M.C. Townsend Associates, LLC

Phone: 412-343-9946    Fax: 412-343-9947      mary.townsend4@verizon.net
NIOSH Approved Spirometry (Full Course)
NIOSH Approved Spirometry Refresher
Respirator Fit-Testing Workshop
Course Director
Registration Form
Continuing Education Credit
Technician Web Based Spirometry Training
Physician Web Based Spirometry Training
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Brochure (PDF)

NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Course

A 2-1/2 Day Course for Pulmonary Function Testing Certification

NIOSH Spirometry Program Changes

Effective 01/01/09, certificates of completion of a NIOSH-approved spirometry course remain active for only 5 years from the course date. Click HERE to see formal NIOSH announcement.

Students who completed their initial NIOSH-approved course prior to 2000 must repeat the full course to maintain an active certificate of course completion. That new certificate will then be active for 5 years from the course date.

Students who completed their initial NIOSH-approved course in 2000 or later may take a NIOSH-approved Spirometry Refresher Course by 12/31/10 to extend their certificate of completion for 5 years from the Refresher Course date.

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Course Description

This 2-1/2 day NIOSH-approved Spirometry Course is designed for health professionals who conduct spirometric pulmonary function tests and/or interpret test results in industrial and clinical settings. This comprehensive NIOSH spirometry course is appropriate for those with no spirometry background as well as for experienced spirometry users. Though the course assumes no prior spirometry experience or knowledge of respiratory physiology, experienced spirometry users always increase their understanding of spirometry by participating in the course.

Using lectures, discussion, and practice sessions, the course presents basic pulmonary pathophysiology, instrumentation requirements, performance of the spirometry test (stressing active coaching), recognition of testing errors and spirometer malfunctions, supervised use of the spirometer, measurement of the spirogram, and calculation of results. OSHA standards, the new ANSI Z88.6-2006 Respirator Use Physical Qualifications for Personnel, and the 2005 American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines pertaining to spirometry are reviewed.  The goal of this course is to teach not only what the recommendations and requirements are for conducting tests and interpreting results, but also why the recommendations and requirements were made.

Over half of the class time is devoted to supervised student practice of the techniques that are presented. Individual attention is ensured by maintaining the student/instructor ratio at 6:1 or better. All lectures are given by Dr. Mary Townsend; all practice session assistants are NIOSH-approved and have extensive spirometry experience. The course is co-provided by UPMC Work Partners.

Class size is restricted to 24 or fewer students, to maximize student-faculty interaction and to keep the atmosphere informal and conducive to learning.  Topics and presentation styles are varied to keep students interested and involved.  Breaks are frequent to help students concentrate and remain focussed.

Practical and written examinations are given on the last half-day of the course, and a certificate is awarded if performance is satisfactory. As of 01/01/09, course certificates remain active for only 5 years.

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Course Topics

  • Review of OSHA standards, ANSI Z88.6-2006 Respirator Use Physical Qualifications for Personnel, and the 2005 ATS Guidelines pertaining to spirometry.
  • Respiratory defense mechanisms; obstructive and restrictive impairment patterns.
  • Spirometry technique and recognizing testing errors.
  • Measuring the spirogram: FVC and FEV1, back-extrapolation, BTPS correction, reproducibility.
  • Interpreting test results: Comparing observed with predicted values; race- adjusting predicted values; evaluating change over time.
  • Types of spirometers: advantages, disadvantages, and potential problems.
  • Spirometer calibration and calibration checks.
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Continuing Education

This NIOSH-approved Spirometry Course (Approval #101) has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 19.50 AMA Physicians Recognition Award Category 1 Credits.*
 
This CE activity is also approved for 19.5 contact hours by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This program has also been approved for up to 19.42 contact hours of Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care.

* DuBois Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Pennsylvania Medical Society to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.  DuBois Regional Medical Center designates this a continuing medical education activity and it awards 19.50 AMA Physicians Recognition Award Category 1 Credits and the Pennsylvania Medical Society Member CME Certification.  Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. Faculty participants in continuing medical education activities sponsored by DuBois Regional Medical Center are expected to disclose to the audience whether they do or do not have any real or apparent conflicts of interest or other relationships related to the content of their presentations.
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Course Materials

If possible, please bring:

a) A calculator.

b) Your spirometer operating manual.

c) Several test results, with tracings, from your spirometer.

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Dates & Course Location

Course location

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Pittsburgh - Airport
Pittsburgh, PA

Making room reservations:
  • On-line, enter group code "SP1" for the March, 2009 class, "SP2" for the June, 2009, "SP3" for the September, 2009 class, and "SPI" for the November, 2009 class to get spirometry/audiometry room block rates
  • Telephone (412-788-8400) - ask for "spirometry/audiometry room block"

2009 Dates

March 23 - 25 *
June 1 - 3 *

Sept 14 - 16 *
Nov 16 - 18 *

*Immediately followed by a CAOHC-Approved Hearing Conservation Workshop. Call Dr. Roger Angelelli, Audiometric Baseline Consulting, at (412) 831-0430 for workshop information.

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Registration Information

Course tuition of  $535 includes:
  • all course materials, including comprehensive workbook and reference materials
  • ANSI Z88.6-2006 Respirator Use Physical Qualifications for Personnel
  • continuing education credit
  • spirogram measuring tools and use of spirometers
  • lunch and various morning and afternoon refreshments 
Class size is limited to 24, so please register early to insure availability. You are welcome to call ahead to find out whether there are vacancies in the class of your choice. You may pay by check or using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards. Students are enrolled in the order in which payment and registration are received. Confirmation will be sent upon receipt of the tuition payment. Tuition is fully refunded if you cancel five or more weeks before the course date. A $50 service charge is deducted if you cancel 3-5 weeks before the course date. Since expenses are fixed, no refunds are issued if you cancel less than 3 weeks before the course date. However, you may always send an alternate in your place or, if we find a replacement for your registered class date, you may transfer to a later course.

Customized on-site courses are also available, and a minimum number of participants is usually recommended. Please call for more information: (412) 343-9946.

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