About Course
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States. There are approximately 30 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with COPD. Physical activity and therapy can provide the great improvement in symptoms, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life. This CPD course is for physical and occupational therapy clinicians in acute, subacute or home health care who are seeking to update their understanding of COPD rehabilitation. As rehabilitation professionals, we need to understand the pathophysiology as well as the evidence-based treatment strategies to promote optimal living for individuals with COPD. This CPD webinar is part 1 in a 2- part series. It includes an overview of the pathophysiology of COPD; its prevalence, medical diagnosing, medications, and pulmonary system assessment. This CPD course will also provide an overview of risk factors and assessment and treatment techniques for early identification.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this CPD course, the participant will be able to:
- Recognize the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Explain the pathophysiology of COPD as it applies to mobility
- Identify common symptoms of COPD exacerbations
- Identify currently available medications, their indications, and adverse events
- Summarize how to complete an applicable body system assessment to identify symptoms of exacerbations
- Explain how to provide education regarding healthy lifestyle and identify self-management strategies to promote optimal living of individuals with COPD.
Course Agenda:
- Overview: Incidence and Prevalence of COPD and hospitalizations – 20 minutes
- Diagnosing COPD (Medical tests, lab values and classification)- 25 minutes
- Common medications including oxygen and delivery method- 20 minutes
- System assessment components – 25 minutes
- Education opportunities- 30 minutes
Total: 120 minutes
Contact Hours: 2.0
Speaker Bio: Virginia Bowen, PT, DPT
Virginia Bowen, PT, DPT is an experienced home health therapist with 7 years of experience as an educator and more than 20 years as a home care physical therapy case manager. Virginia received her B.S degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin in 1987 and went on to receive her DPT from the College of Saint Scholastica in 2019. She has developed and taught chronic disease courses for her current employer as well as the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and also has personal experience being the HCPOA for a COPD patient. She has treated numerous COPD patients in her 25 years as a home health therapist and enjoys teaching courses pertaining to this subject matter in order to help therapists develop professionally and gain knowledge of best practices.
