MS Brain Health at ECTRIMS–ACTRIMS 2017
Last month we took part in the world’s largest annual international MS congress, ECTRIMS–ACTRIMS 2017. This event saw over 10,000 neurologists, nurses, academics and people interested in MS meeting together in Paris to discuss the latest research developments in MS.
New international consensus standards
Professor Jeremy Hobart presented preliminary results from our project to develop standards in MS care.
He highlighted that the standards could be used to empower people with MS and help MS clinics in different countries strive for the best possible standard of patient care.
Interactive exhibition stand
Thank you to everyone who visited the exhibition stand, completed our survey and the 145 of you who signed up to be MS Brain Health champions.
Many of you told us how you are using MS Brain Health resources in your clinics. All of our materials are available to download from www.msbrainhealth.org/resources and new resources and translations will continue to be announced in this newsletter.
New primary care provider guide
Time matters in multiple sclerosis: diagnose early to maximize brain health is a new short guide for general practitioners (GPs) and primary care providers (PCPs). It provides advice on recognizing the key symptoms of MS and highlights the pivotal role GPs and PCPs can play in:
- establishing a timely diagnosis
- promptly referring people with suspected MS to a neurologist
- ongoing support and monitoring of people with MS.
Please share this resource with GPs and PCPs in your region! We have included a letter to recommend the guide to your colleagues, which you can personalize.
If you would like the guide and accompanying letter to be translated into your language, or you can help with translating these resources, please let us know.
MS Trust 2017 highlights
Top of the agenda at the annual conference of the MS Trust was the importance of providing holistic care to people with MS. The MS Trust is a UK charity that provides MS specialist education for nurses and other health care professionals.
We had many interesting discussions with visitors to the MS Brain Health stand and gave out lots of our resources, including copies of:
- Brain health: a guide for people with MS
- Six ways to lead a brain-healthy lifestyle
- Brain health in multiple sclerosis: a nursing resource
- Comorbidities handout
Thank you to all of our supporters, old and new! We look forward to working with you in the coming months and years as we continue to strive for a better future for people with MS.
Gavin Giovannoni, MD
Professor of Neurology and Chair of the MS Brain Health Steering Committee
On behalf of the MS Brain Health Steering Committee: Gavin Giovannoni, Peer Baneke, Helmut Butzkueven, Jodi Haartsen, Jeremy Hobart, Gisela Kobelt, Christoph Thalheim, Tony Traboulsee, Tim Vollmer and Tjalf Ziemssen
