Have you ever participated in a DRIVE4COPD event? If you have, you know that this is a collaboration of the AARC and COPD Foundation and the purpose is to drive awareness about COPD and promote respiratory care as a profession. Many events have occurred over the past several years, including an amazing display of pinwheels made of license plates in Tampa, Florida, during AARC Congress 2011, representing those suffering from COPD in the US.
The screener is made up of 5 questions that can be asked and answered in under 60 seconds:
- During the past 4 weeks, how much time did you feel short of breath?
- Do you ever cough up any "stuff," such as mucus or phlegm?
- During the last 12 months, I do less than I used to because of my breathing problems.
- Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?
- How old are you?
The survey scores the responses for a total between 0 and 10. The higher the score, the higher the risk of developing COPD.
In the past, we've used paper screeners to distribute the survey. But now, the DRIVE4COPD has taken a new turn with a new format. While the survey is electronic, the purpose is to engage in conversation with folks in the community about COPD and show the value of the respiratory therapist as a vital member of the healthcare team.
Be a DRIVER and win complimentary AARC Congress registration!
A new competition started on July 18, 2014: the AARC member who screens the most number of people through November 30, 2014, will receive a complimentary registration to AARC Congress 2015 in Tampa, Florida! The process is easy...
1. Plan your event. Is it a health fair? Community event? Initiating the tobacco cessation conversation with your patients and their families? Whatever makes sense to you.
2. Take your electronic device with Internet connection with you: tablet, smart phone, iPad, laptop...
3. Visit www.aarc.org/drive4copd/ and enter your AARC number (so that YOU get credit)
4. Ask the participant the 5 easy questions and enter their responses in the electronic screener.
5. The online screener does the math for you!
6. The online screener gives an optional opportunity to enter the participant's information to receive information from the COPD Foundation AND a chance to win an iPad mini. It's a win-win!
Respiratory Care Week is October 19-25, 2014. COPD Awareness Month is November 2014. Seriously consider integrating the DRIVE4COPD DRIVER campaign into your awareness activities.
But you also don't have to wait for those two events! Are you going to a family reunion? Screen your family. Do you talk to your patients about smoking cessation and COPD risks? Integrate the screener into your conversation at the bedside...and include the patient's family. Are you active in your religious institution? Do you participate in a book club? Do you volunteer for a community service? The point is that there are opportunities to screen others every day and the DRIVER campaign makes it so very easy.
Visit http://www.aarc.org/headlines/14/07/drive4copd/ for more information.