I don't know how many of you have heard about the newly formed Healthcare Technology Management and Advancement (HTMA) committee which operates (for now) under the patronage of the Lebanese Hospitals Management Association (LHMA). It's fairly recent given that its establishment was approved in October 2015. Anyway, the current members had a meeting yesterday which handled a brainstorming session to toss a few ideas concerning the implementation of our goals in 2016.

Mainly our goals concern:
1) Development of the biomedical engineering profession (raising awareness and support)
2) Collaboration between healthcare facilities, hospitals, and medical centers
3) Collaboration between professionals in the healthcare industry and educational institutions with programs related to the healthcare field (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, biomedical engineering, etc...)
4) Recommendation of policies and standards related to risk, safety, and accreditation
5) Promoting excellence in management and support of healthcare technology within facilities and businesses related to the field
6) Innovating healthcare ideas which not only handle the technology aspect of patient care but the general improvement of the quality of the healthcare provided

For now, my main focus is on the last idea because that goal was one of the toughest to tackle in the group without deviating to development of new technologies. Basically what we're looking for are ideas that help improve the quality of healthcare (be it at specialized facilities or at home).

On that note, I have started thinking of all the cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) caused by smoking and the rapid increase in number of patients suffering from that disease. Another problem faced is the late diagnosis of COPD in patients which not only narrows the treatment options but the course of treatment becomes more expensive as the case of COPD progresses more and more.

Now here's the catch, there's a nice test called spirometry which can be used for early detection of COPD. For now, I'm still doing my research on costs of the test and support presented by different organizations like the NSSF, military, MOH, etc... But what if the cost of the test was supported in a campaign that highly resembles the mammography awareness campaign? Not only that, but what if the campaign was directed to smokers who have the highest probability of developing COPD than non-smokers, and even the smokers' family and friends (higher chances of becoming victims of second-hand smoking)?

As such, I have come forth to you good people for your opinion and feedback on the matter of developing an on-going awareness campaign on COPD early detection and prevention, coupled with a continuous program to encourage smokers to quit, which would entail free (hopefully, fingers crossed) spirometry tests, support groups, home-based prevention and treatment (in case of COPD detection), and maybe even coordinating with cardiologists, oncologists, pulmonary specialists, and emergency doctors to encourage their patients to quit smoking (if they still do) by developing an incentive program that resembles the one established in the UK.

For now, it's wishful thinking but do you think it has a shot? I'm especially interested in the feedback of smokers.

PS: Also if you have suggestions of innovative ideas of your own, please feel free to voice them over.

Thank you.