BC Guidelines

Last updated on March 15, 2024

 

BC Guidelines are clinical practice guidelines and protocols that provide recommendations to B.C. practitioners on delivering high quality, appropriate care to patients with specific clinical conditions or diseases. These “Made in BC” clinical practice guidelines are developed by the Guidelines and Protocol Advisory Committee (GPAC), an advisory committee to the Medical Services Commission. The primary audience for BC Guidelines is BC physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical students. However, other audiences such as health educators, health authorities, allied health organizations, pharmacists, and nurses may also find them to be a useful resource.

There are several ways to find the guidelines you are looking for.

What's New

For information on COVID-19, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

 

Revised: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care (2024) provides recommendations for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care.

Key Recommendations include:

Diagnosis

  • Confirm all presumptive, symptom-based diagnoses of COPD one time with spirometry postbronchodilator ratio of FEV1/FVC < 0.7.
  • Understand asthma and COPD are distinct diagnoses and may exist in the same patient. [NEW, 2024]
  • CT is not needed to diagnose COPD but may be useful for screening lung cancer[NEW, 2024]

Management

  • Encourage all patients who smoke to quit or decrease use as treatment for COPD.
  • Manage COPD early in order to slow disease progression. [NEW, 2024]
  • Investigate and manage possible comorbidities to optimize outcomes.
  • Refer patients, especially those with moderate to severe COPD, to a respiratory therapist for education and/or pulmonary rehabilitation.
  • Provide appropriate immunizations to reduce the risk of exacerbation and mortality. [NEW, 2024]
  • Consider checking baseline blood eosinophil count prior to commencing inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). [NEW, 2024]

Environmental Impact and Climate Change

  • Consider medication options with lower environmental impact. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) contribute disproportionately to climate change, which in turn can affect COPD. [NEW, 2024]
  • Prepare for climate events such as wildfire and extreme heat, which can exacerbate COPD symptoms. [NEW, 2024]

Education

  • Prescribe appropriate controller and rescue medications along with a COPD action plan.
  • Evaluate the patient's inhaler adherence and technique regularly.

 

To learn more about BC Guidelines see our video below

BC Guidelines Overview