October 2009
RHAMC's e-newsletter is published monthly and contains news of RHAMC happenings, program updates and links to lung health resources.
This month's issue includes:
- Supporters raise awareness and advance COPD policy
- Don't miss the Respiratory Rally!*
- New funding for COPD program expansion
To receive RHAMC's monthly e-newsletter by email, send an email to info@lungchicago.org.
*Effective January 2010, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago changed the name of its COPD educational conference to Living Better Together COPD Conference. For more information, visit our Living Better Together page.
Supporters raise awareness and advance COPD policy
With November designated as National COPD Awareness month, Respiratory Health Association is excited about opportunities to raise awareness about disease and share news of COPD policy victories achieved during the past year.
Many patients, caregivers and advocates have supported advocacy efforts by writing letters, making phone calls, providing testimony and even traveling to Springfield to offer state legislators a firsthand perspective on improving life for people living with COPD.
RHAMC also organized an awareness event at the state Capitol where pulmonologists and respiratory therapists performed spirometry testing on several dozen lawmakers and staff. This event helped raise awareness about COPD, and provided an opportunity to recruit additional sponsors for COPD legislative proposals.
One successful proposal during the last legislative session resulted in a new law that requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to designate a staff person to address COPD. Key duties will be: raising awareness, increasing programming related to education about COPD, and improving data collection and surveillance. RHAMC is currently working with lawmakers to secure funding for this new position.
Another victory, aimed at gaining a better understanding of the prevalence of COPD in Illinois, secured the inclusion of COPD questions on statewide survey called the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Data collected from the annual survey will provide a more accurate estimate of the impact of COPD in Illinois, and will hopefully result in increased government resources dedicated to combating COPD.
For more information about how you can be involved in supporting the State Plan for Addressing COPD in Illinois and other ongoing policy initiatives, contact Matt Maloney, Director of Health Policy for Respiratory Health Association, or call (312) 628-0233.
Don't miss the Respiratory Rally!*
Respiratory Rally* is an annual half-day conference and luncheon for people living with COPD, their families and their caregivers.
Keynote speaker Dr. Kyle Hogarth of University of Chicago will present his lecture, "COPD - The Latest!" which covers current and emerging COPD management strategies and treatment options. The day continues with three educational sessions:
- Living it up with COPD
- Home oxygen: don't leave home without it
- COPD medications and you
Tuesday, November 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Meridian Banquet & Conference Center, Rolling Meadows. Registration fee is $25. Download a registration form here.
Questions? Call Claire at (312) 628-0227.
*Effective January 2010, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago changed the name of its COPD educational conference to Living Better Together COPD Conference. For more information, visit our Living Better Together page.
New funding for COPD program expansion
Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago was awarded a $47,000 subcontract from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's COPD Learn More Breathe Better Campaign® to expand COPD programming and raise awareness about COPD among individuals whose symptoms have not yet been diagnosed.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) makes it difficult to breathe, and is often referred to as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. This new project funding will enable RHAMC to expand existing efforts and implement new activities to increase awareness of signs and symptoms, while promoting early detection and proper management of COPD.
RHAMC is part of the Breathe Better Network of community partners, and is one of just 15 organizations nationwide to receive this funding award.
