L041526 CHN Education Series: Making Spirometry Work for You: Practical Interpretation for Primary Care Clinicians

April 15, 2026

This session is designed for primary care clinicians and aims to promote broader adoption of spirometry in the primary care setting. Dr. Liz Placzek, Senior Medical Director of Children’s Minnesota Primary Care, will address the rationale for incorporating spirometry into routine practice and how its use aligns with the most recent Children’s Minnesota Outpatient and GINA Asthma Guidelines. Dr. Christina Mikesell, pediatric pulmonary specialist at Children’s Respiratory & Critical Care Specialists, will complement this perspective by providing practical, primary care–focused guidance on spirometry interpretation, emphasizing foundational concepts and actionable tips that can be readily applied in everyday clinical practice. The overall goal is to improve asthma assessment, management, and control for patients across the CHN network.  

Target Audience

Healthcare clinicians caring for pediatric patients and their families. 

Learning Objectives

  • Explain current recommendations regarding the use of spirometry in primary care.
  • Describe the role of spirometry in the diagnostic assessment and ongoing management of asthma
  • Summarize PFT (pulmonary function test) fundamentals and identify recent changes to PFT data and reporting
  • Learn practical tips to assess the quality and validity of PFTs in clinic prior to interpretation
  • Increase confidence in understanding and interpreting PFT results            
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 ANCC
  • 1.00 Attendance
    • 1.00 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Course opens: 
02/02/2026
Course expires: 
05/15/2026
Event starts: 
04/15/2026 - 12:00pm CDT
Event ends: 
04/15/2026 - 1:00pm CDT

PRESENTERS: Elizabeth Placzek, MD and Christina Mikesell, MD 

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:

It is our intent that any potential conflict should be identified openly so that the listeners may form their own judgments about the presentation with the full disclosure of the facts. It is not assumed any potential conflicts will have an adverse impact on these presentations. It remains for the audience to determine whether the speaker’s outside interest may reflect a possible bias, either the exposition or the conclusions presented.                                                                                                               

Planning committee members and presenter(s) have disclosed they have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing selling re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients and have disclosed that no conflict of interest exists with the presentation/educational event.

 

 

Accreditation Statement:

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Children's Minnesota and Children's Health Network. Children's Minnesota is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Children’s Minnesota takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific interest of its accredited continuing education events.

Credit Statement:

AMA

Children’s Minnesota designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent to their participation in the activity.

ANCC

Children's Minnesota designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 ANCC nursing contact hour. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 


This program offers 1.0 contact hours of continuing education.  Most medical professional organizations accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  It is the individual’s responsibility to determine whether an education activity meets the continuing education requirements of their respective licensures and/or professional boards.  Go to your respective organization’s website for more detailed information regarding credit requirements.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 ANCC
  • 1.00 Attendance
    • 1.00 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
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Children's Minnesota employees only

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Required Hardware/software

You will need a computer or phone with either internet or Wi-Fi access.