Spirometry Training for Physicians

Web-based spirometry training is provided with or without CME's.  Once you enroll, you will be provided a user ID and password and your answers to the questions at the end of each section will be saved.  The training site contains eleven chapters described below:
 

Note the color bars represent the relative complexity of the chapter starting with Green.gif = low complexity, Blue.gif = low to moderate complexity, Orange.gif = moderate complexity, and Red.gif = most complexity.
 

Green.gif Chapter 1: Spirometry and How is it Used?

Spirometry is a diagnostic test that measures lung capacity and is used for evaluating respiratory symptoms, monitoring respiratory conditions and determining severity of pulmonary limitation.  The test consists of measuring exhaled volume and flow rate of air with the important measurements being FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC%.  

Blue.gif Chapter 2: Technical Aspects of Spirometry

Accurate spirometry test results should be free of technical errors.  Testing requires the use of volume-based or flow-type equipment with a trained technician and a cooperative patient.   

Blue.gif Chapter 3: Spirometry Quality Assurance Program
Accurate spirometry testing requires a quality assurance program with attention to standardized procedures, technician training and required records/logs.   

Blue.gif Chapter 4: Spirometry Specifications and Calibration Requirements

Equipment specifications have been established by professional societies.  Calibration of equipment is essential for accurate test results.

Blue.gif Chapter 5: Valid Test
Spirometry test results should meet acceptability and repeatability criteria. 

Blue.gif Chapter 6: Interpretation of Results and Clinical Correlation

Interpreting spirometry test results requires choosing reference/predicted values (including the lower limits of normal or LLN) for comparison with actual test values.   

Orange.gif Chapter 7: Clinical Examples

An approach to the interpretation of spirometry test results is shown by using clinical examples with additional information for clinical correlations.

Orange.gif Chapter 8: Other Pulmonary Function Tests

Spirometry is often a screening test with other pulmonary tests used for further evaluation of respiratory symptoms or assessing severity of pulmonary disease.   

Red.gif Chapter 9: Medical/Respiratory Surveillance and Longitudinal Changes 

Red.gif Chapter 10: Controversial Topics

Criteria for defining obstruction (FEV1/FVC <70% vs. LLN); Use of FEV6 and other measurement parameters; Different approaches to determining excessive decline in longitudinal spirometry results; spirometry used as a tool for COPD screening. 

Orange.gif Chapter 11:  Building a program to Ensure High Quality Spirometry Results

An oversight Quality Review Center can audit samples of PFTs for technical quality and provide detailed and summary feedback to the technicians.  By permitting technical problems to be corrected quickly, such reviews have been shown to be a critical part of any high quality pulmonary function testing program. 


Narrated Introduction   Sample Cases in Chapter 7

 

Access to this site can be purchased at: http://www.mctownsend.com/

Send us an email to request more information at: info@occspiro.com

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