St. Tammany Quality Network (STQN) presented its Medical Director’s Award for the second quarter of 2024 to Rick Casey, MD, for his leadership in helping to develop the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) transitions of care program.
“Dr. Casey has been a leader in developing a much-needed program that assists high-risk patients diagnosed with advanced COPD,” said Michael K. Hill, MD, STQN medical director. “These are patients who have frequent visits to the emergency room and have multiple hospital admissions. With close home monitoring and proactive intervention, many of them can spend more time at home with their family and have a better quality of life.”
COPD is a common disease usually seen in patients that are or have been smokers, although it can occur in non-smokers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 14 million adults in the United States have physician-diagnosed COPD, which is one of the most frequent diagnoses resulting in intensive care admissions. These patients tend to have prolonged hospital stays and recovery time.
The program incorporates a multidisciplinary approach stressing smoking cessation, exercise when appropriate, and pulmonary rehab for qualifying patients. Because of close home monitoring, providers are alerted to subtle changes in a patient’s condition that might lead to a deterioration in pulmonary status. Timely intervention can then be initiated.
Casey has been on the medical staff at St. Tammany Health System for 28 years. He served as the chief of staff of the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital in 2021 and is boarded in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. He is a member of Northlake Pulmonary Associates, which is part of St. Tammany Physician’s Network.