lawrence

							           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 10th 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:
  43:185-216

• Ferguson et al. Office Spirometry for Lung Health Assessment in
  Adults: A Consensus Statement from the National Lung Health
  Education Program. Chest 2002: 117:1146-1161

• TPetty, DDoherty. The National Lung Health Education Program:
  Roots, Mission and Future Direction. RespCare 2004: 49:678-683
            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:
 www.nlhep.org
                  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 www.nlhep.org and click on COPD
  Awareness Poster Project
• 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 (www.nlhep.org)
  - 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
         lawrence@nlhep.org
         www.nlhep.org
         972-910-8555 (in Dallas, TX)