Primary care at the ERS Congress
Primary care is at the cornerstone of any health system – and primary care practitioners play a key role in the delivery of respiratory care. Respiratory symptoms are the most common reason for primary care consultations, and most respiratory diagnoses and the management of people with respiratory conditions (especially asthma, COPD, and acute infections) is predominantly the responsibility of primary care.
Primary care practitioners support people with chronic lung disease to self-manage their condition, takes a holistic approach to the management of people with multimorbidity, and provides continuity of care throughout the lifetime of long-term conditions. This broad remit extends from prevention (e.g. treating tobacco dependence and reducing secondhand smoke exposure), through both long-term and acute management, to supportive care of very severe disease.
Despite diversity in health systems between European countries, there is international recognition of the role of primary care in managing the growing burden of chronic lung disease and improving patient and public health outcomes. Preventive, educational and management strategies relevant to primary care must be prioritised in respiratory patient care. As in previous years, we have a dedicated Primary Care Day programme at this year's Congress in addition to a number of sessions focusing on topics of relevance to the primary care community.
Professor Hilary Pinnock, Chair of the ERS General Practice and Primary Care group, highlights the importance of primary care respiratory medicine: "Primary Care is the first point of call for people with respiratory symptoms and in common conditions such as asthma, COPD, respiratory infections and tobacco dependence, family doctors and primary care colleagues have pivotal roles.
"The ERS Congress, and especially the Primary Care Day programme, provides an update on key topics and the latest developments including: organising healthcare to cope with the increasing burden of multi-morbidity; working in partnership with patients; diagnosing and managing breathlessness; improving air quality; as well as practical aspects of inhaler technique."
Join the ERS General Practice and Primary Care group on myERS.
Scientific and educational highlights
Below is a list of sessions at this year's Congress of particular interest to primary care professionals*. Alternatively, you can browse the full programme to see all sessions on offer, including abstract sessions.
Date | Time | Session | Type |
15.09.2018 | 9:30-13:00 | Primary Care Programme 2018: Part I and Part II | Session |
16.09.2018 | 8:30-10:30 | Primary care management of respiratory conditions | Oral presentation |
16.09.2018 | 8:30-10:30 | Lung cancer | Grand round |
16.09.2018 | 12:50-14:40 | Primary care management of COPD | Thematic poster |
16.09.2018 | 14:45-16:45 | Current and evolving tests in lung function: pro/con debate | Symposium |
17.09.2018 | 7:00-8:15 | Tuberculosis | Challening clinical cases |
18.09.2018 | 10:45-12:45 | Recent advances in respiratory disorders with oropharyngeal dysphagia | Hot topics |
18.09.2018 | 12:50-14:40 | Primary care management of asthma | Thematic poster |
18.09.2018 | 13:00-14:00 | Management of severe asthma in children | Meet the expert |
19.09.2018 | 8:30-10:30 | Respiratory medicine meets rheumatology | Symposium |
19.09.2018 | 10:45-12:45 | Palliative care specific for respiratory diseases | Symposium |
*Note: Educational sessions (postgraduate courses, skills workshops, professional development workshops and meet the expert sessions) can be attended at an additional cost to the standard registration fee