Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - Pre-Conference Sessions

Note: Space is limited and separate registration fees for each session apply – register early!!

For the TOPIC course and the Optimal Trauma Center Organization course, registration includes course materials, continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon break. For the half-day pre-conferences (in the afternoon), registration includes course materials and an afternoon break.

Kate FitzPatrick, RN, MSN, CRNP-BC
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kathleen D. Martin, MSN, RN, CCRN
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center - US Army Military Treatment Facility, Landstuhl, Germany

TOPIC was developed by a seasoned group of trauma leaders, to assist participants with the Performance Improvement (PI) process in trauma care. This one-day course focuses on skill development for trauma program staff who are involved in the ongoing evaluation of trauma care across the continuum. It offers concrete strategies for the monitoring of trauma care, loop closure, and patient outcomes. The course provides practical lessons for all levels of trauma centers, from entry level to those who have achieved a mature phase of program development. TOPIC consists of 12 modules in PI and outcomes assessment, and includes over 50 case study examples, sample documents, and templates.

Moderator – Connie Mattice, RN, MSN, CCRN, ANP

Frank “Tres” Mitchell, III, MD, MHA, FAC
St. John Health System - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Judy Mikhail, RN, MSN, MBA
Hurley Medical Center - Flint, Michigan

Amy Koestner, MSN, RN
Mercy San Juan Medical Center - Carmichael, California

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) and the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) have partnered to develop the Optimal Trauma Center Organization & Management Course.

• Both physicians and nurses teach this collaborative course. Its goal is to enhance trauma center performance and to improve patient care through implementation of the ACS COT Trauma Center Standards.
• Whether yours is a mature verified center or a hospital preparing for designation, this course is designed to help participants develop strategies, processes, and operations to support trauma systems based on their own unique environments. It is designed to help you take your trauma center to the next level, beyond verification or designation.
• The nuances of implementing or improving upon trauma center criteria within the structure of your specific facility will be reviewed in an interactive forum.

The course is designed to assist Trauma Medical Directors, Trauma Program Managers/Coordinators, Administrators, Trauma Registrars, State/Region personnel and other disciplines involved in trauma.

Moderator – Amy Koestner, RN, MSN

Kathryn Schroeter, PhD, RN, CNOR
Marquette University - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Editor – JTN

Holly Bair, MSN, RN, NP
William Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak, Michigan

Melanie Brewer, DNSc, RN
Scottsdale Healthcare - Scottsdale, Arizona

Alice Gervasini, PhD, RN
Massachusetts General Hospital - Boston, Massachusetts

Trauma centers and hospitals seeking magnet status are expected to conduct trauma research and integrate evidence-based standards into their practice. But not all trauma program staff feel they are prepared for the challenge. This dynamic half-day course will provide a great introduction – or a review – for the trauma professional whose work includes research or publication.

This 4-hour pre-conference is designed to provide nurses and other health care professionals with the basic knowledge and tools necessary to participate in the design and implementation of trauma research projects and evidence-based practice (EBP) projects. Each participant is asked to bring one idea for a research or EBP project: During the small group breakout session, faculty will help each participant develop that idea. The course includes:

• Overview of Study Designs
• Research Projects That Come From Your Trauma Registry
• Primer on Evidence-Based Practice
• Small Group Sessions: Developing Your Research or EBP Idea
• Some Simple Statistics and Terms
• Conducting a Literature Search
• Elements of a Good Abstract

Whether you are a new to research and feeling intimidated, or if you are someone who just needs a little refresher, this course can help you navigate your way to a successful project.

Moderator – Pat Manion, RN, MS, CCRN, CEN
Course Director – Kathryn Schroeter, PhD, RN, CNOR

Pam Pieper, PhD, ARNP, PNP-BC
University of Florida - Jacksonville, Florida

Diana Fendya, MSN, RN
Children’s National Medical Center - Washington, DC

Mary Aitken, MD, MPH
Arkansas Children’s Hospital - Little Rock, Arkansas

Mike James
Alabama CPS Program - Huntsville, Alabama

Sue Rzucidlo, MSN, RN
Penn State Children’s Hospital - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Joe Perno, MD
All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida

For those who care for injured children, the timely dissemination of pediatric trauma research and up to date injury prevention strategies rank among the highest priorities. Unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death in children after age 1, and members of STN’s Pediatric Special Interest Group (SIG) have led the way in promoting research, prevention, and education for this special population. Their latest initiative is this superb half-day course, DISCOVER THE WORLD OF PEDIATRIC TRAUMA.

Join top pediatric leaders at this course, as they share their cutting-edge knowledge on the following topics:

• Health-Related Quality of Life after Mild Traumatic Brain in Children
• Knowing When to Send Them: Pediatric Inter-Facility Transfer Agreements and the EMSC Study
• Post-Traumatic Stress – Resiliency after the Unthinkable
• Kids driving ATV’s: Toward a Higher Safety Standard
• Are Airbags a Risk to Children?
• America’s Unsafe Streets: Bike & Pedestrian Safety
• Who’s in the Water? Water Safety and Water, Water, Everywhere

This half-day program is intended for anyone who cares for injured children. Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to connect with your colleagues in pediatric trauma.

Research Panel – Moderator: Sally Snow, BSN, RN, FAEN
Injury Prevention Panel – Moderator: Lynn Schweer, RN, MSN, CNP

Laura Criddle, PhD, RN, CEN, CCNS, CNRN
Laurelwood Consulting - Scappoose, Oregon

Cristy Thomas, DNP, FNP-BC
University of Nevada School of Medicine - Las Vegas, Nevada

Cindy Blank-Reid, RN, MSN, CEN
Temple University Hospital - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kimberly Meyer, MSN, ACNP-BC, CNRN
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center - Washington, DC

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) confronts trauma nurses with some of their most challenging patients. Neurotrauma patients require complex assessment and interventions, whether their mechanism of injury is high energy - like blast or gunshot, or low energy – like a fall. As a result of improved care, nearly 5.3 million Americans now survive TBI, and many live with disabilities.

In response to this challenge, STN’s Neurotrauma and Advanced Practice Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) bring you this half-day pre-conference. When you set sail here, you’ll discover the latest information on best practices and outcomes from four experts in neuroscience and advanced practice. Topics include:

• Outcomes Following Geriatric Neurotrauma
• Scope of Practice/Standards for APN’s in Trauma/ Neuroscience
• Re-Integration of TBI Patients into the Community
• Rapid Fire panel:
• Hyponatremia and Falls in the Elderly
• Mild TBI - Don’t Miss the Soft Signs
• Non-Neurosurgeons & Mid-Level Providers Doing Neurosurgical Procedures
• Visual Disturbances Following TBI

If you care for TBI patients at any phase of their care, this course will enhance your practice with both its insightful overview and its practical advice.

Moderators – Linda Reinhart, RN, MSN, CNS, CCRN and Yvonne Michaud, RN, MSN