involved, with Healthy Ireland and the respiratory team in STGH, in the establishment of a support group for COPD patients in September 2019.

This service has proven to be clinically effective with reductions in OPD waiting times of 6 months, increases in the quality of life for COPD sufferers, efficient use of resources and a significant reduction in admission rates among this cohort of patients. Patient satisfaction with the care that Nora provides remains high.

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