November Is COPD Awareness Month
Awareness
November Is COPD Awareness Month
World COPD Day – Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also referred to as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 12 million Americans diagnosed with the disease. Perhaps even more troubling is how often COPD goes undiagnosed. A serious and progressive lung disease that constricts the airways, COPD makes it difficult for patients to breathe. Although there is no cure for COPD, it is a preventable disease, most often caused by long-term smoking.
The ACCP is committed to building awareness about COPD. To show its commitment, the ACCP supports several COPD initiatives and has developed many resources to help physicians who treat patients with COPD and help patients understand their disease. The ACCP also partners with government, industry, health-care, patient, and community groups to promote issues related to COPD.
Join the ACCP and The CHEST Foundation in the fight against this disease by commemorating COPD Awareness Month. Participate in World Spirometry Day, as well as World COPD Day, and learn more about ACCP COPD-related initiatives by clicking on the tabs above.
Opportunities
COPD Alliance
As part of the COPD Alliance, the ACCP is helping primary care clinicians help their patients with COPD achieve better outcomes. The COPD Alliance was formed to provide clinicians with timely information, tools, and support to bring about a significant change in the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of COPD. Learn more about the COPD Alliance and how you can become COPD Prepared at www.COPD.org.
World Spirometry Day
Observed on October 14, World Spirometry Day provides all health-care professionals the opportunity to promote the diagnosis of lung conditions, encourage people to get their lungs tested, and raise awareness about lung health. Through the collective efforts of ACCP and other members of the Federation of International Respiratory Societies, it is our hope that World Spirometry Day will elevate the status of often-overlooked lung conditions and reinforce the value of spirometry in diagnosing these conditions.
World COPD Day
The ACCP joins the Forum of International Respiratory Societies and its campaign partners in supporting World COPD Day 2011 on Wednesday, November 16.
There are approximately 210 million people in the world who have COPD. An estimated 24 million Americans have COPD, 50% of whom are undiagnosed. World COPD Day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness of the disease. It also provides an opportunity to call for health policy makers to recognize the importance of COPD and devote more resources to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Advocacy
COPD Advocacy NHLBI COPD Campaign
The ACCP has partnered with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in its Learn More Breathe Better® campaign for COPD. The campaign aims to increase awareness of COPD as a serious lung disease, increase understanding that COPD is treatable, and encourage people at risk to get a simple breathing test and talk to their doctors about treatment options.
14th Annual ACCP Community Asthma and COPD Coalitions Symposium
The ACCP is a leader in fostering the development of both asthma and COPD community coalitions, grassroots efforts that harness local resources, and initiatives to fight respiratory illness in local communities. Since 1999, the ACCP has hosted an annual symposium on community asthma coalitions at its CHEST meetings, attracting 100 to 200 representatives from local asthma and COPD coalitions. In 2004, the program was expanded to include community COPD coalitions. At CHEST 2012 in Atlanta, GA, the ACCP will hold the 14th Annual Community Asthma and COPD Coalitions Symposium. The CHEST 2012 meeting will again have a track for developing COPD coalitions, so those interested in developing COPD coalitions can learn from the asthma coalitions and network with each other.
In addition, the ACCP has created a Development Manual for Asthma and COPD Coalitions. This resource is being used in communities throughout the United States to organize and maintain local coalitions.
COPD Congressional Caucus
In March 2004, Senator Mike Crapo, FCCP(Hon), founded the bipartisan, bicameral COPD Caucus. The caucus is dedicated to furthering awareness of COPD risk factors and promoting policies that improve the lives of patients with COPD. Co-chaired by Senator Crapo, the caucus partners with the ACCP and a broad coalition of physician, patient, and home-care organizations, educates members of Congress on COPD, and advocates policies to encourage prevention and early detection. The caucus continues to grow and now includes more than 50 state representatives and senators.
US COPD Coalition
The ACCP is a member of the US COPD Coalition, a group that brings together health professional organizations, patient organizations and foundations, individuals, and government agencies to work to improve the lives of patients with COPD.
The CHEST Foundation
The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ACCP, offers clinical grants that reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the College. Grants have been awarded in areas such as critical care, respiratory health, thrombosis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and α1-antitrypsin deficiency, and for research that relates to the geriatric patient. Through The CHEST Foundation’s support of clinical research, ACCP members are able to make a significant improvement in the fields of pulmonary and critical care medicine.
In addition, The Foundation has responded to long-term smoking as the main culprit behind COPD, by providing multiple programs and products targeted specifically for the prevention and cessation of tobacco use.
Resources
 Patient Education ResourcesLiving Well With COPD Provides the most current information to help your patients understand and cope with COPD. The pictorial guide explains what they need to know to better manage their disease. View Online Purchase 25 Pack |
 COPD Guidelines Pocketcard™The most up-to-date, critical information you need in a quick reference format. Contains evidence-based information on COPD, including pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation, and manage practioners and educators. |
 Inhaled Medications and Devices: Tips and TechniquesThis interactive CD-ROM demonstrates the proper use of various inhalers with professional videos and printable text. Includes device usage, cleaning, daily diaries, and peak flow management. A great learning or review tool for nurses and physicians. Member Price $25 Buy Now |
 Community ResourcesDevelopment Manual for Asthma and COPD Coalitions 2006 Use this guide to build an effective asthma or COPD coalition in your community. View Online |
 Clinical ResourcesTobacco Dependence Treatment ToolKit (3rd Edition) FREE! Now you can help your patients stop smoking and be reimbursed, using the protocols and coding information contained in this free comprehensive tool kit. The user-friendly, interactive online setting is a complete resource for you and your patients containing background educational materials and clinically relevant instruments to facilitate a highly successful, proven approach to smoking cessation. Access Now |
 Anxiety and Depression in COPD: Current Understanding, Unanswered Questions, and Research NeedsChest 2008; 134(4):43S-56S View Online |
 Airways NetWork special presentation from CHEST 2008, “Outcome Measures in COPD” by Gerard Criner, MD, FCCPView Online |
Inhaled Device Handouts Sixteen handouts provide step-by-step instructions for patients and physicians. Available in English, Spanish, and in large-print versions. View and Print Online |
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Trends in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients With COPDCOPD Alliance
Multisociety COPD Alliance Launches COPD.org for Clinicians
Five international medical societies, representing more than 200,000 primary care and specialty clinicians, have partnered in the fight against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to form the COPD Alliance. The COPD Alliance, composed of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the ACCP, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, and the American College of Osteopathic Internists, is dedicated to helping primary care clinicians help their patients with COPD achieve better outcomes. To make COPD information easily accessible for clinicians, the COPD Alliance has launched a central Web-based repository of timely information, resources, and education programs.
Learn more about the COPD Alliance and access free COPD resources at www.COPD.org.
