That initiative is including not only physicians but also physician assistants and nurse practitioners, Dr. Hanania noted. "In our primary care setting in the U.S., nonphysician extenders – PAs, nurse practitioners – play a major role in encountering COPD, and those are people we like to target," he explained. Furthermore, their role will likely increase if health care reform proceeds and primary care physicians are overwhelmed by demand.
The initiative meetings were supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Hanania had no relevant conflicts of interest.