QI in Action eBulletin #96: Lung Health in Primary Care

In this Issue:

• Primary Care Lung Health Programs
• Electronic Asthma Management System Tool for Oscar Users
• Understanding Bronchiectasis
• Vaping
• Upcoming Webinars

Primary Care Lung Health Programs
In 2015, there were 60, 530 new Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnoses for people in Ontario ages 35 and older and 883,400 Ontarians were living with a COPD diagnosis . 61, 580 Ontarians ages 1 and older were newly diagnosed with asthma in 2015, with 1.9 million living with an asthma diagnosis1. COPD and asthma are only 2 of the 5 major chronic respiratory diseases also including lung cancer, tuberculosis (TB) and cystic fibrosis. Primary care provides care for these lung health conditions and many more in team-based care settings; this document highlights some of the lung health programs within primary care.

eAMS Tool for OSCAR Users – Webinar
The Electronic Asthma Management System (eAMS) is an evidence-based clinical decision support system developed to improve your ability to deliver best care for patients with asthma.

WHAT DOES THE eAMS DO?

The eAMS was designed to help providers to bridge the main evidence-to-practice gaps that have been identified across care settings and are believed to be the major cause of poor disease control and healthcare utilization in patients with asthma.

WHO IS THE eAMS FOR?

The eAMS was designed by primary care providers, for primary care providers. The tool was designed to assist clinicians in busy real-world primary care settings. The system can be used by any health care provider but because the system makes prescription recommendations, the most common users are physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Other team members could also use the system and receive signoff from a prescriber for any required medication changes. The system is available for all asthma patients aged 16 years and older.

Join the OSCAR CoP Webinar and Dr. Samir Gupta, to learn more about this tool!

Understanding Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is not rare, but it is currently a neglected pulmonary disease which poses a significant burden to the health care system. Learning how to counsel patients regarding the modifiable factors can affect prognosis and improve the patients’ quality of life. Self-management support plays an important role in the patient’s ability to make lifestyle changes to reduce symptoms, prevent recurrent lung infections, prevent emergency department visits, hospital admission and decrease mortality.

We’re pleased to be hosting a webinar with Bruyère Academic FHT, so that our teams can learn more about bronchiectasis. At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Verbalize their understanding of bronchiectasis and how to help patients self-manage this disease  
• Learn how to avoid the acquisition of nontuberculosis mycobacteria.
• Understand the bronchiectasis self-management plan

Learn more at an upcoming webinar- sign up here!

Vaping
The Heart & Stroke Foundation, in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Pipe, hosted a webinar on the impact of vaping on the health of Canadians. The youth vaping trend and the concept of nicotine as a gateway along with challenges of vaping for cardiovascular disease prevention were discussed within this webinar.

To address some of the dangers of vaping in youth, on Feb. 28 Minister Elliott announced proposed regulatory changes that, if approved, would limit where flavoured and high nicotine vapour products are sold at retail. At the same time, the province intends to expand prevention initiatives and services to quit vaping.

To better understand the impact of vaping, please listen to the webinar by Dr. Pipe with learning objectives that included:

1. Examine and explain the controversies surrounding vaping and the importance of influencing healthy public policy.
2. Describe the risks associated with vaping and the impact on cardiovascular disease prevention.
3. Discuss how to engage in meaningful discussion about vaping and smoking cessation with individuals.
4. Recognize the advantages and shortcomings of nicotine replacement therapy.

Listen to this webinar here.

Upcoming Webinars:

• Electronic Asthma Management System (eAMS) – OSCAR Tool Demonstration Webinar– March 24, 2020 (10:00-11:00 am EDT)
• Understanding Bronchiectasis Webinar – April 21, 2020 (12:00-1:00 pm EDT)

In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #95 or other back issues here!
Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.