In-hospital management of COPD is complex.  It requires a multidisciplinary team, which involves the hospitalist physician, the pulmonologist, the respiratory therapist, both physical and occupational therapy, and a case management team to interact with the patient and their family.

The case management component is critical in looking ahead.  Is this patient to be discharged home?  Will they need to go to rehabilitation?  Additionally, will a visiting nurse need to visit the patient to ensure that their clinical condition is improving and to alert their provider about symptoms that hopefully can be treated in the outpatient setting to prevent readmission?  Can the available durable medical equipment (DME) company provide the equipment that will be needed and educate and monitor the patient, and are there tools in place to follow the patient?  Do they have an appointment with their pulmonologist or their primary care physician in order to manage and optimize their disease in the outpatient setting and to limit the rate of rehospitalizations?