Asthma WA’s two-day workshop for health professionals, held on Friday 18 and Monday 22 January was a success.
Designed to enhance the expertise of health professionals in respiratory health, the event was coordinated by Asthma WA’s Executive Manager of Strategic Programs, Rael Rivers, and held at the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service in Albany.
Over 30 health professionals, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and allied health members, heard from our Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kate Hipwell, and Senior Coordinator – Respiratory Testing, Max Jenkins-Cooney, on important topics such as:
- Performing spirometry – theory;
- Spirometry in practice – practical;
- Paediatric asthma;
- Asthma medications and device technique; and
- Managing asthma in the community.
Guests were also given the opportunity to engage in practical, hands-on spirometry training during the event. Spirometry is an invaluable tool that can support the diagnosis of asthma and COPD. Although spirometry appears to be easy to perform, the competence and knowledge of the operator and the accuracy of the spirometer itself are critical for spirometry to have any clinical usefulness. Spirometry that is poorly performed or using equipment that is inaccurate can result in serious medical consequences, such as misdiagnosis and mismanagement.
Delivering professional training to health professionals in regional WA is an important part of our work. Alongside our in-person workshops, we provide informative webinars and a range of resources to help health professionals support patients with respiratory conditions. To learn more about our professional education, access past webinar recordings, explore resources and stay informed about upcoming events, visit this page.