The INSPIRED COPD Outreach Program™
The INSPIRED COPD Outreach Program™ offers community- based self-management education and support to Nova Scotians with moderate to severe COPD.
New! COPD Care and Education Nova Scotia

The Research, Innovation and Discovery Team partnered with INSPIRED to develop an evidenced based “proof of concept” (PoC) program building upon the INSPIRED program model.
COPD Care and Education Nova Scotia (CCE) is an education program offering support to people with early stages of COPD. The program primarily uses virtual modalities including virtual care, Telehealth, and group education offered the Healthy NS virtual platform. People who participate in the CCE receive help with using virtual care.
CCE was piloted on the Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley in 2023. Currently, CCE is only available in Central Zone, but anyone can take part in this program by signing up for a COPD and You class online through Healthy NS.
INSPIRED and CCE both include:
- Spirometry testing when COPD is suspected
- COPD education, including information about lung health, medications and inhaler technique, managing symptoms, and coping with lung disease
- Can include a “COPD Action Plan” to help with management of COPD and its acute flare ups, treating infections early and avoiding trips to the Emergency Department
- Help navigating the healthcare system and gaining access to programs/services that may be helpful
- Teaching about healthy behaviors and behavior change support
- A contact number where a respiratory therapist can answer questions or concerns about COPD during weekdays
- Smoking or nicotine cessation (stopping) support
- Support with coping (listening, counselling, advocacy)
- Helping patients choose goals of care
- An opportunity to discuss advance care planning.
Possible benefits of INSPIRED and the CCE:
- More confidence managing symptoms
- Less anxiety and stress
- Fewer primary care visits, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions
Spirometry Testing
Spirometry is required to confirm the presence of COPD and should occur before participating in INSPIRED or the CCE. The CCE has two spirometry clinics in Central Zone
- The tri-facility spirometry clinic at Musquodoboit Valley Memorial Hospital. This clinic sees adult patients referred by primary care practitioners. Referrals can be made by primary care providers working with patients living on the eastern shore.
- The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Center (BLCOC) spirometry clinic, which offers testing for people with a suspected diagnosis of COPD referred to INSPIRED/CCE.
INSPIRED teams across the province may offer spirometry for people referred to the program or testing can be arranged through local Pulmonary Function Testing labs.
Referrals to INSPIRED & the CCE
In Central Zone, referrals to INSPIRED/CCE can be made by a healthcare provider using the INSPIRED/CCE referral form. Once a referral for INSPIRED/CCE is received, a COPD educator will determine which program is the best fit based on a number of factors, including: disease severity, health complexity, mobility, program capacity/volumes, and technological capacity/access. INSPIRED and CCE work collaboratively with other NSH COPD Programs, which could include referral to another local COPD education clinic where appropriate.
In Western Zone, Northern Zone, and Eastern Zone, referrals to INSPIRED can be made by a healthcare provider using the INSPIRED Provincial referral form. If patients with COPD who live outside of Central Zone and are not eligible for INSPIRED, they can take part in CCE by signing up for a COPD and You class online through Healthy NS. There are also a number of COPD and asthma education clinics operating across the province where people can be referred who prefer to be seen in person.
INSPIRED and CCE Follow Up
People who participate in INSPIRED or the CCE generally receive several visits from a respiratory therapist and from an advance care planning facilitator. Once patients complete the scheduled content of the program, they are welcome to contact the INSPIRED or CCE team with questions or concerns about their COPD, or if they feel they could benefit from additional follow up.
As a healthcare provider, if you have a patient who has been followed by the INSPIRED or the CCE, who could benefit from additional follow up, please forward a referral.
Do you have questions about INSPIRED or CCE or want to schedule an education session about our programs?
Feel free to call 902-717-7596 or email INSPIRED@nshealth.ca.