Gaps in the inpatient management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation and impact of an evidence-based order set

"Evidence-based, guideline-recommended practices improve multiple outcomes in patients admitted with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), but are incompletely implemented in actual practice. Admission order sets with evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic guidance have enabled quality improvement and guideline implementation in other conditions. To characterize the magnitude of care gaps and the effect of order sets on quality of care in patients with AECOPD, the authors prospectively designed a standardized chart review protocol to document process of care and health care utilization before and after implementation of AECOPD order sets at an academic hospital in Toronto, Ontario."