If you are viewing this site you are most likely using oxygen therapy now or have recently discussed an oxygen prescription with your physician or nurse practitioner. Supplemental oxygen therapy is unlike any other medication you may have taken in the past, merely because it comes in the form of a gas and requires special equipment for storage and delivery. It’s common for people to have several questions about why oxygen has been prescribed and how to use equipment for home and when engaging in activities outside the home in your own community. Some find it helpful to improve their understanding about their lung condition and why supplemental oxygen has been prescribed. Many are interested in learning about using devices called oximeters to help monitor oxygen saturation levels. Oxygen prescriptions are based on individual assessments while resting, sometimes during sleep and when walking or with regular activities as your body’s needs may vary under different conditions.
This section is offered to help provide information and to answer some of the questions you may have. You are already committed to learning more about oxygen therapy by visiting this site. The resources listed below are intended to provide you with a number of links to help you research your lung condition and how to navigate an active life with oxygen therapy use.
ATS Patient Information Series Fact Sheets
Oxygen Therapy 2020
English
Oxygen Therapy for Children 2019
English | Italian | Portuguese
Breathlessness – Shortness of Breath 2020
English | Portuguese
Sudden Breathlessness 2014
English | Spanish
Pulse Oximetry 2021
English | Spanish | Portuguese
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) 2019
English | Spanish
Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2018
English | Spanish
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR), What You Can Do When Unavailable 2020
English
Disease-Specific Foundations
Getting Started, Living with Oxygen, Safety and Travel
- American Lung Association Videos and Information Guide
- CHEST Foundation - Oxygen Therapy
- The Pulmonary Paper, every other month publication for patients living with lung disease
- Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation
- Guide to Portable Oxygen Concentrators, American Association for Respiratory Care
- Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs), Chris Garvey FNP, MSN, MPA, MAACVPR
- No Person Left Behind
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Definition/Benefits/Program Locations
- American Lung Association Information
Medicare/Insurance and Oxygen
- Medicare coverage of durable medical equipment, including oxygen, and definitions: oxygen specifically covered on page 14-17
- Medicare DME, including oxygen, standards that Medicare supplier (oxygen supply company) must meet, highlighting standards 12-20 as patient-centered requirements
- Medicare Basics, COPD Foundation
Help With Complaints
- Medicare: 1-800-Medicare or 1-800-633-4227
- Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213
- Medicare Coordination of Benefits: 855-798-2627
- Immediate Advocacy - an informal alternative dispute resolution process to quickly resolve a Medicare beneficiary has regarding the quality of Medicare-covered services that accompany medical care such as equipment. This website has an explanation and phone numbers by region.
ATS Journal Publications
- Jacobs SS, Krishnan JA, Lederer DJ, Ghazipura M, Hossain T, Tan AM, et al. Home oxygen therapy for adults with chronic lung disease. An official ATS clinical practice guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 202(10):e121–e141
- Jacobs SS, Lederer DJ, Garvey CM, Hernandez CN, Lindell KO, McLaughlin, et al. Optimizing home oxygen therapy. An official ATS workshop report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018; 15(12):1369-1381.
- Jacobs SS, Lindell KO, Collins EG, Garvey CM, Hernadez CN, McLaughlin S, et al. Patient perceptions of the adequacy of supplemental oxygen therapy. Results of the ATS nursing assembly oxygen working group survey. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018; 15(1):24-32.
- Lacasse Y, Tan AM, Maltais F, Krishnan JA. Home oxygen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2018; 197(10):1254-1264.
Other Publications
- Moy ML, Harrington KF, Sternberg AL, Krishnan JA, Albert RK, Au DH, et al. Characteristics at the time of oxygen initiation associated with its adherence: findings from the COPD long-term oxygen treatment trial. Respir Med 2019; 149:52-58.
- Lindell KO, Collins EG, Catanzarite L, Garvey CM, Hernandez CM, McLaughlin S, et al. Equipment, access and worry about running short of oxygen: Key concerns in the ATS patient supplemental oxygen survey. Heart Lung 2019; 3:245-249.
- AlMutairi HJ, Mussa CC, Lambert CTM, Vines DL, Strickland SL. Perspectives from COPD subjects on portable long-term oxygen therapy devices. Respir Care 2018; 63(11):1321-1330.
- Mussa CC, Tonyan L, Chen YF, Vines D. Perceived satisfaction with long-term oxygen delivery devices affects perceived mobility and quality of life of oxygen-dependent individuals with COPD. Respir Care 2018; 63(1):11-19.
- Visca D, Mori L, Tsipouri V, Fleming S, et al. Effect of ambulatory oxygen on quality of life for patients with fibrotic lung disease (AmbOx): a prospective, open-label, mixed-method, crossover randomized controlled trial. Lancet Respir Med 2018; 6(10): 759-770.
- Branson RD. Oxygen therapy in COPD. Respir Care 2018; 63(6): 734-748.
- Jacobs, S. Clinician strategies to improve the care of patients using supplemental oxygen. Chest 2019; 156(3):619-628.
- Sculley J, Corbridge S, Prieto-Centurion V, Kallstrom TJ, Lewarski J, Tan AM, et al. Home oxygen therapy for patients with COPD: Time for a reboot. Respir Care 2019; 64(12): 1574-1585.
Additional Resources
- American College of Chest Physicians, Oxygen Therapy Patient Education
- Choosing Wisely, Home O2 After a Hospital Stay
- COPD Net
- WebMD, Home Oxygen Therapy
