LINKING NURSING, PHARMACY, RESPIRATORY THERAPY, AND EPIDEMIOLOGY MODELS IN ENHANCING OUTCOMES AND SHORTENING HOSPITAL STAY IN ELDERLY COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

Abstract

The management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly (age ≤ 65) is challenged by multi-morbidity, polypharmacy, and high risk of functional decline, leading to extended hospital stays (LOS) and high readmission rates. Traditional, fragmented care models fail to adequately address this complexity. The purpose of this paper is to articulate a Unified Interprofessional Pathway (UIP) that strategically links core, evidence-based models from Nursing, Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy (RT), and Epidemiology to achieve demonstrable enhancements in patient outcomes and significant reductions in LOS. The methodology involves synthesizing the specialized knowledge of these four disciplines into a continuous, synchronized care pathway. Key findings reveal that the integration creates a powerful synergy: Epidemiology informs Pharmacy’s immediate, targeted Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) for rapid treatment efficacy; concurrently, Nursing’s functional preservation protocols (ACE models) are coordinated with RT’s pulmonary optimization strategies (weaning protocols) to accelerate physical recovery. This interprofessional synchronization, executed via a Daily Collaborative Huddle, transforms sequential decision-making into parallel goal achievement, proactively removing barriers to discharge. The UIP's operational focus on key milestones—such as time to IV-to-PO conversion (Pharmacy-Nursing) and achievement of independent ambulation (Nursing-RT)—is projected to significantly reduce the mean LOS while maintaining patient safety, as evidenced by low 30-day readmission rates. This model establishes that collaborative linkage across these four disciplines is an imperative standard for optimizing resource utilization and enhancing patient safety in elderly CAP management.