Family physicians play a vital role in identifying chronic respiratory conditions that impact a patient's quality of life. By detecting these conditions at patient visits, you can refer them to specialists earlier, leading to faster diagnosis and treatment. You're also a source of education about these conditions, which is key to early detection and may lead to better health outcomes.
Use this guide to identify online resources to help your patients and support them in self-management at each point in their COPD care. Many can printed out during office visits for patients who have limited technology access.
*Funded Project with GSK
The AAFP provides clinical recommendations for preventing and managing acute and chronic conditions like COPD. COPD Exacerbation Management offers key recommendations for adults with acute exacerbations of COPD.
The "Intervention Opportunities in COPD Management" poster offers treatment touchpoints in the management of a patient's COPD over time, with the goal of preventing exacerbations.
*Funded Project with GSK
This free webcast covers care coordination best practices, co-morbidities associated with COPD, environmental factors, and how social determinants of health influence the condition.
*Funded Project with American Thoracic Society
See how family physicians can effectively interview and assess different types of patients for COPD.
Video 1: Patient Presenting
With Dyspnea
Video 2: Assessment of Patient
Presenting With Dyspnea
Video 3: Patient Presenting With
Recent Episodes of Exacerbation
Video 4: Assessment of Patient Presenting
With Recent Episodes of Exacerbation
*Funded Project with GSK
The disease is rare and its primary signs and symptoms - breathlessness, cough, and decline in lung function - make it difficult to distinguish among other interstitial lung diseases (ILDs).
*Produced in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.