Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Hub
The Commission is working to improve COPD care through a clinical care standard for COPD, as well as national and general practitioner (GP) reports to identify gaps in evidence-based care and opportunities for quality improvement.
Introduction
COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It affects one in 13 Australians over 40, yet only half of those living with the condition have been diagnosed. Early and accurate diagnosis in people at risk of COPD and proactive management can improve symptoms and quality of life, and prevent serious complications.
To support best-practice care, the Commission is leading critical work by providing guidance and data to inform improvements in care.
What's new?
- The Commission has published the Atlas Focus Report: COPD with insights on MBS-subsidised spirometry and PBS-subsidised COPD medicines - two elements of care in the COPD Clinical Care Standard
- The first Practice Reflections report from the Commission - on COPD - will be mailed to GPs across Australia in November 2025
Practice Reflections: COPD
To be released in November 2025
Practice Reflections delivers individualised data insights directly to general practitioners (GPs) across Australia. This report gives insights into spirometry referrals and information on best practice in the use of spirometry for COPD.
MedicineInsight Practice Report: COPD
Released in June 2025
MedicineInsight is a primary care quality improvement program providing data insights to participating GPs on their own prescribing and patient care patterns.
Through individual practice reports, the program allows GPs to reflect on and review their practice results, as well as the aggregate of all participating MedicineInsight practices.
Participating practices are offered COPD-focused quality improvement activities for alignment with best practice and identify key areas for improvement to benefit patients. This can contribute to RACGP CPD mandatory requirements for participating GPs.
Find out how to receive your MedicineInsight report
The MedicineInsight GP Snapshot: COPD was published in December 2024, with a complete MedicineInsight Practice Report: COPD released in June 2025.
Atlas Focus Report: COPD
Released in June 2025
The Atlas Focus Report: COPD provides national data on Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) spirometry services and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines dispensed to people with COPD, according to where patients live. This report will show national trends and variation in care between geographical areas and discuss the possible reasons for unwarranted clinical variation.
COPD Clinical Care Standard
Released in October 2024
The COPD Clinical Care Standard provides a guide to quality improvement at a local level for acute and primary care services. It includes 10 quality statements and a set of relevant indicators outlining the care that people with COPD can expect to be offered as part of high-quality, evidence-based care. Information for consumers empowers them to make informed decisions.
Watch Dr Lee Fong, Medical Advisor, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and General Practitioner, give an overview of the COPD Clinical Care Standard and describe how implementing the Standard will ensure better support for people with COPD.
Clinician resources
Guidance for health service organisations and clinicians on processes to support appropriate documentation around the administration, and monitoring of oxygen therapy for adults in acute healthcare settings.
Spirometry is a common lung function test used to monitor and diagnose lung and airway conditions. This factsheet includes practical strategies to help reduce the risk of infection transmission during spirometry testing.
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