Webcast Teaches on Pulmonary Function Tests and Office Spirometry. Probably the most important tests we use in evaluating and managing lung disease are pulmonary function tests and particularly, spirometry. In the past, PFTs were relegated to the hospital pulmonary function lab and they were usually interpreted by pulmonologists. But today, the availability of inexpensive office spirometers has led to many primary care physicians performing spirometry in their own offices and doing their own interpretations. The focus of today’s webcast is going to be on how to perform and interpret office spirometry. We’ll be covering all of the information that we require at our own hospital for credentialing non-pulmonologists to do spirometry. And then, we’ll finish up with a look at some of the other pulmonary function tests that you can order from full-service pulmonary labs.

As a result of this educational activity, webcast participants will be able to do the following:

• Understand the indications for office spirometry
• Understand the definitions of obstruction
• Recognize common errors with data entry and performance of testing
• Recognize common flow volume loop patterns
• Understand the clinical significance of restriction and a low diffusing capacity

You can find this and many other MedNet21 programs on the OSU – CCME website.

Call our MedNet21 Program Manager at 614.293.3473 for more details about subscribing to MedNet21 as a hospital or as an individual. You can also e-mail him at derrick.freeman@osumc.edu.