Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Support for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Living with COPD can feel like a weight on your chest – for patients, their families, and the clinicians coordinating their long-term care. Centrica Care Navigators has deep experience in supporting individuals with advanced pulmonary disease. We partner with you to optimize symptom control, reduce hospitalizations, and improve quality of life.
Why Refer Your Patients Living with COPD to Centrica?
Our interdisciplinary team (physicians, nurses, social workers, aides and chaplains) works to control dyspnea, cough, fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbance and other common COPD-related symptoms.
Through close monitoring, timely interventions, home support and care coordination, we aim to reduce exacerbation rates, ED visits and hospital admissions.
We facilitate early conversations about care preferences, advance directives and escalation plans (e.g., noninvasive ventilation, intubation, do-not-resuscitate) so decisions align with patient values rather than crisis-driven choices.
We integrate with your care team so transitions are smooth, redundant treatments are minimized, and patients don’t fall through the cracks.
COPD impacts more than the lungs. We offer patient education, breathing techniques, emotional support and caregiver resources (respite, training, support groups).
Our clinical team is available around the clock for urgent symptom assessments, guidance or triage support.
Hospice Eligibility for COPD Patients
Patients with moderate-to-severe or advanced COPD meeting one or more of the following:
- Persistent severe dyspnea at rest or on minimal exertion despite optimal therapy
- ≥ 2 moderate or ≥ 1 severe COPD exacerbations in the past 12 months
- Frequent hospital admissions or ED visits for COPD or related complications
- Documented decline in functional status (e.g., needing assistance with ADLs, weight loss, deconditioning)
- Hypoxemia requiring supplemental oxygen or hypercapnia/ventilatory insufficiency
- Coexisting comorbidities complicating COPD care (e.g., heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, bronchiectasis)
- Symptoms refractory to maximal medical therapy
- Patient and/or family express desire to shift focus toward symptom relief, quality of life or comfort care
Timely Referrals Matter
Early referrals allow patients to fully benefit from hospice and palliative services, maximizing quality of life for the patient and family caregivers while minimizing unnecessary hospitalizations.
Professional Benefits of Referral
Enhanced patient outcomes: Fewer exacerbations, less acute care usage, better symptom control
Streamlined care: We function as a seamless extension of your care team, keeping you involved to the extent your team desires
Expert support: Access to specialized pulmonary and palliative expertise
Communication and feedback: Regular updates, direct lines to our team, close coordination
Patient and family satisfaction: Better quality of life, fewer crises, greater alignment with patient wishes
Ready to Refer?
Connect with Centrica Care Navigators to discuss your patient’s needs or to learn more about how hospice and palliative care can transform care for individuals living with COPD.
