RAPID
Respiratory
Acceleration
Pathway for
Identification &
Diagnosis
70% of patients who experience a respiratory event never reach a specialist* specialist1
The Case for Change
People presenting to Urgent Care or the Emergency Department with respiratory symptoms are often stabilized and discharged without a specialist evaluation.
70
%
Never
Reach a
Specialist
Impact of Clinical Practice Gaps on Respiratory Diagnoses
Illustrative model demonstrating cumulative patient leakage across the ED-to-diagnosis pathway, based on AHIS research on under-diagnosis, discharge without follow-up, and delayed access to specialty care
The
Opportunity
Every patient who reaches a specialist represents a chance to change the trajectory of respiratory disease.
Earlier Diagnosis
Reduce years of undiagnosed disease
Fewer Repeat ED Visits
Address underlying disease before the next crisis
Earlier
Treatment
Start evidence-based care sooner
Better
Outcomes
Improve quality of life and disease control
PHASE 1 ACTIVITIES
Convene
Patients, Emergency Medicine, Pulmonology, health systems, and sponsoring organizations
Design
Develop patient identification criteria, referral pathways, and diagnostic workflows
Pilot
Test the model in real-world UC/ED setting
Measure
Evaluate implementation, diagnostic acceleration, and patient engagement
Scale
Expand successful approaches across health systems and respiratory diseases