M.C. Townsend Associates, LLC

Technician Web-based Spirometry - Non-Certification

Course Description

Goals of the Training: The course aims to help health professionals: 1) obtain acceptable and repeatable test results; 2) perform appropriate spirometer calibration checks; and 3) recognize the uses and limitations of spirometry in the occupational setting.

Content of the Training: This non-Certification Technician web-based Spirometry course consists of:

1. Overview of Pulmonary Anatomy and Physiology
2. Overview of Spirometry
3. Quality Assurance Procedures
4. Spirometric Technique
5. Basic Spirometric Calculations
6. Comparison of Observed to Predicted Reference Values
7. Evaluating Changes in Follow-Up Spirograms
8. Overview of Standards for Spirometry Equipment
9. Examples: Identifying and Correcting Problems That Affect Test Results
10. Additional Exercises

Click HERE to view sample training materials.

Development of the Training: Developed by Dr. John Hankinson, with technical review by Dr. Mary Townsend.  Dr. Hankinson worked for over 30 years at NIOSH and is a major contributor to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Spirometry Standardization Statements.   Both Drs. Hankinson and Townsend have developed and taught spirometry courses for many years.  That experience indicated the need for on-line spirometry training for technicians who test subjects outside of the occupational setting and who do not require a certificate of completion of a NIOSH-approved Course.

Requirements for Course Completion

Successful completion of this web-based spirometry course provides a course certificate and continuing nursing education units, but it does not provide a certificate of completion of a NIOSH-approved Spirometry course.

To successfully complete the course, enrolled technicians must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete a set of 30 pre-course questions.
2. Complete 10 chapters of on-line material and answer 94 chapter review questions, getting at least 70% of the answers right.
3. Pass the 50-question post-course exam with a grade of 70% or better.
4. Within 30 days of completion of the post-course exam, submit 10 valid spirometry test results (graphs must be included), performed using your spirometry equipment. Additional spirometry test results may be required if the original submission does not include 10 valid tests.

The course director will provide you with a summary assessment of your strengths and weaknesses based on the information provided in items 1 through 4 above, and a certificate of completion of this web-based Spirometry Training Course will be emailed to you.

Continuing Education

Registration Information

A course certificate will be awarded if the technician successfully meets all stated course requirements, summarized above.

Tuition may be paid by check or using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards.

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