My Lung Health Coach (MLHC) is a freely available evidence-based and person-centered COPD self-management program that connects people virtually with experienced certified respiratory educators (CREs) to provide structured COPD education and self-management support. MLHC was jointly developed by the Lung Health Foundation (a charitable organization focused on lung health advocacy) and academic Respirologist Dr. Andrew Kouri, with input from community members living with COPD. MLHC links community members living with COPD with certified respiratory health educators, using a person-centred approach to provide COPD education and self-management support. It is delivered virtually through one-on-one meetings offered over multiple sessions over 12 weeks. The topics covered in the program include: general COPD knowledge, smoking cessation, COPD medications (inhalers, oxygen), physical activity counselling, mental health and wellness, vaccinations, symptom self-management skills (breathing, energy management, symptom monitoring), nutrition, travel, and long-term planning (including end-of-life care).
To improve the patient experience using MLHC, the investigators have integrated the MLHC program into the Epic Care Companion app at Women's College Hospital, an interactive patient-facing app designed as an extension of the Epic electronic health record system. Using Care Companion, patients will be able to track their progress through MLHC, accomplish session-specific educational and self-management tasks, and share their progress with their Women's College healthcare teams.
