American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC^® 2009)

General Conference Information

Conference Goals
OEM is the medical specialty devoted to the prevention and manage-ment of occupational and environmental injury, illness, and disability, and the promotion of health and productivity of workers, their families, and communities. AOHC is designed to provide learner-centered education in the most current issues relevant to the practice of OEM. 

Educational Need
For decades, ACOEM has offered continuing medical education specifically designed to meet the needs of the OEM professional. In an era marked by changes in health care delivery, as well as by increasing changes in OEM practice and regulatory issues, it is critical that these professionals possess a strong foundation in the required competencies in order to successfully manage their patients and their practices.

Target Audience
AOHC is designed for physicians who specialize in or have an interest in OEM, as well as for non-physicians who are involved in the field. AOHC offers a variety of educational activities for participants new to OEM as well as for the experienced professional.

Education Information

Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Available CME Credit
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 25.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  Maximum CME credits available for each activity are listed along with the description of each offering.

• AAFP – This activity has been reviewed and is accepted for up to 28.75 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
• ABPM – Most AOHC sessions are eligible for MOC EPIQ credits toward recertification with the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Those sessions are identified by “ABPM.”  The ABPM course number for this conference is # 425.  The maximum number of MOC EPIQ credits available for this educational activity is 25.5.
• Doctors of Osteopathy – This conference may be eligible for Category 2-A credit from the American Osteopathic Association.
• Physician Assistants – The American Academy of Physician Assistants and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants accept AMA PRA Category 1 CME credit from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Attendees are also encouraged to consult their respective certifying associations/agencies for the conversion of AMA PRA approved credit to other educational credit.

Disclaimer
The ideas represented in presentations at AOHC 2009 do not necessarily reflect ACOEM positions. ACOEM disclaims responsibility or liability for all products, services or information presented at AOHC 2009. ACOEM does not endorse any product or service exhibited, nor necessarily support the content contained in the educational offerings.

Disclosure Policy
In accordance with the ACCME Essentials and Standards, at the beginning of their presentation, all presenters are required to verbally disclose directly to the audience any financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturers of any commercial products or services discussed in their presentations. Presenters are asked to disclose to their audiences the FDA approval status of all medical devices/pharmaceuticals for the uses discussed, described, or demonstrated in their presentations.

Handouts
In an effort to be environmentally conscious and better manage our resources, ACOEM is embarking on a paperless meeting. All handouts submitted by speakers as of March 23, 2009, will be available to conference attendees via a secured area of ACOEM’s web site two weeks before and two weeks after the meeting. Registrants will be able to access the site, allowing them to view and print all or any of the submitted handouts.

In addition, each registrant will be provided with a complimentary CD-ROM containing all handouts submitted by March 23, 2009, with their registration materials. Please note though that there will not be a printer available at the Conference to print out any handouts; anyone wishing to take notes on the slide copy should plan on bringing it with them to the meeting.

General Sessions

AOHC Poster Presentations and Display
Posters will be on view beginning Sunday, April 26 at 5:00 pm outside of the ACOEM Exhibit Hall. Poster authors should be present to discuss the research with attendees on April 26 from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm.

ACOEM Annual Membership Luncheon
ACOEM’s Annual Membership Luncheon is Tuesday, April 28. Highlights will include the ACOEM Fellow elevation ceremony, introduction of new ACOEM officers and directors, installation of ACOEM’s new president, and presentation of ACOEM’s annual awards. This meeting is open to any attendee who is registered for the full conference or who has a one-day conference registration for Tuesday. 

As a meal function, this is a ticketed event and pre-registration is required. Tickets will be collected at the door. Guest tickets to the luncheon are available for $65 each.  On-site Registrants must register by 12:00 noon on Monday, April 27, to attend.

Sessions

Concurrent and Semi-Plenary Sessions offer focused presentations that cover critically chosen, cutting-edge subjects related to OEM competencies. Sessions typically include multiple presenters and can be 90 minutes, 3 hours or 6 hours in length. Sessions are designed for OEM physicians who practice in a variety of work settings.

This year, the sessions are broken down and identified by tracks.  The tracks are:

• OEM Clinical Practice 
• Management and Administration in OEM 
• OEM Education and Scientific Research 
• Environmental Health and Risk Management 
• Regulatory, Legal, Military, and Governmental OEM Practice 

To help in assigning room capacities, please indicate your preference by time slot on the registration form.  This preference does not guarantee a seat in the session. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

C.O. Sappington Memorial Lecture
The Sappington Lecture serves as a forum from which to address major issues in the field of OEM.  Ken Dychtwald, PhD, President and C.E.O of Age Wave is this year’s Sappington Lecturer. The lecture will be held on Sunday, April 26, from 8:30 am to 10:00 am.  Dr. Dychtwald’s topic is, “How the Age Wave Will Transform Health and Healthcare”.

Meal Sessions
Meal Sessions offer the opportunity to discuss issues of concern with peers and experts in OEM. These 1¼ hour sessions include a meal and center on faculty-learner
interaction and group discussion rather than formal lecture. Pre-registration is required; a separate activity fee is required.

Pre-Conference Courses
Pre-conference Courses are designed to enrich participants’ understanding of concepts and issues related to OEM, giving physicians the knowledge necessary to sustain a competitive edge. Content is driven by research, the latest in regulatory issues, and the expertise of the faculty. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged; a separate registration fee is required.

Learning Resources
Most sessions will be audio-taped by Mobiltape, Inc., and orders can be placed on site and after AOHC for MP3 CD-Rom sets.

Speaker Designation
Speakers who are members of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) are indicated with an asterisk (*) throughout this program. The College would like to take this opportunity to recognize their contributions to ACOEM.

Visitor Information
For more info on San Diego , visit www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors.

Weather/Dress
San Diego enjoys beautiful weather year round with an average daily temperature of 70.5º (21.4 degrees Celsius).  A marked feature of the climate is the wide variation in temperature within short distances due to the topography of the land.  You can enjoy coastal, mountain, and desert environments all in the space of one day!

While attending sessions, please bring comfortable attire and remember to layer.  Temperatures in meeting rooms may be difficult to please everyone.