Launched in 2017, ERS HERMES self-assessment courses in respiratory medicine enable national societies to offer their members a local opportunity to access an efficient and high-standard formative assessment, designed to train local specialists and trainees in respiratory medicine.
A key benefit of these courses is that national societies can hold a course in their local area, specifically for their members to benefit from, whilst the course content and resources, including an onsite ERS expert are provided as part of the course provisions.
Since the launch, societies from countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and the Netherlands have benefitted from this system, with positive results and feedback from their members.
“It is difficult, or even impossible to prepare for an exam such as HERMES without a simulation like this. This is not only the test of pure knowledge, but also the art of organising time during the exam, and reading and quick analysis skills. Only after this course can you know how you should prepare for the entire exam.” – Anonymous participant survey response.
The ERS HERMES self-assessment course is currently available in adult respiratory medicine, but a paediatric option is in progress and will be announced in due course. Courses can be hosted by national societies worldwide.
The course uses 30 case-based multiple-choice questions, which are carefully selected from the ERS HERMES examination in adult/paediatric respiratory medicine and are presented as a one-hour mock examination. The questions are based on detailed clinical vignettes from real-life situations.
In addition, and following the mock exam, participants get a two-hour window in which to discuss the correct answers to these questions with an expert, to ensure that the reasoning behind the correct answers is explained and understood.
Chair of the ERS Education Committee Daiana Stolz notes that: “ERS aims to make education levels across Europe and the world more unified. It also wants to support national societies and make high-standard education as accessible as possible to respiratory professionals. The ERS HERMES self-assessment course delivers on both of those aims and we are looking forward to enabling more national societies to host these courses in future.”
More information about the availability and costs associated with these courses can be found on the ERS website.