With the impetus of the HERMES initiative, the educational task force entitled The European Spirometry Certification Programme was formally approved in Barcelona last January 2008. With the vision of harmonizing education and training in spirometry, the Task Force has the following aims:

• Give a comprehensive review of the current status of spirometry training and certification in Europe
• Give recommendations for a certification programme at a European level which will constitute the basis for an "ESDL", a European Spirometry Driving License.

Task Force Participants

• CHAIRS
  Dr Brendan G. Cooper, UK
  Mrs Irene Steenbruggen, Netherlands 
  
• Members 
  Dr Ellie Ostveen, Belgium
  Dr Ole Pedersen, Denmark
  Dr Jana Kivastik, Estonia
  Dr Herve Normand, France
  Dr Heinrich Matthys, Germany
  Dr Michele Agnew, Ireland
  Dr Vito Brusasco, Italy
  Dr Waldemar Tomolak, Poland
  Dr Matjaz Flezar, Slovenia
  Dr Felip Burgos, Spain
  Dr Jörg Leuppi, Switzerland
  

• National respondents
  One national respondent represents each country to participate actively in the project. Those respondents are experts in the field of education, training and accreditation matters in their own country.

Current Phase

After a successful kick-off meeting last October in Berlin, the Task Force is now ready to draft the concept of the Spirometry Certification Program.  The participants provided valuable insights into the existing country-specific programmes throughout Europe. The first round of the Delphi process has now started. More information here.