HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY Improving Care of COPD Patients Through Online Resources H aving access to accurate, practical and easily understandable information is essential to appropriately recognize, evaluate and manage chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( C O P D ) . Depending on the websites y o u choose to view, the Internet can be a useful resource for information. However, m u c h of the online data regarding C O P D is outdated, confusing and at times incorrect. Inaccurate information may confuse patients w i t h C O P D and may perpetuate suboptimal recognition, evaluation and management of these patients by busy healthcare professionals. I t may be difficult to find the time or resources to attend high-quality seminars w i t h accurate and practical information. As a solution to these challenges, we developed some useful and accurate online resources for C O P D patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals. 34 I COPD DIGEST • Volume 11, Number 1 • www.copddigest.org The Animated C O P D Patient: A n Animated Patient's Guide to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- www.animatedcopdpatient.com One of the m a i n goals of this website is to provide Welcome WeleOT^ to Ifie Web-bassfl, Weraoi'jo ProfeastacisC COUOIOTT In Ctwonrc Oostruaiire Pulmonafy Disesss IWlceCOPD) aducatlon* proflram far heaimc«Bpto(ea&omils. ifyou Sfefaw W lfa»»a!.i):easecNcson ineRegaiHiabaftwe. I'yoy have SreaOy reffsiereo, please d«* l^e Log 1" ta; Vi sign m 10ttiB^.6. Onx you ere ta^ed m. >isi can K^EA on any erf aw icon) i i the kings of i^ji* or itie ccuraesfinkaixiiie. accurate and useful information to empower patients and their caregivers to effectively deal w i t h this potentially devastating disease. Better communication between C O P D patients, their caregivers and their healthcare professionals leads to better health outcomes. The website is free to use and features brief videos on topics such as C O P D symptoms, risk factors, complications, diagnosis and treatment. Animations, insights, and experiences of C O P D experts and patients are available on the site for visitors to review at their own leisure. Web-based, Interactive Professional Education in COPD- www.wipediseases.org Despite advances identifying and managing patients w i t h COPD over the last 20 years, many gaps still exist between how care should be delivered and how it is actually b e i n g provided i n clinical practice. Data have shown that many C O P D patients do not receive the best treatments according to current guidelines. So what can be done to help busy healthcare professionals provide the best care for Healthcare professionals who indicate on the WipeCOPO™ registration page that they learned of the site from the COPD Foundation will have 25% of their registration fee donated by the WipeDiseases Foundation to the POPD Fopd^tei their C O P D patients? One solution we developed is a Web-based, Interactive Professional Education i n COPD (WipeCOPD™) program. O u r website helps healthcare professionals catch up on the "latest and To learn more visit www.wipediseases.org or scan this QR code w i t h your smartphone. greatest" C O P D information. Teaching clinicians the best ways to treat C O P D w i l l ultimately help patients feel better, be more active and do m u c h better overall. 35