The field of Autonomic Disorders is an emerging discipline.  Most PCPs, pediatricians, and even general neurologists are not familiar with it.  Patients are often unecessarily referred to multiple physicians pursuing individual organ system problems, or identified as having a psychogenic illness.  There is a need to refer these patients to autonomic testing laboratories, both pediatric and adult, to obtain a correct diagnosis.  This Workshop will educate community physicians about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and other autonomic disorders, including proper treatment plans.

This is an issue because often, by the time they are finally referred to a autonomic testing lab, patients have seen numerous – sometimes 10 or 12 – physicians without getting an accurate diagnosis and the diagnosis has been delayed.  Dysautonomia International recently polled 703 POTS patients and found that their average time to diagnosis was 5 years and 11 months. Their medical record begins to look “suspicious”, and the patient is often labeled as having a psychiatric condition or “seeking medical attention.”  Autonomic disorders need to be addressed at the root cause and the patient must be looked at as a whole, since often they have multiple organ involvement due to dysautonomia.

We want physicians to be familiar with the field of autonomic disorders.  We want them to know this is a legitimate discipline with diagnostic tools and treatments.  We want them to be alert to the possibility that the autonomic system may be the cause of a variety of otherwise not-explainable conditions, and give them tools when to refer to tertiary care centers.