Week 6 DB 3 Respiratory illness

Initial Post Instructions

In your initial post, address the following:

1. Identify the health problem.
2. Clearly state the primary diagnosis you are focusing on for this discussion.
3. Describe current management.
4. How is your patient currently being managed? Include medications, referrals to specialists, monitoring, and lifestyle/behavioral interventions (e.g., smoking cessation, inhaler technique, diet, activity). Briefly compare this current management to the relevant guideline recommendations.
5. Evaluate opportunities to optimize care.
6. Based on the guideline(s), is there anything you would consider doing differently or in addition? For example:

• Do any medications need to be started, uptitrated, or deprescribed?
• Are additional labs or diagnostics indicated?
• Are comorbidities influencing your plan?
• Is referral to a specialist or another service appropriate?

1. Patient counseling and education.
2. What specific counseling or education would you provide for this patient related to their condition, medications, self-management, and risk reduction?

Expectations for Your Initial Post

• Address all four questions listed above.
• Demonstrate clear, stepwise clinical reasoning.
• Approximate length: around 300 words.
• Reference the guideline(s) or key evidence you are using, as appropriate.

The Patient I Seen: 58-year-old female presented with cough and left axillary pain. She is a smoker with a history of COPD and currently uses Trelegy. Reports shortness of breath with prolonged walking. Phlegm is clear. Also reports headache for the past 23 days, slight runny nose, and ear pressure. She has a pulmonology appointment scheduled for Wednesday. Prescribed Promethazine DM at night, albuterol four times daily, and Mucinex 600 mg BID. Assessment consistent with COPD exacerbation. Return precautions reviewed.

Use this source as your reference: Hollier, A. (2021). Clinical guidelines in primary care (4th ed.). Advanced Practice Education Associates.