Summary

In this webinar, our speakers highlight the importance of diagnostic testing for respiratory infections to ensure access to critical treatments. Additionally, as COVID-19, Flu, and RSV co-circulate this fall, the webinar will provide a clinical perspective on effective diagnostic stewardship strategies. These strategies will consider the clinical exam, patient risk, and circulating pathogens, enabling healthcare teams to become stewards of care with improved processes and care protocols.

Learning Objectives

• To update the evolving epidemiology of COVID-19 including current variants and the protective natural immunity with different variants against subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• To understand the populations at highest risk for infections with respiratory viruses post-COVID-19 pandemic.
• To highlight the continued importance of diagnostic testing of respiratory infections in the high-risk populations to ensure access to critical treatment.
• To discuss the diagnostic workup for respiratory illnesses in context of the clinical exam, patient risk and circulating pathogens.
• To describe rapid Point of Care (POC) test differences and their potential impact on operations, stewardship, and other outcomes.
• To explore strategies for healthcare teams to be stewards of care with improved processes and care protocols.

Dr. Robert Gaynes
Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta GA, USA

“The Evolving Epidemiology of COVID-19 and its Clinical Implications"

Dr. Granvile A. Morse III
Medical Director, System Service Lines
Ochsner Health
New Orleans, USA

“Diagnostic Stewardship for Respiratory Infectious Diseases"