The American Association for Homecare is recruiting providers and patients to join a comparative effectiveness study on COPD patients.
Funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the Peer-Led O2 Infoline for Patient and Caregivers (PELICAN) study will examine whether increased patient follow-up and education leads to improved compliance and outcomes.
The study is being conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Breathe Chicago Center, National Jewish Health, LA BioMed, AlphaNet, and the COPD Foundation. Partner organizations include Apria Healthcare, Fitzsimmons Home Medical Equipment, American Association for Respiratory Care, Invacare Corp., Klingensmith Healthcare, Wellspan Medical Equipment, Orbit Medical, Rush University Medical Center, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, and Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.
“As the national association for home medical equipment (HME) providers, AAHomecare is well positioned to help the PELICAN study recruit HME providers and their patients,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “This study will go a long way towards quantifying the impact of peer coaching on adherence and self-management, leading to better patient outcomes.”
Participating HME providers will conduct four home visits to collect information about the oxygen equipment there, as well as the patient’s oxygen prescription. Providers interested in participating should email Peter Rankin at peterr@aahoemcare.org for more information.
For patients to be eligible, they must be at least 18 years old; have COPD; be prescribed for 24-hour oxygen use; expected to live at least six months; and speak English or Spanish. There is no charge to enroll and participants and patients will be compensated.