Home Oxygen Safety in an Urban Population: A Multipronged Approach

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Home oxygen therapy is vital for severe chronic hypoxic lung disease but carries risks of burns and fires.
• Limited data exists on fire/burn risk factors in urban populations using home oxygen post-hospitalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for home oxygen-related fires and burns in an urban patient population.
• To analyze high-risk patients requiring emergency interventions for safety concerns.

Main Methods:

• A 7-year retrospective chart review of 1,301 patients discharged on home oxygen.
• Detailed analysis of 26 highest-risk patients identified by nurses and reviewed by an Emergency Committee.

Main Results:

• Key risk factors included active smoking (85%), substance use disorder (46%), and psychiatric disease/unreliable caregiver (19%).
• Primary care physicians were unaware of home oxygen use in 35% of high-risk cases.
• A Home Oxygen Safety Committee was formed to improve safety through EHR, infrastructure, and education.

Conclusions:

• Home oxygen fires/burns are rare but severe, necessitating improved safety measures.
• Integrating home oxygen into medication lists at discharge and in ambulatory settings can enhance care transitions for vulnerable patients.