GPs to discuss how advances in technology influence patient care

The theme of this year’s gathering is ‘Designing the Future GP’, and participants will hear from keynote speakers including the HSE’s Chief Information Officer Mr Richard Corbridge.

Also speaking will be GP and former Chair of Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, Prof Tom O’Dowd, who will present on ‘General Practice – where we’ve come from and where are we going?’. Additionally, Dr Conor O’Shea, National Coordinator, GPIT Group, ICGP, will speak on ‘Your Patient is Online!’, covering remote consultations, social media, and patient portals.

The conference will feature an eclectic range of talks and workshops, including from Dr Nuala O’Connor, GP and ICGP Lead on antimicrobial resistance, who will present on ‘HALT 2011–2016: Halting infections in long term care -results and implications for GPs’.

The College Foundation Lecture on Saturday morning will be presented by Prof Roar Maagaard, GP and Associate Professor, and WONCA Europe Executive member (Denmark). He will speak on lessons from the reform of general practice in Denmark.

“This is a good time to examine the opportunities and benefits of new technology within the future primary care model,” said Dr Mark Murphy, Chair of Communications, ICGP. “This range of speakers will enable members to learn and contribute to this discussion. The internet and smartphones have changed how we do a lot of everyday things, but we must never lose sight of the importance of person-to-person interaction with patients, and the central role of the consultation should not lose people in the technology.”

A College Council meeting will be held on the Sunday morning of the conference.

Full details of the programme are on the ICGP website www.icgp.ie/agm2017

Twitter hashtag #ICGPAGM2017