What to expect from your hypertension specialist

You may be shocked to read the following statement which Dr Lobo firmly believes to be accurate:

Most physicians undertaking hypertension consultations have NOT had comprehensive training in the investigation and management of hypertension

The reasons for this include the fact that hypertension is a highly prevalent disorder which affects around 30% of the world's adult population. If one imagines that there are presently > 900 million individuals globally with a diagnosis of hypertension, it would be impossible for all of them to be seen by doctors who are specialised in hypertension and consequently many of these patients are dealt with by all manner of physicians including general practitioners, general physicians, cardiologists and nephrologists.

Hypertension is however a very broad specialty which spans numerous disciplines in medicine and requires considerable experience in order to provide best care. In the United Kingdom it has now been recognised that Hypertension merits subspecialty status in postgraduate medical training and therefore a curriculum is currently being devised for all future hypertension practitioners to undertake. As a member of the British Hypertension Society Educational Working party, Dr Lobo has a key role in the development of the new curriculum.

Some good questions to ask your hypertension specialist:

What are your qualifications as a Hypertension Specialist?

Dr Lobo is a Clinical Hypertension Specialist of the European Society of Hypertension (one of only 33 in the entire United Kingdom!)

Dr Lobo is an active member of the British Hypertension Society (BHS) and the London Hypertension Society

How many hypertension-related consults do you undertake per annum?

Dr Lobo sees in excess of 2000 hypertension-related consultations per annum in the outpatients. He sees up to 10 hypertensive emergencies and urgencies per month on an inpatient basis.

What commitment do you have towards continuing medical education and professional development in the field of Hypertension?

Dr Lobo is a member of the British Hypertension Society (BHS) and has presented at the annual scientific meeting on previous occasions. He is a member of the BHS Educational Working Party and is contributing to the development of a national curriculum for Hypertension

Dr Lobo attends the annual meetings of either the American Society of Hypertension or the European Society of Hypertension

Dr Lobo has been a lecturer at BHS Hypertension Masterclasses and regularly lectures to Hospital-based and General Practitioners on various aspects of Hypertension

He keeps himself up to date with the key journals in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Medicine

Click here for Hypertension disorders