COPD Awareness Month: Focusing on support and improving care for patients and caregivers

November is COPD Awareness Month, a critical time for healthcare providers and organizations to raise awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the challenges faced by those living with it. COPD is a preventable and treatable lung condition that causes breathlessness, chronic cough, and sputum production. Despite being manageable, COPD remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

World COPD Day on November 20: A Special Webinar

World COPD Day, observed on November 20, highlights the theme “Access to COPD Care: Treatment for All,” which underscores the necessity of accessible and equitable care for all COPD patients. This year’s theme also emphasizes the importance of spirometry—a simple and essential test for measuring lung function. Spirometry is critical for diagnosing COPD and serves as a lifelong marker of respiratory health as it enables early diagnosis and timely interventions, potentially leading to improved quality of life and better health outcomes.

Ontario Health will host a special World COPD Day webinar on November 20, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EST. This webinar will focus on Ontario Health’s updated COPD Quality Standard and will cover the following topics:

• An introduction to Ontario Health’s COPD Quality Standard and the accompanying patient guide
• Key quality statements that enhance care for individuals with COPD in the community
• Available programs, tools, and resources to support caregivers
• Insights and experiences from caregivers navigating COPD care

Speakers

• Gracia Mabaya – Lead, Clinical and Quality Standards Program, Ontario Health
• Julie M. Skelding – Senior Specialist, Quality Improvement, Ontario Health

Register for the High-Quality Care for People with COPD Webinar.

For further details on the COPD Quality Standard, please visit Ontario Health’s COPD Quality Standard.