Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic, long-term illness strongly influenced by co-morbidities, patient and provider knowledge and understanding of the disease process, medications, and adherence to the treatment plan. Poor control and management of COPD leads to frequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, readmissions, poor quality of life and high morbidity and mortality. Working collaboratively with the provider, learning to identify and manage exacerbation symptoms, and appropriate medication utilization, will help to decrease the negative outcomes of COPD. This requires strong patient/provider relationships, effective communication, and thorough instruction and education by the provider with the patient and their family. A COPD-specific after visit summary (AVS) tool completed and reviewed by the provider with the COPD patient at each appointment may assist the patient in successful self-management of their COPD at home, with the overall goal of decreasing emergency department visits and hospitalizations.