CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION

Emergency medicine and acute care involve the delivery of immediate medical care for the treatment of acute illness and injury. Practitioners providing emergency medicine and acute care need to be proficient in evaluating and caring for patients presenting with a broad range of acute medical problems.

Our 23^rd Annual Fall Conference on Emergency Medicine & Acute Care is designed for emergency physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician associates and out-of-hospital providers. Sharing their extensive scope of knowledge and expertise, our faculty will provide you with skills and strategies for the evaluation and treatment of acute medical conditions. This educational activity aims to increase learner knowledge, improve the competence and performance of all attendees, and contribute to their ability to work together as part of a coordinated healthcare team.

Topics for this year’s conference have been selected based on the educational needs underlying identified professional practice gaps. The gaps were derived from a variety of sources including evaluations and outcomes data from past participants, clinical expert input, Symposia Medicus’ online survey, and other medical and nursing data such as current clinical guidelines, research findings, literature reviews, and patient safety considerations.

An outstanding faculty has been assembled for this conference. Each faculty member was selected based on their individual area of expertise and ability to communicate current, evidence-based, and practical information to participants.

The conference format includes didactic lectures, question and answer sessions, case studies, and small group breakouts. Following a group of lectures, the question and answer sessions allow attendees to ask the faculty critical and challenging questions about caring for patients during various emergent and acute situations.

The breakout sessions, designed to facilitate even greater interaction between faculty and participants, offer an opportunity to engage in group discussions on subjects relating to your particular area of interest. Please indicate your breakout session topic choices on the conference registration form in this brochure. Space is limited, so please reserve early.
 

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

As a result of participating in this conference, you should have increased knowledge and enhanced competence to…

• Characterize the nature and potential severity of reactions to medications, radiocontrast media, and vaccines
• Accurately determine ideal pain and sedation medications; based on procedure and individualized for each patient
• Prevent the recurrence of abscess or need for repeat drainage
• Develop an approach to distinguish cardiogenic syncope from other causes of fainting
• Describe ECG findings that are not classic STEMI, but are consistent with occlusive myocardial infarction
• Use evidence-based tools to distinguish stroke mimics from strokes

Enrollment for this conference is limited in order to provide the best possible learning environment.
Early registration is advised.

ATTENDEE REQUIREMENTS

After attending this conference, participants are entitled to a certificate of credit which will be available online. Successful completion of this activity is determined by attending the live activity, reviewing the educational session materials, and submitting the case studies test, evaluations, surveys, and verification of attendance form. Each participant should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

ACCREDITATION

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME and ANCC Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

Symposia Medicus is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Symposia Medicus is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
 

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

Physicians
Symposia Medicus designates this live activity for a maximum of 18 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This ACE activity was developed with standards to address California Assembly Bill (AB) 1195 cultural and linguistic competency (CLC) and CA AB 241 implicit bias (IB) to reduce health disparities. Please refer to the accreditation page on our website for resources.

ACEP
Application has been made with the American College of Emergency Physicians for ACEP Category I credit. Please check our website for updated credit information.

AAFP
Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending. Please check our website for updated credit information.

Physician Associates
NCCPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician associates may receive a maximum of 18 hours of Category 1 credit for completing this program.

Nurse Practitioners/Nurses
The ANCC contact hours awarded for completion of this conference are 18.

Provider is also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP2335, for 21.6 contact hours.

Pharmacists
The California Board of Pharmacy accepts as continuing professional education those courses that meet the standard of relevance to pharmacy practice and have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

Pharmacotherapeutic CEUs for Nurses
This activity is designated for a maximum of 2.25 pharmacotherapeutic credits towards meeting the requirement for nursing pharmacology continuing education. Sessions awarding pharmacotherapeutic credits are denoted with an Rx in the schedule. Please contact your state’s Board of Nursing for specific educational requirements as they may vary state to state.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Consistent with ACCME and ANCC guidelines, it is the policy of Symposia Medicus to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all educational activities. Prior to the planning of this educational activity, all individuals in a position to influence and/or control the content of continuing education activities have been asked to disclose all relevant financial relationships within the past 24 months. Symposia Medicus will also ensure that any and all relevant financial relationships will be mitigated before the conference commences. Beyond disclosure and mitigation of relevant financial relationships, faculty are required to disclose when they plan to discuss pharmaceuticals and/or medical devices that are not approved by the FDA and/or medical or surgical procedures that involve an unapproved or “off-label” use of an approved device or pharmaceutical. Symposia Medicus is committed to providing learners with commercially unbiased continuing education activities. This information is intended to assist learners in forming their own judgments about the content presented. Disclosure information will be included in the educational session materials for this activity and speakers will provide a disclosure slide for each presentation, which they will also disclose verbally on site.

CONFERENCE LODGING INFORMATION

Conference group rates have been arranged at the The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef (the conference hotel) AND Morningstar Buoy Haus at Frenchman’s Reef, Autograph Collection.

Rooms at our group rates are limited and on a first come, first served basis. PLEASE RESERVE EARLY as rooms may sell out and/or room rates may increase. If you wish to extend your stay, group rates may be available three days before and three days after the conference.

Two nights’ deposit (room rate only) must accompany your reservation. The balance of your lodging, hotel fees as stated below, and all incidental charges are due to the hotel. The hotel accepts most major credit cards.

GROUP RATES STATED BELOW INCLUDE DAILY BUFFET BREAKFAST FOR TWO PEOPLE
 

THE WESTIN BEACH RESORT & SPA AT FRENCHMAN’S REEF

Garden View (Single/Double) - $349/night
Enjoy views of the resort, gardens, and tropical foliage. Each room offers a King bed or two Double beds. Room does not have a balcony. All rooms come equipped with a clothing steamer (iron/ironing board available upon request), hair dryer, coffee maker, and in room safe along with a bath/shower combination or shower. Handicap and accessible rooms are not offered in this category. Maximum occupancy is 4 persons, regardless of age.

Partial Ocean View (Single/Double) - $369/night
Enjoy partial views of the ocean. Each room offers a King bed or two Double beds. Relax on the patio or balcony. All rooms come equipped with a clothing steamer (iron/ironing board available upon request), hair dryer, coffee maker, and in room safe along with a bath/shower combination. Maximum occupancy is 4 persons, regardless of age.

Ocean View (Single/Double) - $414/night
Enjoy full ocean views. Each room offers a King bed or two Double beds. Relax on the patio or balcony. All rooms come equipped with a clothing steamer (iron/ironing board available upon request), coffee maker, and in room safe along with a bath/shower combination. Maximum occupancy is 4 persons, regardless of age.
 

MORNINGSTAR BUOY HAUS AT FRENCHMAN’S REEF

^*Beachside Room (Single/Double) - $579/night
Enjoy views of the resort, gardens, and tropical foliage. Each room offers a King bed. Room does have a balcony or patio. All rooms come equipped with a clothing steamer (iron/ironing board available upon request), hair dryer, coffee maker, and in-room safe along with a shower. Maximum occupancy is 4 persons, regardless of age.

^*Oceanfront Room (Single/Double) - $779/night
Enjoy full ocean views. Each room offers a King bed. Relax on the patio or balcony. All rooms come equipped with a clothing steamer (iron/ironing board available upon request), hair dryer, coffee maker, and in-room safe along with a shower. Maximum occupancy is 4 persons, regardless of age.
 

By booking your lodging with Symposia Medicus, the Resort Fee ($65 per room/per night at The Westin and $75 per room/per night at Morningstar Buoy Haus) is discounted to $25 per room, per night.

The Resort Fee includes: enhanced wi-fi, non-motorized watersports, beach chairs & umbrellas, snorkeling gear & pool toys, paddle board lessons, yoga & Pilates classes, local & long-distance phone calls, mixology class & rum tasting (twice weekly), and in-room bottled water.

*Units at Morningstar Buoy Haus are VERY limited; please call Symposia Medicus for availability at (925) 969-1789

• Above conference group rates are per room, per night and do not include the following (subject to change):
  - 12.5% State & Local Taxes
  - $25 Resort Fee (discounted from $65)
   
  
• Suggested porterage & housekeeping gratuities are up to individual discretion (not mandatory):
  - $6 per room/per day housekeeping gratuity is suggested
  - $12 per person, roundtrip porterage (bellman) gratuity is suggested
   
  
• Maximum guestroom occupancy is four, regardless of age (no exceptions)
   
  
• Mandatory additional occupant charge (18 years & over) is $50 per person/per night and includes daily buffet breakfast
   
  
• Children 17 years & under are complimentary with an adult in the room; however, if they wish to partake in buffet breakfast, there will be a charge of $30 per person/per day
   
  
• Rollaways & Cribs: When booking through Symposia Medicus, rollaway beds and cribs are both complimentary (based on availability and subject to change)
   
  
• Check-in time is 4:00pm and check-out time is 11:00am. A late check-out can only be confirmed on the date of departure by the front desk. Late check-outs are based on availability and additional charges may apply.
   
  
• Credit/Debit Card Policy: Upon check-in, the hotel requires a credit or debit card to ensure that funds are available. Holds are placed on your account for your entire stay; however, the amount may be immediately deducted from your account. The length of time for which these holds remain on your credit or debit account varies from bank to bank.
   
  
• Parking: Valet parking is $35 per night; self-parking is not available at this resort
   
  

Conference cancellations must be made in writing (via email) to Symposia Medicus and a refund, less a 10% processing fee, will be given. No refunds will be made if cancellation is received after September 27, 2023; however, tuition, less a 10% processing fee, may be applied to a future Symposia Medicus conference.

Per our hotel contract, hotel reservation cancellations must be made in writing to Symposia Medicus and you will receive a full refund if emailed by August 30, 2023. Between August 31, 2023 and September 27, 2023, one night’s deposit is forfeited. After September 27, 2023, no hotel refunds can be made.

All cancellations must be emailed to registrar@symposiamedicus.org by the dates stated above

In the unlikely event of conference cancellation by Symposia Medicus, full tuition and, if reservation was made with Symposia Medicus, hotel deposit refunds will be made. Symposia Medicus will not be responsible for refunding travel or any other expenses.

Each registrant will have online access to educational session materials. The educational session materials will be available for download approximately one week prior to the conference (you’ll receive an email with instructions).

If you are unable to attend this conference, you may purchase an electronic copy of the educational session materials one week after the conference. Please email publications@symposiamedicus.org for more information.

AIR TRAVEL INFORMATION

You will fly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT), which is approximately 20 minutes from The Westin (and Morningstar Buoy Haus) at Frenchman’s Reef. Information on ground transportation will be sent to registrants and available online at our website.

Symposia Medicus has arranged for discount fares with Delta, and United Airlines for this conference. Reservations can be made either through your travel agency or through the airlines at the website or Convention Desk numbers listed below.

In order to receive the discounted rate, you or your travel agent must refer to the Symposia Medicus Group ID number listed below.
 

Delta Airlines
For discounts on Delta Airlines, please visit www.delta.com, enter in your travel plans and then click on the “Advanced Search” link located below the “Passenger” box. Once you click on this link, a panel will appear and you will need to insert NMVXF in the “Meeting Code” box.
For questions, please call the Delta Airlines Convention Desk at (800) 328-1111.

United Airlines
For discounts on United Airlines, please visit www.united.com and click on Advanced Search, located on the bottom left corner of the “Book Travel” box. Once you click on this link, another page will appear. At the bottom of this page, you will insert ZMA2992670 in the “Promotions and Certificates” box at the end of the page.
For questions, please call the United Airlines Convention Desk at (800) 426-1122.

CONFERENCE LOCATION

The US Virgin Islands are blessed with powder-soft sand beaches and sun-drenched weather. Because of its location, The Westin is the perfect place to watch brilliant Caribbean sunsets.

St. Thomas is the most cosmopolitan of the Virgin Islands. The scenic and historic capital city, Charlotte Amalie, has been the center of international trade since the 1600s. Its deep-water harbor, once teeming with four-masted trading ships, now plays host to visiting cruise ships and a fleet of sail and power yachts. It’s also the duty-free shopping mecca of the Caribbean.

Our conference resort, The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef, offers a thoughtfully-crafted Virgin Islands experience with everything you need to enjoy your stay. Rest well in plush bedding, scenic views, and locally inspired décor. Savor Caribbean cuisine in an outdoor setting at Isla Blue and unwind with drinks by the ocean at The Salt Shack Bar & Grill. Enjoy the resort’s outdoor pool and fitness center. Relax, renew, and refresh with facials, massages, and more in their full-service spa.

Explore St. Thomas during your visit with Charlotte Amalie, Coral World Ocean Park, and more attractions near the resort. Whatever your pleasure, you’ll be sure to find it in St. Thomas, at our 23^rd Annual Fall Conference on Emergency Medicine & Acute Care.