Foundation Now Offering Physician Program on COPD in Spanish
April 28, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Ifdy Perez, COPD Foundation
Email:
Tel: 1-866-731-2673, ext. 398
Course Designed to Bridge the Gap with Spanish-speaking Community
Washington, D.C. (April 2010)—The COPD Foundation launched a Spanish version of the program, titled Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Treatable but Only if It’s Diagnosed: Ten Steps to Improve Outcomes for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on MedscapeCME’s website this month.
Developed in collaboration with MedscapeCME and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, this comprehensive online learning activity is a series of videos outlining ten steps designed to guide physicians and health care providers on how to better manage COPD.
COPD is commonly misdiagnosed and inadequately managed, contributing to the nation’s $47 billion expenses in hospitalizations, most of which could be prevented.
World-renowned experts in COPD, including Dr. James Crapo of National Jewish Health in Denver, Dr. Stephen Rennard of the University of Nebraska, and Dr. Bartolome Celli from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, collaborated in the program’s design.
Dr. Byron Thomashow, Chairman of the COPD Foundation Board of Directors, says that the “10 Steps” program aims at improving COPD care.
“I was lucky enough to bring several world renowned pulmonologists to join me in that program and we hope it has a significant impact,” he says. “The COPD Foundation hopes this “Ten Step Program” will reach out to the millions suffering from lung diseases, and looks forward to further joint projects with MedscapeCME”
In addition to the 10 Steps program, the COPD Foundation has translated patient education materials into Spanish including the “1s, 2s and 3s of COPD” booklet, “The Impact of Smoking” and “What is COPD” fact sheets.
The COPD Foundation recognizes that communication between the patient and physician is critical and these materials are a vital resource to bridging the gap between English-speaking health care professionals and their increasing number of Spanish-speaking patients.
About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is dedicated to developing and supporting programs which improve the quality of life through research, education, early diagnosis, and enhanced therapy for persons whose lives are impacted by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The COPD Foundation has several programs dedicated to informing, empowering, educating, and engaging individuals affected by COPD, including both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals, their families and friends, and their medical professionals. For more information, please visit: http://www.copdfoundation.org.
About COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only chronic disease growing in mortality. It affects approximately 24 million Americans but only 12 million are diagnosed. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and adult onset (refractory) asthma. Symptoms include breathlessness, wheezing, and chronic coughing. For more information about COPD, visit http://www.copdfoundation.org or call 1-866-316-COPD (2673).