Faculty

James F. Donohue, MD
Professor of Medicine
Division Chief
Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Jill A. Ohar, MD, FCCP
Professor of Medicine
Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunological Diseases
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Director, Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Rehab
Director, Pulmonary Function Laboratory
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of pulmonologists, hospitalists, and other healthcare providers involved in the ongoing management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Statement of Need

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, and the third leading cause of death in the United States.1 Disease exacerbations account for almost 1 million hospitalizations each year in the United States.2 As COPD exacerbations become more frequent, patients are subjected to a perpetual cycle of disease relapse, declining lung function, and increasing disability.3 When patients are hospitalized, the health care team must ensure that symptoms are well-controlled, a structured discharge plan is put in place, and treatment adherence is emphasized; otherwise, additional exacerbations are likely, leading to hospital readmissions and increased risks for patient morbidity and mortality.4 The aim of this e-Health Source program is to educate pulmonologists, hospitalists, and other healthcare providers on best practices for comprehensive patient evaluations, individualized treatment regimens, drug delivery device selection, and ongoing monitoring of therapeutic outcomes, particularly for patients who have been recently hospitalized for disease exacerbations.  

  1. Kosacz NM, et al. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Adults—United States, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61(46):938-943.
  2. Mannino DM, et al. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Surveillance – United States, 1971-2000. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2002;51(6):1-16.
  3. Donaldson GC, et al. Relationship between exacerbation frequency and lung function decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax. 2002;57(10):847-852.
  4. From the Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2015. http://www.goldcopd.org/. Accessed July 8, 2015.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  1. Incorporate presenting symptoms, risk factors, and guideline recommendations into semi-structured approaches for COPD screening, diagnosis, and ongoing patient monitoring

  2. Individualize treatment regimens for patients with COPD based on comprehensive assessment, clinical profiles of approved medications, and available drug delivery systems

  3. Tailor maintenance therapy for patients with COPD to reflect follow-up evaluations and reduce risks of exacerbations and hospital readmission

  4. Communicate with patients and caregivers to provide simple and clear medical instructions, assess patient preferences, and improve treatment adherence

Physician Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Global Education Group designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Nursing Continuing Education

Global Education Group is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

This educational activity for 1.0 contact hours is provided by Global Education Group. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions for Obtaining Credit

In order to receive credit, participants must complete the preactivity questionnaire, postactivity questionnaire, and program evaluation. Participants must also score at least a 70% on the posttest.

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or inquire@globaleducationgroup.com

System Requirements

PC
Microsoft Windows 2000 SE or above.
Flash Player Plugin (v7.0.1.9 or greater)
Internet Explorer (v8.0 or greater), Chrome, or Firefox

MAC
MAC OS 10+
Flash Player Plugin (v7.0.1.9 or greater)
Safari

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

James F. Donohue, MD: Consultant (AstraZeneca, Boehringer ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.) 

Jill A. Ohar, MD, FCCP:  Advisory Board (AstraZeneca, CSL Behring)

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

  • Rose O'Connor, PhD Nothing to disclose
  • Ashley Marostica, RN, MSN Nothing to disclose
  • Amanda Glazar, PhD Nothing to disclose
  • Andrea Funk Nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

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