Feb. 6, 2018

How can EPCCS expand its membership?

EPCCS Council

Read about ideas that came up during a brainstorm during the EPCCS Council workshop on how EPCCS might reach more members and thus form a stronger network between European GPs.

During the first EPCCS Council meeting, held in Stratford-upon-Avon, on December 6-7 2017, workshops were held to discuss questions on the relevance and future of EPCCS and the EPCCS Council. If EPCCS has more members in more countries, the network grows stronger and more experience can be shared, and forces joined. In response to the question how EPCCS can expand its membership base, the following ideas were raised:

EPCCS may want to use the following approaches:

• EPCCS needs to be more visible, inform GPs on the benefits of being a member. Social media may be considered as a resource.
• The Council should function as a community under the umbrella of EPCCS: Council Members can find each other, share ideas, discuss experiences and challenges at Council meetings.
• It is important that EPCCS is in contact with WONCA. Note that EPCCS is a member of WONCA, and it hosts presentations at the European WONCA meeting. More visibility at WONCA is desirable.
• Establishment of exchange programs.
• EPCCS should remain in contact with local GP representative organizations, via the Council members. Inform the local organisations about current guidelines, updates, information on what is going on or what the news is; perhaps an EPCCS journal.

Note that EPCCS sends out a newsletter with recent CV news and literature summaries and other resources about once a month. Subscription is free, via registering as an EPCCS member on this website.

• Provide GPs with some sort of membership certificate and/or accreditation indicating that they are part of the organisation. This way, GPs can show colleagues in their home countries that they are members, they have attended courses or events and are implementing changes.
• Produce universal courses, perhaps on prevention of CVD, focussing on skills of how CVD prevention can be implemented. Practical skills courses may include topics such as coaching for better communication with patients, ECG course. Different regions can compare and learn from each other.
• Translation of guidance documents will be helpful, since not all GPs in different countries can read in English.
• Engaging with younger doctors is important.
• Streaming EPCCS meetings may engage more physicians who cannot attend.
• Provide an overview of ongoing research projects in primary care on the website. Various countries may study the same research questions, and power may be increased if data is combined.

If you want to post your project on the EPCCS website, email information to info@medconinternational.com (title, brief description of aim and methods, inclusion criteria, time line, and contact details if people want to connect with you)