Faith is a 56-year-old female with an immune deficiency, COPD, and multiple chronic conditions that were exacerbated by severe anxiety. She had recently been discharged from the hospital when she was identified by Spiras Health.

Enrolling in the Spiras Care Program

Spiras talked with Faith on the phone and she agreed to participate in the program. Spiras also contacted Faith’s physician to discuss ways Spiras could help in her care. Her physician commented he “was glad Spiras is seeing her in the home.”

When the Spiras Care team member met Faith in her home, her COPD was confirmed by spirometry. The results were given to her physician. An emergency kit was given to her for future COPD exacerbations. Faith described her hospitalization as a complication from seasonal flu. Her Spiras Care nurse discussed ways to avoid the flu including helping her receive a flu vaccination.

Spiras Care 24/7 Clinical Support Line

One morning, Faith called Spiras Care 24/7 Clinical Support Line and complained of shortness of breath. She was not responding to additional nebulizer treatments. She said her sputum was normal, so Faith’s Spiras Care nurse practitioner reviewed strategies they had already discussed to manage her anxiety. The clinician started her on a short dose of prednisone for the inflammation in her lungs. Later that evening, Faith told her Spiras Care team that her breathing was normal and she was not experiencing anxiety.

Later that week, Faith called again with shortness of breath. This time, she reported that her sputum had changed color. Fearing infection, the Spiras nurse practitioner consulted with Faith’s pulmonologist. Both agreed she needed to be seen immediately and begin taking an antibiotic for her COPD exacerbation.

Following up with Spiras Care clinicians

The pulmonologist commented that he didn’t have a spot on his schedule to see her. He was going to be on vacation the following week, so he asked Spiras Health to see her. That day, Spiras Care prescribed the antibiotic, which Faith started immediately. When the Spiras Care team followed up with her, it was evident that she had responded well to medications. Faith’s breathing was normal and she was clear of any infection.