CHESTGuidelines & Topic CollectionsTimely Diagnosis for ILDClinician Toolkit

Bridging Specialties™: ILD Clinician Toolkit

Shorten the time to diagnosis by using the right tools

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are often overlooked as a potential diagnosis. Patients can present with ubiquitous symptoms that are common in many other diseases, including asthma, COPD, and cardiac conditions.

That’s why CHEST and Three Lakes Foundation have partnered on an ILD Clinician Toolkit that contains specific resources focused on the steps to take when a patient displays signs of ILD. From an ILD-specific patient questionnaire you can download and use in your practice, to a decision-making tool that walks you through three patient scenarios, and much more, this ILD Clinician Toolkit can help you reach an earlier diagnosis and start treatment for your patients more quickly—since time lost is lung lost.

USING THE TOOLKIT

Expert clinicians from the Bridging Specialties steering committee walk through each resource available in the toolkit and outline how you can best utilize these tools in your practice.

CLASSIC SYMPTOM | In the Early Detection for ILD module you’ll find in the toolkit, we review common symptoms of ILD, including crackles on auscultation. It’s important to listen at the bottom of the lungs, as this is where the crackles are most commonly heard.
Here’s what crackles can sound like.

IN THIS TOOLKIT

DOWNLOADS

Diagnosis and Management Checklist

Patient Questionnaire

E-LEARNING MODULES

Early Detection for ILD

Decision-Making Tool

INTERACTIVE STORY

A Patient’s Journey to ILD Diagnosis

VIDEOS

Diffuse Lung Diseases Video Gallery

RESOURCES

Additional References

In partnership with

CME/CE CREDIT OPPORTUNITY By engaging with the content in this toolkit, you can claim up to 3.5 hours of CME/MOC/CE credit. CREDIT INFORMATION »

Get the background you need to decide on a plan of action

ILD DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST

This ILD checklist highlights recommended steps to take after other lung and cardiac diseases have been ruled out, including symptoms to look for, imaging tests to order, and more. Key clinical findings and diagnostic tests for the various types of ILD are also included. The checklist is available as a reference sheet and as a larger poster size for displaying in a clinic setting.

DOWNLOAD ILD CHECKLIST » | DOWNLOAD ILD POSTER »

PATIENT QUESTIONNAIRE

This downloadable and printable ILD-specific questionnaire will help you gather a detailed history about your patients, including their past and current medications, surgeries, occupational and environmental exposures, and known comorbidities.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF »

Self-paced learning to keep you on the leading edge of patient care

Experience a sample of the Early Detection module.
ACCESS A PREVIEW »

EARLY DETECTION FOR ILD MODULE

ONLINE COURSE | APPROX. 15 MIN

Primary care physicians are often the first line of ILD identification. This interactive e-learning module will enhance your recognition and awareness of signs and symptoms of ILD so that you’re able to help improve the time to diagnosis for your patients.

Review reasons for delayed ILD diagnosis, symptoms to watch and listen for (like crackles on auscultation), suggested patient workups, and recommendations on proactive steps to take, including when you may want to refer to a pulmonologist.

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Experience a sample of the Early Detection module.
ACCESS A PREVIEW »

Experience a sample of the Decision-Making Tool module.
ACCESS A PREVIEW »

DECISION-MAKING TOOL MODULE

ONLINE COURSE | APPROX. 15 MIN

Meet Harry, Michael, and Layla—three patients presenting with differing signs and symptoms that could be indicative of ILDs. In these interactive scenarios, you’ll conduct a simulated visit with each patient and choose which actions to take, including completing a physical exam, ordering testing, referring to a pulmonologist, or providing treatment.

New to CHEST? It’s easy to create a free account »

Experience a sample of the Decision-Making Tool module.
ACCESS A PREVIEW »

Experience the patient journey to an ILD diagnosis

Navigating the diagnosis of a rare disease can be challenging for everyone involved. In this interactive story, you’ll meet Albert, a retired construction engineer in his 70s, and understand his journey with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a type of ILD.

START THE STORY »

Provide feedback on the Bridging Specialties toolkit

As we continue to add content and features, we'd love your thoughts on this collection of ILD diagnosis resources—your feedback would be incredibly useful.

TAKE THE SURVEY »

Watch and learn with expert videos exploring radiologic features of ILDs

Radiologic imaging can provide clues to whether a patient may have an ILD. This collection of videos covers key patterns, common CT appearances, and imaging features that can help in diagnosis. If you’re reviewing your patient’s radiology results, you’ll know what indicators to look for that can prompt you to send for a referral.

Approach to HRCT Scans

Review the role of HRCT in the evaluation of ILD with a focus on anatomy and key CT patterns.

26 MIN 09 SEC

CT in Fibrotic ILD – Part 1

Learn how to recognize various forms of fibrotic changes on CT imaging.

22 MIN 33 SEC

CT in Fibrotic ILD – Part 2

Learn about common CT appearances of progressive fibrotic ILDs.

27 MIN 37 SEC

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Review the challenges of diagnosing HP from the radiologic, pathologic, and clinical perspectives.

15 MIN 32 SEC

Imaging of Cystic Lung Disease

Learn how to use the distribution of cysts and associated findings on a CT scan in diagnosis.

20 MIN 26 SEC

Imaging in Sarcoidosis

See some of the classical and nonspecific CT signs of sarcoidosis.

22 MIN 51 SEC

Small Airways Diseases and Mosaicism

Review imaging features of common airway diseases and rarer entities.

21 MIN 41 SEC

Smoking-Related ILD

This video helps to sort out imaging features of conditions associated with tobacco abuse.

22 MIN 27 SEC

Stay informed with additional resources from CHEST

PATIENT EDUCATION

ILD Patient Guide

Help your patients understand their disease with our downloadable guide, including special sections on oxygen therapy and suggested questions to answer ahead of a health care appointment.

CHEST GUIDELINE

Diagnosis and Evaluation of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

This CHEST guideline and expert panel report provides evidence-based and consensus-derived guidance for clinicians to improve individual diagnostic decision-making for hypersensitivity pneumonitis and decrease diagnostic practice variability.

CHEST NETWORKS

Diffuse Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Network

Connect with other clinicians who focus on ILDs through our special interest groups, known as Networks, available to CHEST members. As part of this Network, you can help develop educational sessions, stay informed with exclusive newsletter updates, and much more.

CHEST JOURNAL

Recently Published ILD Articles

The journal CHEST^® features the best in peer-reviewed, cutting-edge original research in ILD.

Expand your understanding of the ILD diagnosis gap

Our toolkit is just one component of the Bridging Specialties™: Timely Diagnosis for ILD initiative, aimed at closing the diagnosis gap for patients with ILDs like pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Learn more about the initiative, access a white paper on factors driving delays in idiopathic PF, and listen to a podcast on overcoming barriers in diagnosis.

TIMELY DIAGNOSIS FOR ILD »

Get the latest updates straight to your inbox

Want to keep up to date on Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD? Sign up, and be the first to know about additional tools and resources to identify high-risk patients with ILDs—all with the goal of improving patient care and quality of life.

Here’s what’s coming up next:

Podcast episode summarizing the clinical needs assessment of ILD patient care
Experiential, learning-based game focused on ILDs

CME/MOC/CE Claim Instructions

Bridging Specialties™: ILD Clinician Toolkit

To complete the Education Activity Evaluation for Bridging Specialties™: ILD Clinician Toolkit, claim CME/CE credits, and download CME/CE certificates and certificates of attendance (COA), please see the instructions below. You must complete your evaluation and download your certificate prior to the product expiration date.

Visit the Bridging Specialties: ILD Clinician Toolkit course page.
Sign in with your CHEST account information.
Complete any post-assessments and the Education Activity Evaluation to claim credit.
On the Request Credit page, select the type of credit you want to claim, and enter the number of hours you are claiming, commensurate with your participation.
Finalize by clicking the final “Claim” button.
Your certificate and transcript can be viewed by clicking “Manage CME” on the menu to the left.

If you need help, contact the CHEST Help Team at HelpTeam@chestnet.org. For faster assistance, outline the specific problem you are having, and provide your CHEST ID and contact information.

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE TWO MODULES AND EDUCATION ACTIVITY EVALUATION PRIOR TO THE PRODUCT EXPIRATION DATE

Physician Credit

The American College of Chest Physicians is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Chest Physicians designates this enduring material for a maximum of 3.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Credit

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 16433, for 3.50 contact hours.

Nurse Practitioners

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Individuals are responsible for checking with the AANPCB for further guidelines.

Physician Assistants

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. PAs may receive a maximum of 3.50 Category 1 credits for completing this activity.

Maintenance of Certification Statement

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the participant to earn up to 3.50 MOC Part 2 Medical Knowledge points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC points.

Upon successful completion of this course, CHEST will submit your completion data to ABIM via ACCME's Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS) for MOC points. Please allow 3-5 business days after claiming for points to be reflected on your ABIM record.

The participation threshold or passing standard for this activity is learner completion of the module, “Early Detection of ILD”, the module, “Decision Making Tool”, and completion of the activity evaluation documenting expected changes in practice.

About Three Lakes Foundation

Three Lakes Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to serving as a catalyst for uniting research, industries, and philanthropy in pulmonary fibrosis. We connect entrepreneurs, advocates, and institutions to an innovation ecosystem that will transform our approach to improve time to diagnosis and accelerate new therapies. To learn more, visit threelakesfoundation.org.