Clinical Excellence

Clinicians prize the ATS International Conference because of the rigor with which the latest clinical information is presented. As one regular conference attendee put it, “speakers put a greater emphasis on the critical evaluation of the information presented—‘here are the strengths and the weaknesses of the latest studies and here’s how they might affect your patients.’”

Attendees also prize the strength of the science upon which clinical presentations at the ATS International Conference are made.  Understanding the science behind standards of care helps physicians and other healthcare professionals make better decisions for their patients. ATS International Conference attendees want to know not only what they should do for their patients, but why.

Although virtually every ATS 2011 session has a clinical component, there are some that focus on presenting clinical information.

Clinical Year in Review

Prominent experts review a voluminous amount of literature on a given topic in pulmonary, critical care or sleep medicine before presenting the four to six most important articles for clinicians published in the past year.  Recommendations for practice are backed by the highest level of evidence and by the experts’ understanding of the science that underlies the articles. Altogether, 16 topics will be covered during the four 2011 Clinical Year in Review sessions. Among them: interventional pulmonology, sleep apnea, COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, ARDS, non-pulmonary critical care and host-microbe interactions.

Pediatric Year in Review

There is a special Year in Review for pediatric specialists.  The 2011 topics include childhood pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and the determinants and treatments of the developing lung.

Nursing Year in Review

The 2011 Nursing Year in Review session will focus on research topics, including comparative effectiveness research in nursing and quality improvement data in nursing research. There will also be speaker on promoting health literacy.

Clinical Topics in Pulmonary Medicine

In 2011, this track spans such topics as the NIH’s COPDGene study; the implications of healthcare reform for pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine; interstitial lung disease in the ICU, and challenges in interventional bronchoscopy. In addition to providing clinical information, most clinical topics sessions include information about translational research and, often, some basic science research.  Also included in this track are case-based sessions.

Critical Care Track

In 2011, this track will include sessions on neurocritical care, preventing “the dwindles” of chronic critical illness, and shock. 

Hands-on Clinical Sessions

ATS 2011 will feature more hands-on learning opportunities than have ever been offered before at the ATS International Conference. From microscopy to implementing therapeutic hypothermia, attendees will be able to learn by doing at the International Conference. In addition to practical training, these sessions will provide the essential context for the use of the medical devices, scientific instruments or clinical protocols.