This is the second of a two-part article intended for respiratory therapists on avoiding preventable COPD readmissions. In this article, the authors discuss nonpharmocologic COPD treatment approaches, including smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, the treatment of patients according to GOLD guideline classification, the use of action plans in the prevention of COPD exacerbations and issues surrounding the use of readmissions as quality outcome measures.

Part One of this article series can be found here: http://www.rtmagazine.com/2013/10/avoiding-readmissions-due-to-aecopd-part-one/