Asthma, PACE, Session Basics

Session Basics

If you are considering conducting a PACE session, the following provides a brief overview of what is involved in organizing a session. Our page on all resources for organizing and leading provide important detailed information. Also visit our curriculum page for an overview of session content and didactic methods.

Total Time
The PACE program curriculum is delivered in two 2 ½ hour sessions, ideally spaced one week apart to give participants an opportunity to try out the concepts from the first session. Their experiences can then be discussed at the second session. Allow for an extra 30 minutes if including the optional coding and billing section.

Faculty
The seminar works best with three to four instructors:

Primary care provider: respected and well-known in the community

Asthma specialist: familiar to participating clinicians

Health educator or behavioral scientist

Expert in practice coding and billing: for optional segment on coding and billing

Audience
Primary care physicians. Eight to ten clinicians per PACE session is ideal for ensuring full participation.

Location and Equipment
We recommend a site with a central location to all participants that provides comfortable surroundings and audiovisual equipment and support. You will need a laptop computer and projector to run the slide presentations. The videos can be presented using a DVD player and a television monitor, or they can be projected from a laptop.

Practice
A practice run of the sessions is necessary to iron out problems before the start of the program, and previewing the DVD is a requirement for success.

Costs
Costs may vary significantly. Be sure to factor in the following when budgeting for the session:

Recruitment efforts: administrative organizing, advertising, individual phone calls to participants, department letterhead, etc.

Faculty in pediatrics, asthma subspecialty care, behavioral science, and coding and billing (for optional segment): recruitment efforts, honorarium (typically $500) plus travel expenses

Administrative costs for providing CMEs (optional)

Organizing, collecting and preparing participant materials

Venue rental

Food and refreshments

Audiovisual equipment rental and support