Continuity of care now and in the future: Lessons from Verona
The 102nd Meeting of the European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN), held in Verona from 14–17 May 2026, brought together researchers, clinicians, and early-career professionals from across Europe around a central theme: “Continuity of Care Now and in the Future.” Beyond scientific exchange, the meeting once again highlighted EGPRN’s role as a community committed to strengthening primary care research, mentorship, and collaboration across borders.
The programme combined oral presentations, poster sessions, one-slide five-minute presentations, and the final evaluation of participants from the EGPRN Web-Based Research Course. Scientific discussions were complemented by methodological feedback, networking opportunities, and initiatives supporting new researchers — particularly visible during the Blue Dot Coffee sessions, which warmly welcomed first-time participants into the EGPRN community.
Keynotes: balancing access and continuity
Two keynote lectures framed many of the conversations that followed throughout the meeting.
The international keynote, delivered by Prof. Steinar Hunskaar, addressed one of the biggest challenges facing European primary care today: how to balance direct access with continuity of care.
His lecture highlighted that continuity is much more than repeatedly seeing the same physician. It is relational, informational, and managerial continuity, involving physicians, nurses, and administrative staff working together over time. Continuity improves patient satisfaction, reduces hospitalisations and costs, and is associated with better health outcomes — yet increasing pressure for rapid access often places these benefits at risk. As highlighted during the session, improving access without protecting continuity has contributed to fragmentation in several healthcare systems.
The national keynote by Dr. Ferdinando Petrazzuoli provided a complementary perspective grounded in more than 35 years of experience in family medicine practice. Speaking from the Italian context, he reflected on continuity as an essential characteristic of family medicine despite organisational complexity, workforce circulation, and increasing fragmentation of services. Italy’s universal healthcare system coexists with marked regional differences and diverse organisational models, creating ongoing challenges for maintaining longitudinal relationships with patients.
One of the strongest messages from his keynote was clear: improving access does not automatically improve continuity. Evidence presented showed that smaller practices with one or two physicians had 33% fewer preventable hospital admissions than larger practice models — reinforcing the value of stable patient–doctor relationships.
Key messages from Verona
• Relationships, trust, and knowing the patient remain fundamental.
• Continuity improves communication, adherence, shared decision-making, and outcomes, especially for older and complex patients.
• Fragmented care often results in repeated histories, duplicated testing, and poorer coordination.
• Access and continuity should not be seen as competing priorities, but as values requiring careful balance.
Scientific sessions continued these discussions, exploring interprofessional collaboration, patient-centred innovations, digital tools, and new models of access that may support continuity rather than undermine it. Poster sessions and short presentations stimulated lively debate and highlighted the growing contribution of early-career researchers to the future of primary care research.
Beyond the scientific programme, Verona itself reminded participants that continuity is also about human connection. The social programme, local hospitality, and informal discussions reinforced what makes EGPRN unique after more than 50 years: a research network rooted not only in science, but in collaboration, mentorship, and shared values.
As we look towards the 103rd EGPRN Meeting in Santiago de Compostela, the message from Verona remains clear: continuity of care is not simply a healthcare indicator — it is one of the foundations of strong primary care systems and better health outcomes for patients across Europe.
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This article was published under the category News on 03/06/2026 00:00.