The National Lung Health Education Program Programs for the Respiratory Therapist

Brief history of the NLHEP Founded by Petty with support from NIH Celebrating our 10 th anniversary in 2006! Goals of the organization: –Increase awareness of COPD among the public and health care groups –Promote the use of office spirometry for early diagnosis and treatment of COPD

More than you ever wanted to know……… NLHEP Executive Committee. Strategies in Preserving Lung Health and Preventing COPD and Associated Diseases. RespCare 1998: 43: Ferguson et al. Office Spirometry for Lung Health Assessment in Adults: A Consensus Statement from the National Lung Health Education Program. Chest 2002: 117: TPetty, DDoherty. The National Lung Health Education Program: Roots, Mission and Future Direction. RespCare 2004: 49:

Programs from the NLHEP Spirometer Review Process COPD Awareness Poster Project Publications for patient/professional education

Spirometer Review Process (SRP) “NLHEP advises spirometry for all current and former smokers and for anyone of any age with chronic cough, wheeze, chest tightness, shortness of breath or mucus hypersecretion.” From Ferguson et al in Chest (reprinted in RespCare)

Spirometer Review Process What it is: a systematic review process to assure that only the useful elements (FEV1, FEV6 and ratio) are available, based on ATS and ERS criteria What it is not: a substitute for FDA and ATS approval processes

Spirometer Review Process Composed of two documents: - the review process step-by-step - the checklist of features (both required and optional) in a logical format

Spirometer Review Process A win, win, win for everyone! For the patient For the physician For the manufacturer Check it out on the home page of our site:

Benefit to the RT Identifies appropriate devices for use in: –Public screening events –PCP offices – where the RT can do training and mentoring of office staff

COPD Awareness Poster Project Meets primary NLHEP goals Represents all ages, ethnic groups and both genders

COPD Awareness Poster Project Patients at risk need to know their FEV1 and FEV1/FEV6 ratio just like they know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers!

May we suggest…… Consider displaying posters in –PCP offices –Outpatient clinic –Pulmonary Lab And….

Think out of the box! How about at: Health fairs in the mall AARP events Fishing tournaments And……

And don’t forget Display posters when conducting smoking cessation programs at your local schools Display posters in the OB/GYN and local pediatrician offices

To get the posters Go to and click on COPD Awareness Poster Projectwww.nlhep.org Register to download Best copied on high resolution printer and mounted on heavy bond Kinko’s will do all 9 posters for about $14

Rules for using the posters No co-branding or ads on the front No changes in wording or format …unless approved prior to use

The poster survey Goal: To access effectiveness of project Data collection: - on line ( - UTHSC-SA student project - TAFP meeting Plan: Publish outcomes

Publications Go to “Resources” on home page - Information for Patients NLHEP brochure Save Your Breath America - Physicians and Health Professionals Prevent Emphysema Now Early Recognition and Management of COPD Simple Office Spirometry

To summarize… Respiratory therapists have an opportunity to increase awareness of COPD and support - COPD patients and their families - the respiratory care profession - the department you work in

Test Your Lungs – Know Your Numbers ! This is the battle cry of the National Lung Health Education Program! Respiratory therapists and other health care professionals can help - increase awareness of COPD - help identify those at risk so that treatment can begin early in the course of the disease!

Thank you from NLHEP To contact me: Gretchen Lawrence (in Dallas, TX)