Aims : to explain the issues associated with monitoring patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at home during the COVID-19 pandemic; to describe rapidly evolving changes in clinical practice for patients with pre-existing respiratory problems especially interstitial lung disease (ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including methods initially developed to provide medical access for patients in remote areas and patients who cannot be seen in person; to describe the appropriateness and limitations of telemedicine; to discuss the clinical utility of home spirometry, monitoring of oxygenation using patients’ own pulse oximetry devices, the potential utility of measuring forced vital capacity using handheld spirometry devices for assessing the severity of a patient’s disease status in their home and the assessment of overall physical activities in a patient’s home.