Home Oxygen Instructions for Discharged Patients With COVID-19

This instructional video explaining proper use of home oxygen equipment was one component of a program used by a Southern California health system in 2020 to manage acute care supply and demand during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinically stable patients with low-level oxygen requirements who could safely manage the equipment could be discharged to home or quarantine housing if

• They were clinically stable and required at least 3 L per minute of nasal cannula oxygen to achieve at least 92% oxygen saturation

• Processes were in place to ensure reliable equipment delivery and vendor access postdischarge, including stocking portable oxygen and pulse oximeters in the emergency department so patients could be sent home directly from the emergency department after hours without waiting until business hours the next day

• Nurses with physician support if needed called within the first 12 to 18 hours postdischarge to follow up

In an evaluation of the program, patients discharged under these conditions had low rates of mortality and return admission within 30 days of discharge.

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