How the Pulmonology Department at Hospital Ribera Povisa reduced emergency admissions and hospital stays in COPD patients
The Pulmonology Department at Hospital Ribera Povisa, led by Dr. Dolores Corbacho, implemented LOLA, Tucuvi’s clinical voice AI agent, to support home monitoring of patients with COPD.
The program achieved a 43.7% reduction in emergency admissions and a 40% reduction in hospital length of stay, while also reaching a 93% patient recommendation rate.
These results led the project to receive the second prize at the 59th SEPAR Congress, one of the leading scientific conferences in respiratory medicine in Spain.
How does voice AI-based COPD monitoring work?
LOLA continuously monitors patients through automated phone calls using natural voice conversations. During these interactions, it:
- Assesses symptoms and disease progression
- Identifies potential warning signs or deterioration
- Collects relevant health status information
- Detects early signs of exacerbations
- Shares information with the clinical team when intervention is needed
This model expands clinicians’ monitoring capacity without requiring patients to use mobile apps, complex devices, or additional digital tools.
What is the challenge of COPD follow-up outside the hospital?
Care for COPD patients does not end at discharge. Many exacerbations occur at home and, when symptoms are detected late, they often lead to emergency visits or readmissions.
COPD affects around 11.8% of the population over 40 in Spain (EPISCAN II), and exacerbations account for approximately 10% of hospital admissions in the country.
However, providing frequent follow-up for all patients is challenging for healthcare teams, particularly under increasing pressure on healthcare resources. The need is clear: maintain continuous, scalable, and accessible contact without increasing clinicians’ workload.
What results did Hospital Ribera Povisa achieve?
The program delivered significant clinical outcomes:
- 43.7% fewer emergency admissions
- 40% reduction in hospital stays
- 93% patient recommendation rate
- Improved early detection of exacerbations
Beyond clinical indicators, the program also strengthened patients’ sense of support and safety, encouraging greater engagement in their own care.
“This recognition of the LOLA program shows that artificial intelligence, far from distancing us from people, is an extraordinary tool to remove barriers and empower patients in their own care.”
Dr. Dolores Corbacho, Head of the Pulmonology Department, Hospital Ribera Povisa
Recognition at the 2026 SEPAR Congress
The results led Dr. Dolores Corbacho to receive the second prize at the 59th Congress of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) for the project “Empowerment and Continuity in COPD Through Conversational AI (LOLA–Tucuvi)”.
The Ribera Povisa case shows how clinical voice AI can help healthcare teams extend follow-up beyond the hospital setting, identifying risks before they become serious events.
As the prevalence of chronic diseases continues to grow, models like this open new opportunities to improve clinical outcomes, optimize healthcare resources, and deliver more personalized and patient-centered care.
