Call For Speakers: NPPA Conference

Call For Speakers: 2012 NPPA Conference     The next NPPA Conference will be held August 13-16, 2012, at Bally’s Hotel, Las Vegas. Help us fill out the speaker roster of the Conference’s educational program, which is ALL about the Pharmacy Purchasing profession and the information you need to expand your knowledge of this important and complex field, by considering becoming a presenter this year, and hopefully refresh the enthusiasm you have for your career.    Here below is NPPA’s current list of suggested topics that we are hoping to fill for the 2012 program (or please suggest your own for consideration, if not listed here). The next NPPA Conference will be held August 13-16, 2012, at Bally’s Hotel, Las Vegas. Help us fill out the speaker roster of the Conference’s educational program, which is ALL about the Pharmacy Purchasing profession and the information you need to expand your knowledge of this important and complex field, by considering becoming a presenter this year, and hopefully refresh the enthusiasm you have for your career.          Note:  each prospective lecture must first be considered in terms of what can qualify as ACPE-accredited CE (which we try to have for as many of our educational sessions as possible).  This means that the presentation must be GENERAL and non-promotional to the speaker and/or the company they represent (as opposed to being specific to one company’s services and/or products), and it must cover one or more problem or issues, along with their suggested solutions or results.   Please send your inquiry to:  Speakers@PharmacyPurchasing.com.  Or call NPPA’s Event Assistant & Conference Moderator, Mike Thomas, to discuss:   888-544-NPPA.  We will then send you our speaker materials to complete and return in order to be considered.       NPPA Suggested 2012 Conference Topics    -Buying for Multiple Hospitals    -Generic Purchasing Practices    -Insulin Pens (benefits to high cost & waste handling issues)      -Quality (Assurance or Improvement) Projects    -How to Do Your Own Inventory Counts    -How to Manage Contracts    -Rebate Information    -Buyer Training (day to day functions & helpful tips on common systems)    -Working with Supply Chain on items that blur the line between pharmacy and supply items    -Managing a Clinic -Professional Advancement/preparing a resume for a promotion or new job     -Hands-on IV Preparation (how to mix & compound)    -Pharmacy Purchasing Fundamentals/Basics    -Meeting with other Buyer-Attendees from same state/region    -Motivational Speaker    -Cross-Training of Buyer Duties with their support personnel (to have a Buyer backup/assistant while on vacation)    -Wholesaler & GPO Conversions    -CMS Inspections (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services)    -DNV (Det Norske Veritas), an alternative to The Joint Commission    -New TJC (Joint Commission) Rules Regarding Contrast Media    -Introduction to Global Trade Item Number in Healthcare (GS1)    -New Medications on the Horizon -Pain Management Pumps vs. PCA Pumps    -Bio-Similars    -State & Federal Programs that Hospitals Can Use/Regulatory Impact    -Stress Management & Easy Relaxation Exercises    -Team Building -The Influenza Cycle    -Pharmacy Dept. Newsletters: Including Buyer’s Input   This year’s topics were taken from ideas given in feedback from the 2011 & 2010 Conference Attendees, as well as the current NPPA Advisory Board members. If there is a subject you feel you can speak about that is relevant for our group but is not on our current list of topic suggestions, please feel free to submit your new topic for consideration. Having Pharmacy Buyers presenting to their peers is something we always strive to find and fill in our program, and is a long-standing request from attendees. So consider presenting on a topic that you have experience in & passion about, for either a full hour-long presentation, or as a panelist for the “Best Buyer Practices” sessions. The Buyer Practices session consists of a panel of Pharmacy Buyers contributing a short, approximate 15 minute presentation (although we can usually allow up to 30 minutes per, if the topic warrants it). Consider sharing your expertise and knowledge–it will be a rewarding experience. For inquiries, see the contact information at the top of this page.