Pulmonary Academy Course

Pulmonary Academy Course is organized by Pulmonary and Sleep Academy (PSA).

Session 1: Introduction – An Overview of Pulmonary
• Recognize the primary (gas exchange) and secondary functions of the lung
• Identify the basic anatomic lung units
• Distinguish the five causes of hypoxemia
• Recognize single and double acid-base disorders

Session 2: Pulmonary Testing
• Understand the language of PFT’s
• Competently interpret full PFTS (spirometry, flow volume loops, lung volumes and diffusion capacity)
• Avoid pitfalls in interpretation
• Correlate PFT patterns with patient’s clinical picture and disease processes at presentation and over time

Session 3: The Pulmonary Office Visit
• Understand the role of the pulmonary consultant in the outpatient setting.
• Learn how to take focused history and detailed pulmonary exam.
• Incorporate data such as x-rays, PFTs, laboratory studies into developing differential diagnosis.
• Develop directed recommendations to relay to the referring provider.

Session 4: Obstructive Lung Disease – COPD
• Review pathophysiology of chronic obstructive lung disease
• Discuss types of COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
• Utilize and interpret testing to evaluate COPD such as PFTs and imaging
• Develop appropriate treatment strategies to improve overall function and reduce symptomatology

Session 5: Obstructive Lung Disease – Asthma
• Discuss pathophysiology of asthma
• Describe the various levels of asthma control
• Evaluate asthma patient utilizing various assessment tools to assess control and triggers
• Develop treatment plan appropriate for level of asthma control including medications and avoidance of triggers.

Session 6: Restrictive Lung Diseases
• Review pathophysiology of restrictive lung disease
• Discuss causes of restrictive lung disease such as neuromuscular weakness, kyphoscoliosis, interstitial lung disease and obesity related restriction
• Utilize and interpret testing to evaluate restrictive lung disease such as PFTs (MIP/MEP) and imaging
• Develop appropriate treatment strategies to improve overall function and reduce symptomatology

Session 7: Pulmonary Vascular Diseases
• Review pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular diseases
• Discuss causes of pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary emboli, pulmonary HTN and veno-occlusive disease
• Utilize and interpret testing to evaluate pulmonary vascular diseases such as PFTs, lung scans and 6MWT
• Develop appropriate treatment strategies to improve overall function and reduce symptomatology

Session 8: Lung Neoplasms and Pulmonary Nodules
• Understand types and etiology of pulmonary nodules
• Incorporate Fleischner Criteria into the approach to solitary nodule and multiple pulmonary nodules
• Develop a plan to evaluate, manage and follow up pulmonary nodules
• Initiate appropriate dialogue with patient and family the plan

Session 9: Common Complaints
• Review common pulmonary complaints; such as cough, wheezing, chronic dyspnea
• Formulate differential diagnosis of these complaints
• Develop work up strategies and treatment plan to address common complaints
• Summarize important factors addressed in preoperative evaluation of the pulmonary patient

Session 10: Other Key Topics
• Recognize and develop management strategies of pleural and mediastinal diseases such as pleural effusions and mediastinal masses
• Review assessment of the patient with chronic respiratory insufficiency
• Plan with patient effective resources available to improve quality of life, such as pulmonary rehab
• Generate discussions specific to goals of care and end of life issues with pulmonary patients
• Discuss importance of vaccinations and TB testing in appropriate patients