Abstract
Current data states that there are approximately 11 million people affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (ALA, 2016) and costs the United States approximately $49.9 billion annually (Guarascio, Ray, Finch, & self, 2013). Proper assessment and follow-up of patients with COPD is imperative in managing this progressive disease. With early intervention the progression of symptoms can be slowed, but not reversed (GOLD, 2017). It has been found that providers have not been assessing patients according to the recent updates to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Guidelines. This includes diagnostic spirometry, number of exacerbations per year, and administering the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) (GOLD, 2017). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the CAT in a primary care setting in a rural community. Providers were educated on the CAT, the CAT was added to the COPD template in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), and provider perceptions, barriers, and likelihood of continuing to use the CAT were analyzed.