Laying the Foundation for Building a Resilient KPNC Community in the Face of Worsening Air Quality Due to Wildfire Smoke

Over the past decade, the frequency and impact of wildfires has steadily worsened acrossCalifornia, a trend that is expected to continue as climate change becomes an urgent,everyday reality. This means that the number of Kaiser Permanente Northern California(KPNC) members exposed to unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke will increasedramatically. Unsurprisingly, vulnerable patients are disproportionately impacted, suchas those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this rigorous pilot, wewill deploy a pilot in‐home intervention to non‐smoking, oxygen‐dependent patients whohave frequent exacerbations of COPD to mitigate their exposure to poor air quality andreduce exacerbations.