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The COPD Foundation is excited to announce the launch of an updated version of the COPD Pocket Consultant Guide (PCG) app for health care providers! The app, designed to support the treatment and management of COPD, is available for both iOS and Android. The latest version contains an updated therapy chart, including the latest medications, inhaler instruction videos, depression and anxiety screeners, a new pulmonary referral checklist and much more.
In addition, users can toggle between this track and one specifically for patients and caregivers by clicking on “Change View” in the upper right of the main menu screen. The patient and caregiver track has several exciting features, including an interactive "My COPD Action Plan" and tracking calendar; inhaler and exercise videos; activity tracking; a wallet health information card; "For My Next Visit" prompts and more. We hope you will share this with your patients.
Learn more about the health care provider track below.
Guidance on Using the Provider Track of the App
Main Menu
The CAT and MMRC
On the main menu, if you select either CAT or MMRC, it will trigger an interactive model. The CAT and MMRC screens are followed by an exacerbation screen and then a spirometry screen. The combination of these three screens leads to the interactive chart which highlights potential therapy options. If spirometry is not available, then after the CAT/MMRC and exacerbation pages, users will be directed to the therapy flowchart screen and can use the symptom score plus exacerbation history to guide therapy options. Indeed, the therapy flowchart would help guide therapy whether spirometry results are available or not.
If either question on the exacerbation screen is answered “yes,” then the high-risk exacerbation row on chart is highlighted. Which exacerbation therapy option the provider elects to use would depend upon severity of COPD and frequency and severity of exacerbations.
On the CAT Screen:
1) If questions 1 and 2 (the cough/sputum questions) suggest higher symptoms, then the chronic bronchitic row is highlighted.
2) If questions 4 or 5 (the shortness of breath questions) suggest higher symptoms and the spirometry values show moderate or severe, the emphysema row is highlighted.
If the MMRC chart is used to trigger the interactive program, the chronic bronchitis row cannot be highlighted; if scores of 3 or 4 are chosen and spirometry values show moderate or severe, the emphysema row is highlighted.
If spirometry shows SG0 or SGU, none of the rows highlight on the interactive chart; however, we have added a new bullet point on the Special Considerations page: “If symptomatic with SG0 or SGU further evaluation is indicated to better define etiology and any therapeutic options.” And we stress that if significant shortness of breath is present with SG1, mild COPD, that user should consider potential contributing factors including cardiac and deconditioning.
Additional Features and Resources
On the secondary menu, you will see a header called Calculators. From this menu, if the CAT or MMRC are chosen, only those charts and points scoring is generated (i.e., you can only trigger interactive program by choosing CAT or MMRC on main screen, not in calculator section).
The calculator section also includes:
1) The exacerbation scorer DECAF, which predicts mortality risk for those hospitalized with an exacerbation.
2) The GAD-7, an anxiety scorer.
3) The PHQ-9, a depression scorer.
4) A mnemonic called HELP OUT to suggest when to consider referring to a pulmonologist.
In the Resources section, we provide a list of special considerations related to potentially down regulating from triple to dual therapy, the Fletcher-Peto Impact of Smoking graph, steps to consider if still limited despite maximum inhaler options, oxygen issues, LVR options and the importance of CT screening. In addition, there are links to PRAXIS (the COPD Foundation’s online hub for health care providers), the My COPD Action Plan, the Journal of the COPD Foundation and to site of the NHLBI COPD National Action Plan.
Inhaler Education: This takes the user to videos of all available inhaler devices. Note: if you are unable to hear sound on the videos, ensure that your phone or table is not on soft mute. On the iPhone, there is a switch on the left side of the phone that switches the ringer to mute or silent. If the phone or tablet is flat, the switch should be down.
Exacerbations: This page provides definitions and potential therapy options.
Model: Highlights the seven severity domains. Considering these will help you better understand the types of COPD and how best to treat and manage it for each patient.
Therapy Flowchart: This flowchart provides the most recent updated versions of the pathways as they appear on the new version of the Pocket Consultant Guide for developing a treatment approach to COPD and ACO.
Medications: This page provides a listing of FDA-approved medications and dosing. By hitting the toggle switch, you can switch the screen between brand and generic drug names.
And there is a View More box that will take you to a number of other options.
Tips
- Several pages are printable. Click on the printer icon to print a particular page.
- To return to the main menu, click on the word Home in the upper left corner of the page.
Supported Mobile Devices
Please note that the COPD Pocket Patient Guide is intended for Android devices running 7.0 Nougat or higher and iPhones and iPads with iOS 11 or higher.
For comments on the structure or function of the app, please contact the COPD Foundation Education Team at edteam@copdfoundation.org.
Learn more about our Patient & Caregiver Track
Please spread the word. We are trying to make a difference.