title: Improving outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the role of the interprofessional approach.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity, places substantial time and cost burden on the health care system, and is now the third leading cause of death in the US. Many interventions are available to appropriately manage patients with COPD; however, fully implementing these strategies to help improve outcomes may be difficult. Collaboration between an interprofessional team of health care professionals (which includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, and many others) and COPD patients and caregivers is necessary to optimally manage these patients and to truly impact outcomes in this devastating disease. Prescribing evidence-based non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies is an important start, but a true team-based approach is critical to successfully implement comprehensive care in patients with COPD. The goal of this review is to employ a case-based approach to provide practical information regarding the roles of the interprofessional team in implementing strategies to optimally manage COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases/Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, USA ; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bravein
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amalakuhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases/Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, USA ; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017028:Caregivers; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018529:Nutritional Support; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012648:Self Care; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
keywords: co-morbidities; optimal care; shared decision-making