M.C. Townsend Associates, LLC

Phone: 412-343-9946    Fax: 412-343-9947      mary.townsend4@verizon.net
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Spirometry Training CD
Spirometry for Physicians CD
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Spirometry for Physicians CD

* Physicians use spirometry results to diagnose COPD, asthma, and occupational lung disorders, evaluate prognosis and response to treatment, and assess effects of workplace exposures and ability to wear respirators on the job.  

* Spirometry appears to be simple, but errors in testing technique and equipment malfunctions can seriously elevate or reduce results, leading to false positive or false negative interpretations.

* Physician training rarely includes the detailed information needed for optimal spirometry testing - this Spirometry for Physicians CD provides this needed current information in an interactive learning format.

* Physicians can complete the course at their own pace, at times that are convenient.

* Comprehensive reference is always available - use Reference Value Calculator, and print tables of normal values, including NHANES III.

* Approved for up to 5.0 AMA Physicians Recognition Award Category 1 Credits.

* Developed by Dr. John Hankinson, formerly of NIOSH, major author of American Thoracic Society (ATS) Spirometry Guidelines, and Dr. Mary Townsend, epidemiological and pulmonary function testing consultant for many companies, and lead author of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Spirometry Position Statements.

The CD covers: 1) pathophysiology of obstructive and restrictive disorders; 2) types of spirometers, their advantages and disadvantages; 3) equipment and procedural pitfalls that plague spirometry and invalidate test results; 4) and current guidelines of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and ACOEM for interpreting results compared with predicted values and evaluating changes over time.

Having completed the course, physicians can evaluate whether their spirometry programs meet current ATS and ACOEM guidelines for: 1) test validity, recognizing and correcting technical errors; 2) spirometer accuracy and maintenance, determining the adequacy of calibration checks; 3) selection of spirometry values for evaluation; 4) and interpretation of test results as normal, obstructed, or restricted.

CD Chapters:


1. Overview of Pulmonary Anatomy, Physiology and Lung Disease – reviews pathophysiology of obstructive and restrictive respiratory impairment and presents cases of Interstitial Lung Disease, COPD, and Asthma.

2. Overview of Spirometry - Definitions and limitations of spirometry.

3. Conducting Spirometry Tests - Critical elements required to conduct valid spirometry tests.

4. Errors that Invalidate Tests - Errors in testing technique and spirometer malfunctions.

5. Spirometry Calculations - Measurements used to evaluate pulmonary function: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC%, reproducibility of FVC and FEV1, conversion to body temperature conditions (BTPS), and Forced Mid-Expiratory Flow (FEF25-75%.)

6. Criteria for a Valid Test - At least 3 acceptable maneuvers with reproducible FVC and FEV1.

7. Interpreting Results Relative to Predicted Values - What is "Normal”?, predicted values, percent of predicted, Lower Limits of Normal (LLN), and interpreting results as Normal, Obstructive, or Restrictive.

8. Longitudinal Interpretation – Why evaluate change over time?, pitfalls to avoid in serial measurements, calculating change over time, and what is a significant change?

9. Equipment - Volume and flow-type spirometers, advantages and disadvantages, volume-time and flow-volume displays, assuring spirometer accuracy, recommended calibration checks for flow-type and volume-type spirometers.

10. Spirometry Quality Assurance Programs, Standardization, Record Keeping, and Infection Control.

11. Final Review and Interpretation Exercises.

  Price: $195 per CD (plus $5 shipping & handling in the U.S.) Order by mail or by fax using the Registration/Order Form. If you have questions, please call 412-343-9946 or email to mary.townsend4@verizon.net, with the subject "CD Inquiry."

   To obtain 5.0 AMA Physicians Recognition Award Category 1 Credits, you must complete the entire Training CD, answering at least 75% of the questions and exercises correctly (you have 2 chances to answer each question.)   The CD program saves a file of your answers and the Microsoft parrot tells you immediately whether your answer is correct.  The answer file can be attached to an email or transmitted via an ftp site to Dr. Townsend for review. You will also be asked to complete an evaluation form for the course.