Video Telehealth Pulmonary Rehabilitation to Reduce Hospital Readmission in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 40 or greater

2. Clinical diagnosis of COPD

3. Hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD.

4. Be willing to adhere to trial and follow-up procedures and give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Secondary diagnosis of congestive heart failure that is severe as documented byactive symptoms, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification IV orleft ventricular ejection fraction <25% on echocardiography

2. Other respiratory conditions that could confound the diagnosis such as asthma,pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and lung cancer. Participants with pneumonicexacerbations of COPD will be included.

3. Primary diagnosis of COVID pneumonia. Individuals with incidentally detected COVIDor persistently positive for COVID but deemed to be convalescent will not beexcluded.

4. Active cancers on chemotherapy or radiation therapy

5. Immunosuppressed states predisposing to frequent hospitalizations includinguncontrolled HIV/AIDS

6. Active or recent (within 1 month) myocardial infarction

7. Angina not well-controlled by medication

8. Unstable cardiac arrhythmias, atrial or ventricular

9. Supplemental oxygen requirement greater than 5 liters per minute at either rest orwith exertion

10. Significant cognitive dysfunction, including dementia, that in opinion ofinvestigator would impair ability to safely or effectively engage in study protocol

11. Participants with any terminal medical illnesses as diagnosed by a physician, and/oron hospice

12. Currently enrolled in and participating in pulmonary rehabilitation

13. Treatment with chronic or newly initiated home ventilatory support. Those onin-patient short-term non-invasive ventilation will not be excluded.

14. Special patient groups such as prisoners and institutionalized patients

15. Participants with musculoskeletal comorbidities or physical infirmities thatpreclude participation in an exercise program

16. Current participation in any other interventional clinical trial

17. Inability to understand and speak English during exercise sessions

18. Inability or unwillingness to comply with study and/or follow-up procedures outlinedin the protocol