Leveling Up COPD Care: Closing Critical Gaps in Vaccination Guideline Adoption, Improving Clinical Inertia, and Integrating Personalized Approaches to Care

Faculty

ROBERT BURKES, MD, MSCR

Assistant professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
West Chester, OH
STEPHANIE CHRISTENSON, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine,
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
FELIX M. REYES, MD

Northwest Medical Center - Houghton,
Clinical Director COPD Program
Tucson, AZ

Program Overview

The management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) presents significant challenges in optimizing patient outcomes, with critical gaps in both the understanding and application of effective treatment strategies. Notably, there is a substantial underutilization of vaccinations, a key preventive measure against exacerbations from acquired infections. Additionally, patient-centered, personalized strategies, including shared decision-making, patient phenotyping of treatable traits for targeted interventions, promoting adherence, and addressing vaccine hesitancy, are not adequately leveraged in current practices.

Further compounding these issues is the delay in the recognition and diagnosis of COPD, often leading to late initiation of treatment and insufficient escalation of therapy following symptomatic events. These gaps in COPD management not only hinder effective patient care but also have a direct negative impact on patient engagement, quality of life, and healthcare utilization.

There is an urgent need to integrate evidence-based recommendations into routine clinical practice, ensuring timely, appropriate, and patient-centric management of COPD. This requires a concerted effort to educate healthcare professionals on the latest guidelines and treatment strategies, emphasizing the importance of vaccinations, personalized care, and early intervention. Bridging these gaps will enhance patient outcomes and optimize the overall management of COPD, particularly in settings where access to specialized care and resources may be limited.

Target Audience

This educational initiative has been designed to meet the educational needs of pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, primary care providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists involved in the treatment of COPD.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

  • IDENTIFY the critical role of vaccinations, including those for influenza, coronavirus, pertussis, pneumococcal, and zoster, as recommended by GOLD, in preventing exacerbations and complications associated with acquired infections.
  • EXPLAIN the pathophysiological signatures of COPD, enabling healthcare professionals to identify key indicators that inform appropriate treatment selection
  • SUMMARIZE the concept of patient phenotyping in COPD, focusing on treatable traits, and apply this approach to tailor interventions, ensuring a more precise and personalized management plan for individual patients.
  • DISCUSS how to engage patients in the management of COPD, recognizing the pivotal role patients play in their own care and well-being.
  • REVIEW the factors contributing to delays in initiating therapy for COPD and implement measures to minimize such delays, ensuring prompt and effective intervention.
  • DISCUSS the importance of escalating therapy after symptomatic events in COPD management.
  • REVIEW skills to assess and promptly adjust treatment plans when necessary.

Educational Activities

Broadcasts
Podcasts
Threads
Clinical Resource Center

SOCIAL MEDIA BROADCAST ONE

Credit Amount: 0.50
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: September 27, 2024
Expiration: September 27, 2025

SOCIAL MEDIA BROADCAST TWO

Credit Amount: 0.50
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: September 30, 2024
Expiration: September 30, 2025

MED ED THREAD ONE

Credit Amount: N/A
Credit Type: Non-Certified

MED ED THREAD TWO

Credit Amount: N/A
Credit Type: Non-Certified

Clinical Resource Center

Credit Amount: N/A
Credit Type: Non-Certified

PODCAST ONE

Credit Amount: 0.25
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: October 7, 2024
Expiration: October 7, 2025

PODCAST THREE

Credit Amount: 0.25
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: October 9, 2024
Expiration: October 9, 2025

PODCAST TWO

Credit Amount: 0.25
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: October 8, 2024
Expiration: October 8, 2025

PODCAST FOUR

Credit Amount: 0.25
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: October 10, 2024
Expiration: October 10, 2025

This activity is jointly provided by Global Education Group and Iridium Continuing Education.

SUPPORTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This educational activity is supported by an independent educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline LLC.

Maximum Credit Amount: 2.00
Credit Type: ACCME, ANCC, ACPE
Release: September 27, 2024
Expiration: October 10, 2025

info@iridiumce.com