In an effort to help clinicians diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), Rockpointe, in partnership with the Potomac Center for Medical Education (PCME) and the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), has launched a new CME/CE-certified webcourse geared toward community radiologists and radiologic technicians www.rockpointe.com/diagnosingIPF. The National Institutes of Health estimates that about 100,000 Americans suffer from IPF, a chronic, progressive disease characterized by build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, with 30,000 to 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year; most people with IPF survive three to five years after diagnosis.
IPF patients continue to suffer unacceptable delays in diagnoses and initiations of optimal treatments that can positively affect morbidity and mortality. Radiologists play a critical role in the accurate interpretation of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans and are essential in identifying candidates for agents approved to treat IPF. Because more than 80% of referring physicians rely on radiologists’ interpretations of CT scans all or most of the time, radiologists must be aware of the clinical features and distinct radiology pattern of IPF and be able to distinguish the disease from other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) and lung diseases.
In Diagnosing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Education for the Community-based Radiologist, Stephen Hobbs, MD, of the University of Kentucky and Chris Lee, MD, of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) demonstrate how to interpret HRCT to accurately identify IPF and other interstitial lung diseases. The program also includes a discussion of the role of community radiologists in IPF diagnosis and monitoring.
Radiologists and radiology techs will improve their practices by:
- Recognizing the clinical features of IPF, including pulmonary and non-pulmonary findings in HRCT images and patient history.
- Distinguishing IPF from other pulmonary conditions by differentiating usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) categories (definite, possible, and inconsistent) in HRCT images.
- Using strategies to effectively communicate with referring physicians regarding HRCT results and diagnoses of IPF.
This radiologic technology program is designed to address the Institute of Medicine (IOM) competencies of providing patient-centered care and employing evidence-based practice. Its enduring online format allows participants to view the presentation at their own convenience, from the comfort of their home or office.
For physicians, PCME designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Radiologic technologists will receive 1.0 credit for completion of the activity, which is approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for Category A continuing education credit.
This activity, which is available through June 15, 2019, is supported by an independent education grant from Boehringer Ingelheim and has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). PCME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Through effective continuing medical education, Rockpointe strives to improve and advance the quality of patient care. Its educational programs have been at the forefront of new issues in healthcare, including implementing MACRA, combatting the nation’s opioid crisis, and utilizing technical advances that improve care. As part of its commitment to quality, Rockpointe works to inform the continuing-education community of significant quality-improvement issues through news and analysis on Policy and Medicine. In addition, its popular Medical Education Exchange (MEDX) CME regional meetings include sessions on the basics of quality improvement and alternative payment models, as well as relevant and scientifically accurate sessions on numerous disease states. All sessions include links back to associated National Quality Priorities to reinforce the bigger picture and the triple aim of: 1) improving health and 2) lowering cost to 3) better the patient experience. At Rockpointe, education equals quality.
To view Diagnosing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Education for the Community-based Radiologist, go to www.rockpointe.com/diagnosingIPF or click here.
Jointly provided by Potomac Center for Medical Education, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, and Rockpointe
