Abstract
IPFchecker is the internet application designed for simplifying and accelerating a journey of patients with a suspected idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from a local pulmonologist to the Centre for Diagnostics and Treatment of Interstitial Pulmonary Processes (IPP). It may contribute not only to the early diagnosis of IPF, but it also serves as an education tool for pulmonologist and radiologists who see IPP patients and provide the investigation procedure.
Patients benefit from the early diagnosis as it provides them not only a complex treatment, but in selected cases there may be the option of receiving the antifibrotic treatment, which is intended to slow down the impairment of lung functioning in IPF patients and prolong their survival. As many IPF patients visit the Centre in the terminal stage of their disease for the first time, there is still a need to educate the specialists to be highly suspicious for IPF.