Power Breathing: A Ready-to-Use Guide for COPD Awareness Month
Key Facts:
- Prevalence: More than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and up to 12 million remain undiagnosed (CDC, 2024).
- Mortality: COPD is the third-leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for ≈ 3.2 million deaths each year (WHO, 2023).
- Risk: Cigarette smoking causes ≈ 75% of COPD deaths; other risks include occupational dust, biomass fuel exposure, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
- Cost: Direct medical expenses and productivity losses total ≈ $49 billion annually in the United States (CDC, 2020).
Editor's Note
This article is part of the BHM Healthcare Awareness Series, designed to provide quick, ready-to-use content and links to official resources for internal staff communications, patient education, and social media.
Feel free to copy, adapt, and share.
Observation Date
November
History & Impact
COPD Awareness Month began in 2007 as part of the NHLBI’s “Learn More ⎯ Breathe Better”® campaign and has since grown into a global movement championed by the COPD Foundation, the American Lung Association, and the World Health Organization. Activities range from workplace “Power Breathing” breaks and community screenings to policy briefings that highlight the disease’s economic burden and the need for early detection.
Why it Matters
- COPD is a leading cause of hospital readmissions and lost productivity, costing the U.S. an estimated $49 billion annually.
- For executives, high COPD prevalence directly affects population-health KPIs, star ratings, and value-based reimbursement.
- Operational teams need turnkey assets to improve screening, smoking-cessation enrollment, and home-oxygen adherence.
Quick Actions for Your Organization
For Leadership
Embed COPD case-finding metrics (e.g., spirometry rates) in population-health dashboards.
Partner with local public-health agencies to offer free screening kiosks during November.
Incorporate pulmonary-rehab coverage and smoking-cessation incentives into benefits design.
For Implementation Teams
Launch a “Know Your Numbers” spirometry day with posters, QR-code sign-ups, and same-day counseling.
Post short lung-health videos on intranet screens and social channels using official campaign hashtags (#COPDAwareness, #PowerBreathing).
Distribute NHLBI’s printable infographics in clinics, pharmacies, and employee break rooms.
Resources
Ready-to-Use Assets
The following links provide resources & information for creating internal or external campaigns to support or promote this healthcare observance. Please vet these resources for alignment with your organization.
Talking Points
Copy & Paste Friendly
“Shortness of breath isn’t normal aging. Early COPD screening can add years of active life—get tested this November.”
“Quitting smoking is the #1 way to slow COPD. Free quit-line: 1-800-QUIT-NOW.”
“Pulmonary rehab cuts hospital readmissions by up to 57%. Ask your provider how to enroll today.”
Disclaimer: Please verify all information, usage rights, and related guidelines with the official observance organizers and your organization’s policies to ensure proper alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How do you measure the success of a COPD awareness campaign in a healthcare organization?
Track COPD campaign KPIs such as the number of spirometry tests ordered, new smoking-cessation program enrollments, and quarterly COPD readmission rates. Compare these metrics to pre-campaign baselines to quantify improvements in early diagnosis and cost savings.
Q2: What is the fastest way to launch an enterprise-wide COPD education program for employees and patients?
Deploy NHLBI’s “Learn More — Breathe Better” toolkit within your intranet, email templates, and digital signage. Because the assets are copy-and-paste ready, most organizations can roll out COPD education materials in 48 hours or less.
Q3: Which partnership yields the best ROI for a COPD screening and awareness initiative?
Co-hosting on-site lung-function screening events with a local pulmonary-rehabilitation center delivers the highest ROI by boosting referral completion, increasing treatment adherence, and reducing COPD-related hospital readmissions.
Partner with BHM Healthcare Solutions
With over 20 years in the industry, BHM Healthcare Solutions is committed to providing consulting and review services that help streamline clinical, financial, and operational processes to improve care delivery and organizational performance.
We bring the expertise, strategy, and capacity that healthcare organizations need to navigate today’s challenges – so they can focus on helping others.
Are you ready to make the shift to a more effective process?