Reviewed by Catherine “Casey” S. Jones, RN, MSN, ANP-C, AE-C

Accurate diagnosis and staging of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) begins with a thorough patient history focusing on specific risks and symptoms, complete physical examination to detect signs of disease, judicious testing to confirm your findings, and guideline-based treatment of COPD and any related comorbidities. The SOAP notes with which you are already familiar provide a useful framework for remembering and organizing the essential aspects of your workup for COPD. These notes allow you to clearly and efficiently document and communicate your clinical findings, to exercise your clinical problem-solving skills, and to formulate your differential diagnosis and a diagnostic and treatment plan. This immediately applicable course will aid you in providing a consistent and comprehensive standard of care for your patients with COPD by using subjective data, objective observations, assessment, analysis, and a plan for treatment (SOAP).

Overview

This comprehensive program is designed to help you recognize the challenges of diagnosing, preventing, and treating COPD and to apply current evidence-based guidelines in selecting appropriate screening, testing, education, and treatment options to improve the care of your patients with COPD.

• Obtain a thorough patient history to begin screening for risk factors of COPD

• Describe the key elements in the physical examination that suggest COPD

Learner Participation to Earn Credit

• Review the course material

• Complete the online post-test with a score of 70% or higher

• Complete online program evaluation

• Participation in the self-study activity should be completed in approximately 30 minutes

As a provider of CME and CE activities that are accredited by AANP, AAPA and AARC, MEBN must ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its CME activities. All faculty participating in these activities are expected to disclose any or no relevant financial interest or other relationship with (1) the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in any educational presentation, and/or (2) with any commercial supporters of an activity. Disclosure of any or no relationship(s) will be listed prior to any educational activity. All apparent conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved through MEBN’s independent, peer-review process. Our intent is to assist learners in assessing the potential for bias in information that is presented during the CME activity. The faculty are also aware of their responsibility to inform the audience if discussion of any non-FDA-approved uses of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, prostheses, etc. will be included in their presentation.

Disclaimer
This continuing education program may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents or products that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The authors, sponsors or publishers do not recommend the use of any agent or product outside of the official labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each agent or product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and written warnings.

Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this course should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

The authors, contributors, and editorial staff have made every effort to contact holders of copyright to obtain permission to reproduce copyright material. However, if any permissions have been inadvertently overlooked, MEBN will be pleased to make the necessary and reasonable arrangements.

Certificate Fees

CE-TODAY offers FREE continuing education (CE) credits to recipients of the CD-ROM or the CE-TODAY journal. Enter the CE Code listed on the CD-ROM or in the journal when prompted. This free offer expires on May 26, 2007. All others will be assessed a $5.00 processing fee.