Innovations in Treating COPD Exacerbations: Pilot Project on Action Plans Using New Technology.

"Behavioral: Self-management education on the use of a self-administered prescription for exacerbation.~Patients will be instructed to start treatment within 48 hours of experiencing an acute exacerbation of COPD and/or after starting their self-administered prescription."

Phone Self-Assessment/Reporting System. The second component of the intervention is the use of a computer-linked interactive phone assessment/reporting system that can assess respiratory status and notify the nurse case manager as needed

Support:Nurse Case Manager Phone Support . The nurse case manager will call patients under two conditions. The first is to provide regularly scheduled follow-up education and support.The nurse case manager will also phone patients in response to answers they have provided to the phone system. i.e Worsening COPD status