Multi-stakeholder CME Programs Workshop December 7th, 2007, Crystal City, VA—
Individuals representing over 15 organizations came together to discuss the educational gaps in continuing medical education programs that need to be addressed in order to improve the quality and access to resources on managing COPD. The first session began with four presentations: first, Dr. Byron Thomashow of Columbia University talked about the findings of the COPD Foundation’s Needs Assessment Survey and how it demonstrates that the power of improving the quality of care (which much address patient co-morbidities) lies within the quality education provided by CME programs. (To read more about the COPD Foundation’s PCP Needs Assessment Survey, click here.) In her presentation, Dr. Barbara Yawn of the University of Minnesota explained how important it is for primary care physicians to follow COPD guidelines in their diagnosis and management; her study found that despite the availability of up-to-date guidelines on COPD care many PCPs were unfamiliar with these guidelines.
Interestingly, more than 10% of PCPs were inappropriately using asthma guidelines to guide COPD care. Although most PCPs indicated that they used spirometry to diagnose COPD, few obtain pre-and post-bronchodilator measurements, a problem that could contribute to misdiagnosis. Next, Dr. Jill Foster of Outcomes, Inc. reported that a majority of primary care physicians surveyed reported insufficient exposure to CME focused on COPD patient care, with family physicians expressing a greater need for education than internists.
The last presentation was given by Dr. Nancy Bennett who moderated the discussion topics of the working groups. Attendees were divided into three groups in order to discuss the targeting practice gaps, knowledge gaps, and performance gaps in COPD care. After discussion, the working groups returned and presented their findings.The action plan is outlined as follows: Each participant will share the ideas generated by the group within their respective professional organization and utilize them in needs assessment.
The COPD Foundation will create an online educational resource and serve as a repository for all physician and patient education materials related to COPD. The COPD Foundation will create a series of brief documents to assist patients and primary care physicians in diagnosis, treatment and management of COPD. Realistic and practical resources about COPD management for primary care physicians should either be created or existing materials could be disseminated more widely. Public and patient awareness of COPD and of its diagnosis and treatment should be enhanced. CME activities with a focus on COPD should be increased and strategies to increase availability of such CME activities for primary care physicians are imperative.
The following organizations participated in this workshop: American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Physician Assistants American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation American College of Chest Physicians American College of Physicians American Lung Association American Thoracic Society Boston University COPD Foundation Columbia University Outcomes, Inc. Division of Lung Diseases at NHLBI The Joint Commission University of Minnesota
To read the full workshop summary, you can download the PDF here: CME Directors Workshop Summary.pdf.
COPD 2007: Inspiration through Education CME Event October 27th, 2007, New York City—
Being the first tri-state COPD health educational event, this two-part event featured sessions for both health care providers and individuals living with COPD. The medical professional education component was designed by leading faculty in the field, including Dr. James Kiley, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Dr. Fernando Martinez of the University of Michigan, Dr. Byron Thomashow of Columbia University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Gerard Turino for St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, Dr. James Crapo of National Jewish Health, and several others.
At the event, talks were given on topics including (but not limited to) an overview of the research being conducted correlating genetics and COPD (including the national study on the genetic epidemiology of COPD), exacerbations, co-morbidities, pulmonary rehabilitation, and health care utilization. Patients were also encouraged to attend some of these sessions alongside the patient component to the symposium, which included information on what they could do to keeping their mind and body healthy and active. Download a copy of the CME agenda here: Inspiration through Education: CME Agenda.pdf
Accredited by the Columbia University College of Chest Physicians and Surgeons, this event awarded 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). The American College of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Physician Assistants accepted AMA/PRA category 1 credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME. The American Nurses Credentialing Center accepted AMA/PRA category 1 credit toward re-certification requirements. The American Association for Respiratory Care approved 5 hours of Continuing Respiratory Care Education.