Paramedic home visits for sudden COPD flare-ups (PEACE)
Official title: Evaluation of the Paramedic Evaluation for Acute COPD Exacerbation (PEACE) Intervention
Run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · NCT07072039 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will try sending community paramedics, guided by remote physicians, to treat adults with COPD at home during sudden flare-ups to reduce emergency visits.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Massachusetts, Worcester Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Worcester, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07072039 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) with a documented COPD diagnosis, GOLD B–D severity, at least one ED visit for COPD in the prior six months, who receive care at the UMass Memorial Pulmonary Clinic or Benedict Family Health Clinic and live within the MIH program's licensed area.
✕Probably not a fit
People under 18, pregnant individuals, those who cannot provide informed consent, non-English speakers, those without a prior COPD diagnosis, or those living outside the MIH catchment area are not eligible and would not benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The PEACE intervention dispatches community paramedics to patients' homes during acute COPD exacerbations to perform focused clinical evaluations, point-of-care testing, and initial treatments under the supervision of a centralized physician. The program is integrated with patients' outpatient teams at UMass-affiliated clinics and targets individuals with recent ED utilization and GOLD B–D severity. The study will implement and iteratively refine the MIH protocol within the UMass Memorial catchment while tracking clinical outcomes, healthcare utilization, and feasibility metrics. Results will compare acute care use and recovery patterns following home-based paramedic care versus usual care pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PEACE could reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations, speed recovery, and lower acute care costs by delivering timely treatment at home.
How similar studies have gone: Related MIH and community paramedicine programs have reduced EMS use and improved patient satisfaction in other populations, but this specific COPD-focused PEACE approach has not been previously tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1\) Diagnosis of COPD 4) Receives care in the UMass Memorial Medical Center System 5) 40 years of age or older 6) Speaks English 7) Resides in the geographical catchment area allowed by the UMass Memorial Medical Center MIH Program's license Exclusion Criteria: 1. No prior diagnosis of COPD 2. Pregnancy 3. Cannot provide informed consent
Where it's running
-
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Laurel O'Connor, MD, MSc — University of Massachusetts, Worcester
- Study coordinator: Laurel O'Connor, MD, MSc
- Email: laurel.oconnor@umassmed.edu
- Phone: 508-421-1400
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.