Improving Referral Patterns for Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Interventional Pulmonology
• Quality Improvement Science

Background:

• Severe emphysema and hyperinflation often require advanced treatments.
• Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) offers a minimally invasive option for select patients.
• Current referral strategies for BLVR are not scalable, limiting patient access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the identification and referral process for BLVR candidates.
• To implement a scalable strategy within a large Veterans Affairs academic medical center.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project was conducted.
• Case identification was integrated into pulmonary function testing reports.
• Provider education on BLVR indications and referral was provided.

Main Results:

• The implemented strategy significantly increased referral rates for BLVR.
• Integrating identification into routine testing proved effective.

Conclusions:

• Provider education combined with integrated case identification improves BLVR referrals.
• This scalable strategy can enhance patient access to advanced lung disease therapies.