Call for Presentation Proposals

Steps and Instructions:

1. Proposal Notification

   The status of your proposal will be sent to you in May; your proposal will be accepted, rejected or, in some cases, tentatively accepted (i.e. awaiting an opening in the conference schedule of educational sessions so that it can be accepted/scheduled).

2. Target Audience

   Over 1,200 people are expected to attend the 15th Clinical Team Conference and Pediatric Intensive including all members of the hospice/palliative care team and community stakeholders, administrators, bereavement professionals, counselors, educators, managers, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, researchers, social workers, spiritual caregivers, team leaders, volunteers , volunteer leaders and managers and others working to promote innovation and excellence.

3. Selection of Conference Faculty

   Preconference and plenary speakers are invited by NHPCO staff. Concurrent and workshop presentations are selected through this Call for Presentation Proposals. Preference is given to those with significant expertise and experience presenting at national, state and community events, and a detailed description of the presenter�s education, qualifications and presentation experience is required. In addition, each faculty member is required to disclose any relevant financial relationships he/she may have with commercial companies (see Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships with Commercial Companies below).

   NHPCO seeks proposals from a wide variety of professionals involved in end-of-life care; however preference is given to those who are affiliated with an NHPCO member (if applicable).

4. Required Information

   The Conference Planning Committee has asked that we stress the importance of completing all requested information for each prospective presenter, which includes educational background, qualifications, professional and presentation experience and disclosure. Conference Planning Committee members review all proposals submitted and their reviews help determine whether a proposal is selected for the conference. Inadequate and/or incomplete information is not viewed favorably by reviewers and directly affects the acceptance of proposals. To ensure your proposal is given serious consideration, provide all requested information in the online submission format and ensure that any co-presenters complete required information before proposals enter the review process (generally within one week of the deadline date for the Call for Proposals).

5. Types of Presentations

   The Conference Planning Committee is seeking proposals in the following categories:

   • 90 Minute Workshops (must include participant involvement in the learning experience): Workshops and/or skill-building sessions that present an in-depth exploration of a new model, theory or program or research topic and/or teach new approaches or skills to the audience. Note: Very few workshops will be selected for this conference; make sure your proposal for a 90 minute session meets the criteria.
   • 60 Minute Concurrent Sessions: Concurrent sessions provide an overview of an innovative program or project, presentation of findings from a research project or quality improvement initiative, review of regulatory changes or highlight industry trends and include a brief Q & A period.

6. Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships with Commercial Companies

   NHPCO endorses the Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Nurses Credentialing Commission (ANCC) and other professional bodies which specify that sponsors (i.e. NHPCO) of continuing medical education/continuing education activities disclose relevant financial relationships* with commercial interests* whose products or services are discussed in educational presentations.

   NHPCO has implemented a process where everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity must disclose all relevant financial relationships they have with any commercial interest. (This includes NHPCO, as we disclose all educational grants we receive for our conferences, for example, to attendees.)

   If it is determined that a conflict of interest* exists as a result of a financial relationship faculty has, NHPCO will work with the faculty to resolve the conflict prior to the conference. Any faculty who refuse to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from presenting at this conference.

   Under no circumstances should NHPCO�s national conference be used as a place for promotion of a faculty member�s product, service or monetary self-interest. NHPCO takes the responsibility for ensuring that conferences are free from commercial bias very seriously, and may decline all future proposals from a presenter who does not abide by this policy.

   * See below for a glossary of terms.

7. Presentation Expectations

   All presentations made at NHPCO conferences must adhere to ACCME�s content validation value statements. Specifically, all suggestions or recommendations involving clinical medicine and practice must be based upon evidence that is accepted within the medical profession.

   In addition, all scientific research referred to, reported or used in a conference session must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection and analysis.

   NHPCO faculty is expected to refrain from overt statements, harsh language or pointed humor that disparages the rightful dignity and social equity of any individual or group.

   All materials provided in conference sessions must be reviewed by NHPCO prior to the conference. As a result, deadlines for PowerPoint slides and/or handouts are scheduled well in advance of the conference. Materials not submitted to NHPCO for review in advance will not be available to conference attendees until after the conference; generally two weeks later.

8. Conference Schedule

   To achieve a balanced conference program, NHPCO will determine the days and times that sessions are scheduled. Presenters must be able to speak on the day assigned. NHPCO reserves the right to change the length of any session; faculty will be notified and asked to adjust their content outline accordingly.

9. Areas of Emphasis and Topic Ideas

   Key areas of emphasis have been identified for this conference; you will be asked to select one of the areas of emphasis below when you submit your proposal.

   You will be asked to select one of the Areas of Emphasis identified below when submitting your proposal. The list of topic ideas, however, is not exclusive; it is meant to stimulate your thinking. The Conference Planning Committee is particularly interested in proposals that address the conference theme from individual, organizational, community, state, regional or national perspectives.

   Area of Emphasis	Examples of Topic Ideas
   Access and Outreach	Access to services in rural settings Caregiver outreach and education Effective utilization of social media in outreach Increasing access to eligible patients with specific, non-traditional diagnoses Innovative approaches to community outreach and education Innovations in advance care planning Successes in increasing access to underserved populations Successes in providing care in diverse settings including care facilities, homeless shelters, prisons, etc.
   Advances in Pain and Symptom Management	Advanced pain and/or symptom management Case-based presentations highlighting pain and symptom management (specifically geared to physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses) Innovations in pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain and symptom management Managing complex cases Pain management and addiction Palliative sedation – clinical and ethical implications Utilization of complementary therapies to address pain New medical approaches for pain management
   Bereavement	Advanced bereavement concepts and approaches Advances in providing care to specific populations (families, children, teens) Community outreach through bereavement services Distinguishing and treating complicated grief Evaluating bereavement services/support/ efficacy Grief/loss and bereavement across the span of care Measuring client adaptation to significant loss New risk assessment models and hospice’s role in responding to complicated bereavement Responding to trauma and disaster Successes in novel bereavement services to specific populations (i.e. men, teens, children, families, elders, diverse populations, etc.) Time-limited and ongoing group and individual family counseling approaches
   Care Continuum	ACO collaborations Adult day programs and collaborations Chronic care or other models Collaborative and/or partnership models Hospital-based palliative care Medical homes Palliative care at home Palliative care clinics Solutions to gaps in continuity of care Transitions programs that facilitate discussion re: goals of care (curative to palliative)
   Clinical/Medical Care	Addressing restlessness at the end of life Advances in clinical and/or medical care at the end of life Case studies – difficult cases and real-world examples (advanced topics) Clinical care of the pediatric palliative care/hospice patient Communication strategies for clinicians Dementia management Innovative clinical protocols Management of Alzheimer’s Management of dyspnea Managing the nutrition/GI/GU system New approaches to disease management New models of assessment and care planning Providing quality care during disaster Integration of complementary therapies into interdisciplinary care Wound care – advanced approaches
   Education	Creative approaches to mentoring and preceptoring Developing and utilizing clinical competencies Educational program models to prepare for and respond to disaster Effective educational programs for staff in long-term care facilities Radically new orientation models Skills development for educators and speakers Successes in integrating distance/e-learning modalities to train staff, volunteers, family caregivers Understanding and educating today’s workforce
   Ethics	Approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas Case-based ethical discussions and resolutions Creating dynamic and effective ethics committees Patient autonomy challenges Review of new/pressing ethical issues Understanding ethics in end-of-life care for the novice (beginner)
   Interdisciplinary Team	Advanced practice nurses in the IDT Advancing interdisciplinary function and success Creating peer accountability on teams Demonstrated successes in team leadership Dynamic models for team meetings Ensuring the provision of patient/family-centered care Fostering an environment of continuous learning Interdisciplinary best practices Interdisciplinary best practices in clinical care Interdisciplinary care - Intermediate and advanced practice Interdisciplinary cultural competence – working effectively with diverse patients/families Interdisciplinary team leadership models and successes Innovative models of interdisciplinary care at the end of life Nurse practitioners in the IDT Leading effective teams Maximizing team performance Radically new team structures or service delivery models Staff morale and stress management strategies Team function, practice and success during disaster
   Palliative Care	Collaborations and partnerships to expand access and service Partnerships with adult day care, senior service and other community partners to increase access Successes in palliative care programs Successful use of POLST in palliative care settings
   Pediatric Palliative and End-of-Life Care	Creative approaches to caring for pediatric patients and their families/communities Home-based pediatric care for children and their families Innovative approaches to working with families coping with a child’s serious illness Ethical considerations and challenges in pediatric palliative care New approaches to pediatric palliative care Pediatric pain and symptom management protocols Pediatric palliative and end-of-life care for the novice (beginner) Program design strategies for starting or expanding a pediatric program Bereavement services for children, teens and families Psychosocial care of pediatric patients and their families Residential pediatric palliative care Spiritual care of pediatric patients and their families Successes in clinical care protocols for pediatric populations Trajectories for life-limiting pediatric diseases Transitioning care for children who survive to adulthood
   Psychosocial Care	Addressing the needs of caregivers Advocacy success models (community, interdisciplinary, community) Effective counseling models for end-of-life care Interdisciplinary models of psychosocial care Psychosocial care – Intermediate and advanced practice Psychosocial assessment best practices Practical tips for caregivers Systems perspectives in psychosocial care Trauma and disaster interventions Working within family systems, beliefs and values to achieve pain and symptom control
   Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement	Demonstrated clinical outcomes in performance improvement Demonstrated quality and outcomes in clinical practice Implementing organizational approaches to performance improvement Innovative models of quality clinical care Lessons from programs that have survived disasters Quality assessment and performance improvement for the novice (beginner) Quality Partner demonstration projects in clinical areas Quality collaborative successes in clinical services Quality and performance improvement in facility-based programs Successes in clinical performance improvement projects Successes in implementation of organizational change
   Regulatory/Compliance	Advances in clinical documentation Care plan management Documenting eligibility in non-cancer diagnoses Effectively managing and documenting revocations, transfers and discharges General inpatient care Meeting and exceeding regulatory requirements – CoPs, CR5567, etc. Managing Medicare audits and denials Understanding the Medicare Hospice Benefit and regulatory requirements for the novice (beginner)
   Research	Research related to: Access and outreach Advanced pain and symptom management Bereavement Clinical/medical care Education Ethics Facility-based care Hospice and palliative care for dialysis patients Innovative service delivery Interdisciplinary team Pediatric palliative and end-of-life care Performance improvement Psychosocial care Putting research into practice Quality Regulatory/compliance Spiritual care Volunteer services
   Spiritual Care	Challenges in spiritual caregiving – case based exploration Effective spiritual care models for end-of-life care Engaging community clergy in end-of-life care Interdisciplinary models of spiritual care Spiritual care- Intermediate and advanced practice Spiritual assessment advances Successes in working with diverse religions, traditions and practices Systems perspectives in spiritual care
   Volunteer Management and Leadership	Creative approaches to volunteerism in end-of-life care settings Elder volunteers Essential skills for new volunteer managers From volunteer manager to volunteer leaders and catalysts for organizational change Increasing the diversity of volunteers Innovations in recruitment, retention and recognition Managing challenging volunteers Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement for volunteer programs Risk management Teen volunteers Understanding and complying with the Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation Utilizing professional volunteers Utilizing skills and talents of volunteers Volunteer families Volunteer competency development and measurement/evaluation

   Presentations should demonstrate measurable impact and results. Your emphasis should be on the application of the concept or solution presented using simulations, exercises, and tools that enhance the learning experience. Feedback received from previous conferences indicates that attendees are looking for "real-world" examples of what works and "how-to" suggestions to implement new ideas and programs.

10. Proposal Submission Guidelines

    In order to allow an independent evaluation of the relevance and potential effectiveness of the presentation and to afford us the opportunity to apply for continuing education credit for professional disciplines, submissions must include the following:

    • Presentation type (60-minute concurrent session or 90-minute workshop)
    • Title/Overview
      • A title for the presentation that informs the reviewer of the subject matter
      • Submitter's e-mail address
      • Presentation level (novice, competent or expert)
      • Area of emphasis (you will be asked to select a key topic area for your proposal from a drop-down menu)
    • Presenter(s)
      • A completed �Presenter Profile� for each presenter, which includes the presenter's:
        • Current position
        • Current contact information with email address
        • Highest degree earned and institutions attended
        • Experience
    • Disclosure for each presenter
    • A 2-3 sentence description of the session (to enable attendees to determine their interest in attending)
    • Objectives, Strategies, Gaps and References
      • Three or more measurable learning objectives (written from the perspective of what participants will learn rather than what the presenter will teach);
      • Identification of teaching strategies
      • Description of what gap in knowledge, practice or outcomes underlies the need for this session
      • Three to five references (professional publications, books and/or research from the past 5 years) that support and document the evidence-base or content validity of the proposal
    • Detailed content outline
      • Identification of all major topics that will be covered in the presentation
      • Detailed description of all discussion, experiential or participatory aspects of the session
      • Adequate information to enable proposal reviewers to discern whether the session will have broad interest, appeal, applicability and whether it will meet one or more of the conference objectives.

    Presentations should demonstrate measurable impact and results. Your emphasis should be on the application of the concept or solution presented using simulations, exercises, and tools that enhance the learning experience. Feedback received from previous conferences indicates that attendees are looking for �real-world� examples of what works and �how-to� suggestions to implement new ideas and programs.

11. Proposal Review and Selection Process

    NHPCO�s proposal review process is conducted by members of the Conference Planning Committee, which ensures a rigorous review of every proposal. This Committee is comprised of hospice and palliative care professionals from NHPCO�s Professional Education Committee, National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals (NCHPP), Council of States, NHPCO committees and other hospice palliative care professionals with demonstrated successes and/or knowledge of the hospice interdisciplinary team, clinical, psychosocial, spiritual and bereavement aspects of care and quality/regulatory issues.

    Proposals are reviewed carefully based on the following criteria:

    • Topic is innovative, relevant and/or related to the conference theme, objectives and goals;
    • Time allocation and presentation content are well organized, with an accurate presentation level;
    • Presenter has appropriate and relevant expertise and experience in the topic area;
    • Learning objectives are measurable and achievable, (view sample);
    • Likelihood of significant interest, appeal, and applicability in the setting;
    • Quality of practical information: tools, tips, practices, etc. that attendees will be able to implement and/or utilize following the presentation;
    • Identification of relevant professional practice gaps;
    • Relevant reference information.

    The Conference Planning Committee encourages proposals from companies and organizations representing diverse points of view. Proposals are selected on the basis of information submitted. Speakers, session titles, and content are expected to correspond to the proposal. Any speaker substitutions, deletions, or additions must be approved by NHPCO. NHPCO reserves the right to edit accepted presentations for publication on NHPCO�s website and in conference materials.

    All materials provided in conference sessions must be reviewed by NHPCO prior to the conference. As a result, deadlines for session handouts and slides are scheduled well in advance of the conference. Materials not submitted to NHPCO for review in advance may not be shown or provided in conference sessions.

    Should you be selected to speak at this NHPCO conference, we ask that you view the opportunity as an important commitment and ensure that you meet all requests and deadlines, and that you deliver the presentation as scheduled. By sharing your expertise, you make a valuable contribution to the end-of-life care field.

12. Electronic Communications

    All potential presenters who submit a proposal will receive e-mail notification of their proposal�s status. Once the selection of proposals is complete, a Letter of Understanding (LOU) and other faculty information will be provided to presenters. An electronic message will be sent to all presenters whose proposals were accepted with a link to the Conference Faculty website. This website will include all deadlines and required information needed for the conference. The majority of communication with faculty is electronic.

13. Presenter Registration Discount

    As a nonprofit association, NHPCO does not provide honoraria for concurrent session presentations. Speakers must cover all of their individual travel and living expenses. Presenters and co-presenters attending the full conference receive a discount on the conference registration fee. NHPCO does not reimburse presenters or co-presenters for travel, lodging or other expenses.

14. Audio Visual Equipment

    NHPCO provides laptop computers and standard audio-visual equipment for all presentations. Additional information will be provided on the Faculty website.

15. Glossary of Terms

    Commercial Interest

    The ACCME defines a �commercial interest� as any proprietary entity producing health care goods or services, with the exemption of non-profit or government organizations and non-health care related companies.

    Financial relationships

    Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

    Relevant financial relationships

    ACCME focuses on financial relationships with commercial interests in the 12-month period preceding the time that the individual is being asked to assume a role controlling content of the CME activity. ACCME has not set a minimal dollar amount for relationships to be significant. Inherent in any amount is the incentive to maintain or increase the value of the relationship. The ACCME defines ��relevant� financial relationships� as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest.

    Conflict of Interest

    Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.

16. Technical Support

    For help in submitting an abstract online, email Tech Support.