5 reasons to attend Innovations in Neonatal Care 2018

April 28, 2018 | by Cheryl Cranick
5 reasons to attend Innovations in Neonatal Care 2018

If you’re a newborn medicine specialist interested in cutting-edge improvements and ethical discussions that are shaping the future of your specialty, consider attending Innovations in Neonatal Care, July 31 – August 2, in Houston, Texas.

With a different theme each year, Innovations Conference 2018 offers a closer look at Advances in Diagnosis, Devices and Drugs. An array of expert speakers will explore new evidence and treatment options for the field of neonatal medicine. Woven in will be discussions of ethics, quality and safety. Since 2011, Innovations has grown from a conference that primarily attracted regional attendees to one with national and international appeal.

“Innovations Conference has always centered on bringing new thoughts and treatment modalities to the forefront of our field in an effort to challenge our thought process and the status quo,” said Timothy Biela, MD, MEDNAX-affiliated neonatologist in San Antonio, Texas, who also serves as Conference Director.

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If you’re a physician, advanced practice provider, nurse, hospital staff member, fellow, resident or advanced practice provider student specializing in the treatment of critically ill infants, here are five reasons why you should make plans today to attend Innovations Conference 2018.

innovations conference 2018

1. The topic of diagnosis, devices and drugs is universally important for neonatal medicine.

The conference planning committee chose this year’s theme because, “Discussions of diagnosis, devices and drugs encompass the full range of the conference’s mission, which is to continuously strive to improve the quality of care given to our most vulnerable patient population,” said Dr. Biela.

 

Global Conference Objectives:

At the completion of this educational activity, an attendee will be able to: 

  1. Discuss newer methodologies, techniques and devices that may be useful in improving the care of sick newborns in the NICU setting
  2. Utilize information presented to assist your team in planning modifications to care pathways, policies and workflow processes in your home NICU
  3. Correlate current research evidence for selected NICU devices, diagnostic techniques and pharmacologic agents with patient outcomes

Review the agenda

2. Hear from local and national experts at the forefront of advances in diagnosis, devices and drugs.

“Once the planning committee has selected a theme, we conduct a broad review of recent literature to identify thought leaders and specialists who can share their vast knowledge and in-depth understanding of current evidence,” said Dr. Biela. The 2018 speaker lineup includes:

James Moore, MD, PhD, Division Head of Neonatology at Connecticut Children’s Hospital, University of Connecticut, who will discuss telemedicine and teleNICU.

Helen Mintz-Hittner, MD, Clinical Professor and Alfred W. Lasher, III, Professor at the University of Texas, Houston, who will defend Avastin during the ROP Treatment Roundtable: Avastin vs Lucentis.

Waldemar Carlo, MD, Edwin M. Dixon Professor of Pediatrics and Division Director of Neonatology at Children’s of Alabama, University of Alabama, Birmingham, who will discuss spinal muscular atrophy.

Sudarshan R. Jadcherla, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and pediatric expert at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who will discuss devices and techniques for the difficult-to-feed infant.

Jonathan Davis, MD, Division Chief of Newborn Medicine, Neonatologist and Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, who will discuss pharmacology and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Check out the full list of speakers for Innovations 2018

3. Join us after the conference for our new post-conference workshop.

“The planning committee is excited to introduce our first post-conference workshop: Ultrasound Guided PICC Placement in the NICU,” said Dr. Biela. “We understand that our delicate patient population can create challenges for placing a PICC line, and ultrasound guided PICC line placement is a tool to help increase provider success rate. By harnessing the power of technological advances, we can improve our efficiency and time management on this important skill. The workshop is a way to take a closer look at the process and also benefit from hands-on practice.” 

This workshop will be held the afternoon of August 2 following the conference. Registration for the workshop is separate from registration for the Innovations Conference, and space is limited to the first 100 people who pre-register for the workshop. If you register for the Innovations Conference, you can add the post-conference workshop for $75. The workshop is also available for a fee of $125 to those who cannot attend the Innovations Conference. The fee covers instruction, supplies, lunch and continuing education credit processing.

4. Help fulfill your CME or CNE credit requirements.

Along with the information you’ll gain on this essential topic, you will also have to opportunity to earn continuing medical education credits. The MEDNAX Center for Research, Education, Quality and Safety is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Full participation at Innovations in Neonatal Care Conference includes up to: 

  • Continuing Medical Education (CME): maximum of 18.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)
  • Continuing Nursing Education (CNE): maximum of 50 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours

 

Join us for the Post-Conference Workshop: Ultrasound Guided PICC Placement in the NICU

This is designated as a separate live activity from the Innovations Conference. Full participation at the post-conference workshop includes up to:

  • Continuing Medical Education (CME): maximum of 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)
  • Continuing Nursing Education (CNE): maximum of 50 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours

Learn more about accreditation

 

5. Enjoy downtime in a major city.

This year’s Innovations Conference will be hosted at the Marriott Marquis Houston in downtown Houston, Texas. Houston is America’s fourth largest major city and offers its own brand of entertainment, attractions and dining close by for the hours outside of the conference sessions.

 

Learn more about Houston

Registration is now open for Innovations in Neonatal Care 2018.

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Do you have questions about Innovations in Neonatal Care?

Email us at innovations@mednax.com