Conference Coverage

Health information technology (or HIT) is touted by many to help practices cut costs, but can also be daunting to consider. Host John Lynn, founder of EMRandHIPAA.com, addresses some of the most common questions about HIT with guests from the Practice Fusion Connect User Conference in San Francisco, on November 5, 2010. How can clinicians implement new technologies without going over budget or disrupting the flow of their practices? What are some questions to ask when shopping for an electronic health record (or EHR) system, and what do clinicians need to know about EHR incentives as well as qualifying for meaningful use?

Featured guests include:

• Camille Williams, practice manager from ENT Associates of South Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia
• Ken Harrington, practice manager from Washington Endocrine Clinic in Washington, DC
• Robert Rowley, MD, chief medical officer of Practice Fusion

Tune in for a summary of some of the important information and research findings from the American College of Surgeons 96th Annual Clinical Congress, held October 3 - 7, 2010, in Washington, DC. This year’s meeting attracted more than 13,000 participants from around the world, who attended presentations on novel surgical techniques, the impact of surgeon availability on survival rates, application of surgical techniques to expanding patient populations, and risk factors associated with trauma incidents.

The 2010 meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, held in Vancouver, Canada, October 21 - 24, attracted over 47-hundred participants from 82 countries around the world. This year's conference included presentations highlighting advances in a number of important areas — including the development of antibiotics and prevention of antibiotic resistance; HIV management; and both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine uptake and safety.

Listen for highlights from the American College of Gastroenterology's 75th Annual Scientific Meeting, October 15 - 20 in San Antonio, Texas. The meeting attracted approximately 4,000 participants from around the world. The meeting focused on advances in the management of patients with gastrointestinal disorders, focusing on cancer, esophageal and bowel disorders, liver disease, and pancreatic and biliary conditions.

This year's Health 2.0, now in its fourth year, held October 7th through the 10th in San Francisco, focused on the people and companies transforming all parts of the healthcare system with technology. The conference was the culmination of San Francisco's Health Innovation Week, and featured activities ranging from the Health 2.0 Developer Challenge to significant announcements showcasing emerging technologies, apps and platforms for both healthcare consumers as well as the healthcare providers. Interviews with attendees, exhibitors and presenters, include:

• Matthew Holt - Health Futurist, co-founder of Health 2.0
• Aneesh Chopra - First Federal Chief Technology Officer of the United States, Office of the President
  
• Jeff Arnold - Founder, Chief Architect - ShareCare, founder WebMD
  
• Roni Zeiger, MD - Chief Health Strategist - Google
• John de Souza - President and CEO - MedHelp
• Michelle Snyder - SVP - Epocrates
• Roy Schoenberg, MD, MPH - CEO - American Well
• Steven Wheeler - Director of Business Development - Ideal Life
  
• Ted Eytan, MD - Medical Director for Delivery System Operations - Permanente Foundation

As the specialty of cosmetic medicine is rapidly evolving and expanding, so too are the roles of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the field. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks with some of the leading experts in plastic surgery and dermatology at the Aesthetic Extender Symposium, held October 8 - 10 in Miami Beach, Florida, which educates NPs and PAs about novel technologies and techniques in cosmetic medicine. Tune in to hear about the latest in botulinum toxins, fractionated lasers, hyaluronic fillers, the use of topical anesthetics, new methods of fat reduction and more.

Featured guests include:

• Steven Dayan, MD - board-certified facial plastic surgeon and clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois and DePaul University in Illinois
• David Goldberg, MD - founding director of the Aesthetic Extender Symposium; clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York; medical director of Skin, Laser and Surgery specialists of New York and New Jersey; and co-director of Sanctuary Medical Center in Boca Raton, Florida
• Krystie Lennox, PA-C - founding director of the Aesthetic Extender Symposium who practices at Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center in Boca Raton, Florida
• Jason Pozner, MD - co-founder …

Hear highlights from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, held October 2-5, 2010, in San Francisco. This year’s conference focused on advances in the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults, attracting over 8 thousand participants from around the world.

Hear highlights from research on the management of obesity, endocrine disorders, diabetes, menopause, and thyroid cancer presented at the Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting and Expo. The meeting took place June 19 to 22, 2010, in San Diego.

This round-up describes highlights from the American Diabetes Association's 70th Scientific Sessions, June 25th through the 29th in Orlando, Florida, covering cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations, and advances toward a cure for diabetes.

These findings were presented at the College's 58th Annual Clinical Meeting, which took place May 15th to 19th, 2010, in San Francisco, attracting thousands of experts from around the world.