RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Report and Practice Implications for the Respiratory Therapist JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 1492 OP 1500 DO 10.4187/respcare.05402 VO 62 IS 11 A1 Michael W Hess YR 2017 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/62/11/1492.abstract AB Since 1998, the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has worked with health care professionals, medical researchers, and public health officials around the world to optimize the prevention, treatment, and management of COPD. GOLD has continually worked to ensure COPD management strategy recommendations are aligned with current published research. The 2017 GOLD report represents a major revision to GOLD strategy guidelines, the first such major revision in the last 5 years. As such, the 2017 report has significant implications for the diagnosis of COPD, the management of stable disease, and the treatment of exacerbations. As respiratory therapists (RTs) are front-line clinical professionals throughout the COPD continuum of care, a thorough understanding of the new GOLD recommendations for practice is critical. New recommendations regarding diagnosis, severity assessment, and both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment of COPD are presented, and suggestions for how RTs can integrate these recommendations into COPD care practices are provided.