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Ensuring the Use of Required Test for COPD
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Despite the fact that post-bronchodilator spirometry is required for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an analysis of primary care clinics found only 19% of patients diagnosed with the disease had undergone spirometry testing.
A university-based Primary Care Clinic analysis found that only 19% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had undergone spirometry testing by a primary care physician, despite the fact that post-bronchodilator spirometry is required for the diagnosis of COPD, reported MD Magazine from the CHEST 2015 meeting being held in Montreal, Canada.
Sandra Adams, MD, from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in Texas, presented a way to combat the lack of testing. She gathered information from the physicians and institutions where spirometry rates were highest, and then went on to those failing to use it. The research team implemented the WipeCOPD program, an interactive program consisting of 60-90 minutes of monthly continuing education modules with 30 minutes of “live” training sessions on how to perform spirometry.
The rate of spirometry rates increased following the WipeCOPD interventions
