Navigating Care After a COPD Hospitalization

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations in the United States. In 2023, there were over 312,000 COPD-related hospitalizations and 977,000 emergency room visits. After any stay in the hospital, it is normal to feel relieved, but also nervous about returning home. Most patients are sent home with new management instructions that may require the use of new medications along with old ones, learning to monitor symptoms and attending follow-up medical appointments. This coordination is important because rehospitalization for COPD is common, as studies show that COPD patients have an increased risk of being readmitted within 30 days of discharge.

We talked with Dr. Bobby Shah, a board-certified physician from Cardio-Pulmonary Associates in Missouri and Donna, a patient living with COPD, to better understand the healthcare provider and patient perspective of safely returning home from the hospital.

A Healthcare Provider’s Perspective on Transitioning Home

Before you are sent home from the hospital, the healthcare team will review your discharge plan. “Your discharge plan is a set of instructions designed to lower your risk of another COPD exacerbation and help keep you safe at home,” explains Dr. Shah. During the discharge planning, when possible, a caregiver or family member should be there to help take notes or ask questions. However, that is not always possible, and patients may need to advocate for their own lung health. At home, if you have limited support, part of the discharge planning may include a referral to outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation or homecare services to help with daily activities.

Dr. Shah also stressed that within seven to 10 days of being discharged, patients with COPD should be sure to follow up with their primary healthcare provider or pulmonologist. “These appointments may help prevent another hospitalization,” says Dr. Shah. “I encourage all my patients to schedule these appointments, even if they are feeling better.”

During the follow-up appointment, Dr. Shah (and other healthcare providers) will:

• Review new and old medications and address side effects
• Review any lab or test results from the hospital
• Assess symptoms and need for supplemental oxygen
• Assess and address other health conditions, such as heart disease or pneumonia, which may increase the risk of a rehospitalization
• Provide patient education, such as advising about keeping vaccinations up-to-date or evidence-based strategies to quit smoking

“People living with COPD have a higher risk of developing other health (comorbid) conditions such as high blood pressure, anxiety and/or depression,” Dr Shah explains. That is why an important step in COPD care after an exacerbation includes addressing other chronic health conditions. “These conditions often coexist with COPD and if left untreated, may worsen your COPD outcomes.”  

A Patient’s Perspective on Life After Hospitalization

Donna has been living with emphysema, asthma and allergies for over 30 years and resides in Tennessee. Although for many years her COPD was mild and under control, as the condition progressed, she began needing additional medications and supplemental oxygen.

In late 2025, Donna developed a lung infection, which triggered a severe COPD exacerbation.  As a result, she went to the hospital. When discharged, she said, “it was hard, I live alone and I do not have a strong support system.” Managing her recovery at home was not easy because she was sick for the next ten days. But she remained vigilant looking for signs that her COPD was worsening or her oxygen levels were dropping. For her medications, she developed a tracking sheet to help her coordinate when to take each medication. She stuck to a healthy and consistent diet, even when she didn’t have the energy to eat. When she started to feel better, she would do light exercises at home to help regain her strength and endurance.  

Although difficult, Donna managed to follow her discharge plan. But she struggled with one crucial recommendation— to quit smoking. Donna has attempted many times to quit, turning to classes and over the phone counseling to help her stay tobacco free, but she repeatedly relapsed back to smoking. “I felt like I was drowning and did not have the support I needed,” Donna explained. She decided she needed more assistance to help her manage her COPD and quit smoking.  

Shortly after returning home from the hospital, Donna enrolled in the American Lung Association’s COPD Lung Health Navigator Program. Over the next two months, Donna worked one on one, over the phone with Tiffany, a respiratory therapist and Lung Health Navigator. During each session, they talked about ways to better manage her COPD, cope with stress and proven-effective strategies to quit smoking.

As of January 2026, Donna is smokefree. “I still have the urge to smoke, especially when I get stressed,” she said. “Although hard, I know the urge will pass whether I pick up a cigarette or not. So, I try to find ways to deal with these urges.” Since quitting, she has noticed an improvement in her activity and energy levels. Slowly, she began to exercise more often and uses the treadmill at home.

Since participating in the Lung Health Navigator program, Donna has taken her COPD management more seriously and is determined not to let COPD stop her from enjoying life. In April 2026, she went on a three-week road trip to visit friends and traveled across the country. This would never have been possible without thorough planning and coordination. Donna credits the one-on-one support she received from Tiffany through the Navigator program to help her feel more prepared to manage her COPD. Through this program, she has become a better advocate for herself and shares her story to help others understand they are not alone. She said, “it is so important to not stop doing things you enjoy. You can still do things, but just differently."

“By following your discharge plan and working with your healthcare team, you can take important steps to stay safe while recovering from a COPD exacerbation,” says Dr. Shah. Learn more about working with a Lung Health Navigator and returning from the hospital after a COPD hospitalization at Lung.org/COPD.

Educational materials were developed with support from Sanofi, Regeneron, Genentech and AstraZeneca.