Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease which is characterized by chronic airflow limitation and a range of pathological changes in the lung, significant extra-pulmonary effects, and important comorbidities which may contribute to the severity of the disease in individual patients. COPD refers to a disease that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or both¹.

A Call for Case Studies in Managing COPD
The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and the American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF) are pleased to announce an opportunity for AMGA members to participate in a learning collaborative on care management for patients with COPD. The Best Practices Learning Collaborative is for organizations that are striving to improve the care of patients with COPD. Working together, we will develop an optimal care framework that includes a comprehensive, patient-centered, value-based approach to chronic care. Participating project teams will be able to regularly network with peers, participate in bi-monthly conference calls on relevant project topics, attend two in-person meetings, and have timely access to industry experts. Through a yearlong series of activities, participating organizations will have the opportunity to test approaches and design care processes that are relevant to their clinical and operational models.

Medical groups, IPAs, academic practices, and integrated delivery systems that wish to incorporate the management of COPD into their chronic care models are encouraged to submit an application. Whether your organization is interested in a population-based effort or wants to launch a pilot program, we welcome your participation.

The learning collaborative will support improvements in chronic care management systems that focus on improving the care of patients across care settings. Up to fifteen groups will be invited to participate in the collaborative; five will receive $10,000 in educational support over a one-year period; an additional ten organizations will receive travel stipends to attend the collaborative meetings.

An expert panel of judges will review each application for commitment to common goals such as:

Early identification and diagnosis of patients at risk for or currently suffering with symptoms of COPD
Improved medication adherence and compliance
Continuity of care across settings and transitions of care
Increased efficiency and reduction of unnecessary or duplicative services and waste
Increased ability to self-manage symptoms and disease progression through healthier lifestyles
Improved health and well-being, and patient satisfaction
Improved physician/patient relationships
Overall impact on patient care in the community or region

For more information download the Call for Case Studies for application guidelines.

If you have questions or need further information, contact Danielle Flowers at dflowers@amga.org or at (703) 838-0033, ext. 347.

¹ Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Executive Committee. Global strategy for the diagnosis, managements, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Medical Communications Resources, Inc; 2009.

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