People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rural areas sometimes have trouble finding care. They may have a hard time getting health information. That’s why the CLEAR program—COPD Learning, Education, Awareness, and Rehabilitation—is helping in the rural areas of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. The COPD Foundation works with pulmonary rehab programs in these areas to find people living with COPD. These programs help people with chronic lung conditions improve their daily lives through exercise and education. These local programs offered free COPD screenings and education right in their communities. Here’s what we have done so far:
Raised Awareness Across the Region
The COPD Foundation started a campaign that reached more than 3.4 million people in the tri-state area. It helped people learn about their risk of COPD. It also promoted free screening events in the region. Billboards, radio ads, newspapers, and social media were all used to help more people find out about their COPD risk.
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Free Screening and Education Events
Between April and May 2025, we partnered with local health care centers to host free COPD screening and education events in Portsmouth, OH; Huntington, WV; Catlettsburg, KY; and Ashland, KY. Over 100 people were screened at these events. Thanks to our community partner, St. Mary’s Medical Center, these events received great feedback and will continue through the Fall.
Empowered Pulmonary Rehab Programs
Pulmonary rehab programs in the area received “fit kits” for their participants. These kits had free educational materials and other helpful items such as water bottles and towels. The programs are sharing their thoughts on pulmonary rehab practices in their area and the kits!
What’s Next and How You Can Learn More!
Starting in July, we're launching a new round of our awareness campaign. This time, we'll focus on how important pulmonary rehab is. If you live in this tri-state area, watch for ads in the newspaper and on Facebook, and share them with your friends! If you’ve never tried pulmonary rehab, ask your health care provider about options nearby. If there isn’t one near you, think about a virtual pulmonary rehab program.
For more information on Pulmonary Rehab, visit our website and listen to people tell their stories. If you have questions about CLEAR, drop them below or email the education team at edteam@copdfoundation.org.