2011 NPPA Conference– A Brief Review

Not all was Business as the Attendees relax at the Meet & Greet Reception

The 2011 NPPA Conference is now history – RECORD BREAKING history.  A record number of attendees (approximately 340), and a record number of Exhibitor-Sponsors (91) and their hundreds of sales representatives, crammed into the newly-renovated, award-winning Tropicana Las Vegas this August.

The educational program, also with a record-breaking 13.0 ACPE CE credits, showcased lectures from all disciplines and skill levels.  Highlights were on ways to generate revenue for the Pharmacy; how to demonstrate a Buyer’s value to their Supervisors/Department & Facility; an Automation Primer; and areas of interest spanning into the coming years, such as the upcoming GS-1 Initiative and the still-controversial Biosimilars topic.

The headliner, though, to use a Vegas term, was the Shortages Symposium, where for the first time in NPPA history, representatives from other discipline of Pharmacy along with NPPA Buyer-Attendees (who have been discussing this crisis in our meetings for many years), were invited to share their perspective on the national epidemic that has caught the attention of the entire country.  See NPPA’s Pharmacy Buyers Forum for links to Shortages articles from the past month’s national news and from Premier, Inc.

The networking factor of the Conference was highlighted from the start, as the attendees participated in our Meet N’ Greet Ice-Breaker opening, in a format similar to “speed-dating.”  First, while seated at round tables, each table of attendees were asked to introduce themselves to see where everyone works and at what type of facility, and exchange business cards for future networking.  Then they were to start a conversation on a pertinent topic involving the issues that affect their jobs, all within a specified time, after which they would all move to another table to start it all over with the subsequent groups, which was done about 4 times.  The controlled chaos proved to be both fun and informative, as each attendee got the opportunity to meet and share experiences with their colleagues from across the nation from the start of the show.

All Buyer-Attendees had the unique opportunity to meet directly with executives from their hospital’s Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) during the NPPA GPO Breakout Sessions.  Then after the educational sessions concluded on Tuesday & Wednesday, attendees visited with local and regional pharmaceutical representatives from the 91 companies exhibiting,  in the Exhibit Hall.  Both days, the Exhibit Hall floor was buzzing with activity, as new products and services were showcased, some vendor-provided promotions took place, and buyers and sellers discussed new and existing innovations, products and services.  Buyers were also able to collect literature, product information, and news from every facet of the pharmaceutical world.  When they left the display floor, Pharmacy Buyers had new and updated product knowledge and valuable corporate contacts that will help them throughout the year when shortages or other issues require an inside connection that buyers who do not attend could never cultivate.

So with the trifecta of record attendance, record CE’s, and record vendor participation, the 2011 NPPA Conference is now one for the record books!  Thanks for your participation!

August 2012’s NPPA Conference does not yet have exact dates and location within Las Vegas determined.  Once confirmed, we will alert all attendees by email and will have it on our website as soon as possible, so that you can start planning for next year.