In early 2018, a task force on the patient’s perspective was created at the sixth World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension (WSPH). This task force reviewed the role of patient associations such as the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) in supporting individuals with PH, examined how clinical teams can improve care and looked at improved access to comprehensive PH care. The nine-member task force, which included Brad A. Wong, PHA’s president and CEO, and PHA Board of Trustees member Michael McGoon, M.D., explored patient associations’ role in lobbying for improved access to care and providing input on clinical research. The task force’s report is part of the January 2019 issue of  the European Respiratory Journal; however, the report and others developed by WSPH task forces were released online in late December in the ERJ Early View. PHA encourages members to read all of the task force findings, linked below, in particular The importance of patient perspectives in pulmonary hypertension:

Since 1973, WSPH has been organized to discuss the current state of the science in PH and identify future needs and priorities of the PH field in order to better treat patients. For more information about the report and PHA’s participation, email support@phassociation.org or call 301-565-3004.