The transition from hospital to home is a high-risk period for patients. One out of 5 patients suffers an adverse event shortly after discharge, with about one-third of events deemed preventable. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Few interventional studies have focused on improving the hospital-to-home transition for patients with COPD. These patients have specific needs that are not the focus of general transitional care programs. For example, patients with COPD report needing information about COPD and how to manage it. About half lack the skills for proper inhaler use, and many do not know how to manage “breathlessness episodes” and detect early signs of acute exacerbations.
