Effect of Implementing an Informatization Case Management Model on the Management of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in a General Hospital: Retrospective Controlled Study.

Background: The use of chronic disease information systems in hospitals and communities plays a significant role in disease prevention, control, and monitoring. However, there are several limitations to these systems, including that the platforms are generally isolated, the patient health information and medical resources are not effectively integrated, and the "Internet Plus Healthcare" technology model is not implemented throughout the patient consultation process.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the application of a hospital case management information system in a general hospital in the context of chronic respiratory diseases as a model case.

Methods: A chronic disease management information system was developed for use in general hospitals based on internet technology, a chronic disease case management model, and an overall quality management model. Using this system, the case managers provided sophisticated inpatient, outpatient, and home medical services for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Chronic respiratory disease case management quality indicators (number of managed cases, number of patients accepting routine follow-up services, follow-up visit rate, pulmonary function test rate, admission rate for acute exacerbations, chronic respiratory diseases knowledge awareness rate, and patient satisfaction) were evaluated before (2019-2020) and after (2021-2022) implementation of the chronic disease management information system.

Results: Before implementation of the chronic disease management information system, 1808 cases were managed in the general hospital, and an average of 603 (SD 137) people were provided with routine follow-up services. After use of the information system, 5868 cases were managed and 2056 (SD 211) patients were routinely followed-up, representing a significant increase of 3.2 and 3.4 times the respective values before use (U=342.779; P<.001). With respect to the quality of case management, compared to the indicators measured before use, the achievement rate of follow-up examination increased by 50.2%, the achievement rate of the pulmonary function test increased by 26.2%, the awareness rate of chronic respiratory disease knowledge increased by 20.1%, the retention rate increased by 16.3%, and the patient satisfaction rate increased by 9.6% (all P<.001), while the admission rate of acute exacerbation decreased by 42.4% (P<.001) after use of the chronic disease management information system.

Conclusions: Use of a chronic disease management information system improves the quality of chronic respiratory disease case management and reduces the admission rate of patients owing to acute exacerbations of their diseases.