You would have to be living under a rock (or in this case, an engineered stone benchtop) to miss the recent media surge around silica dust and silicosis. We’ve been hearing about the very real dangers and the real-life stories of those affected.
Occupational lung diseases (OLDs) can be difficult to identify and diagnose, often presenting with no symptoms in the early stages. But we can’t find what we aren’t looking for, and this all starts with one simple question: What do you do for work?
Hear from our panel of clinical experts on the most up-to-date evidence, strategies and considerations in the identification, diagnosis and management of OLDs in the primary care setting. Dr. Hayley Barnes will discuss opportunistic occupational screening for the importance of case finding in this unique cohort and what to consider when referring. Prof. Hubertus Jersmann will focus on the role of primary care in diagnosis and management.
Ask the panel your questions at registration, or live during the Q&A session, led by Lung Foundation’s Senior Respiratory Care Nurse, Ms Amanda Curran. The virtual event will be recorded and available on-demand for those unable to attend live.
Learning outcomes:
- Describe taking an occupational history
- Identify the appropriate tests and/or referrals needed for diagnosis
- Collaborate as part of an MDT in person-centred care
- Discuss resources available to support self-management of OLDs
Speakers:
Dr Hayley Barnes PhD, FRACP, MPH, MBBS, BBioMedSci (Hons)
Respiratory and Sleep Physician/Adjunct Lecturer, The Alfred Hospital/Monash University
Dr Hayley Barnes PhD, FRACP, MPH, MBBS, BBioMedSci (Hons) is a Respiratory and Sleep Physician at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, an Adjunct Lecturer at the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health and Central Clinical School, Monash University, and the Chair of the Occupational Lung Disease Network for the Lung Foundation Australia.
Prof Hubertus Jersmann MBBS, MD, PhD, FRACP, FThorSoc
Respiratory and Sleep Physician, Royal Adelaide Hospital/Alice Springs Hospital/University of Adelaide
Hubertus Jersmann is Respiratory and Sleep Physician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Alice Springs Hospital. He is Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Adelaide. He has a special interest in severe Asthma and Interventional Pulmonology, in particular treating select cases of severe COPD with endobronchial valves to achieve non-surgical lung volume reduction. Hubertus is heavily involved in treating patients with asbestos and silica-related lung diseases including legal reports. As a Board member of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand he actively pushes for a national registry and tighter regulations. Hubertus enjoys the mix of treating patients, research in the lab as well as clinical trials and of course, teaching. Professor Jersmann is passionate about reducing air pollution and he lectures on the health effects of Climate Change on Health at Adelaide and Flinders Universities.
Facilitated by Ms Amanda Curran
Senior Respiratory Care Nurse, Lung Foundation Australia
Lung Foundation Australia’s skilled Senior Respiratory Care Nurse, Ms. Amanda Curran is an expert in the field with over 34 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, including over 10 years as a Practice Nurse working in primary care. Amanda provides oversight of Lung Foundation Australia’s Respiratory Care Nurse Program and is currently leading the design, development and implementation of the upcoming Silicosis Nurse Program.
