Wound Care Conferences: Open the Door To Discounts

As the belt on the nation’s economy continues to tighten clinicians and physicians are faced with making choices and decisions they may not have had to make in the past. It seems budgets are tight for all levels of professionals.
Wound care conferences are by far the most sought after activity for professionals. In the current world of expensive gasoline, airline tickets, and lodging, the ability to budget becomes increasingly difficult.

Many have also noted the shrinking continuing education dollars of employers. Wound care is dealing with the shortage of healthcare professionals; it appears even more evident with nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and assistants willing to perform wound care.

Based on personal experience, the following is an estimate of approximate average costs to attend a major wound care conference.

Conference registration: $450
Travel: $400
Ground transportation: $50
Lodging: $600 ($200/night x 3)
Meals: $180 ($45/day x 4 days)
Grand Total: $1,680

Cutting Costs
First and foremost, what costs can be cut?
1) Find a roommate and cut your lodging costs in half (-$300). Most may not have had a roommate since school, but many have friends in wound care so it only makes economic sense.
2) Take advantage of the conference meals eliminating meal costs (-$180). Many events like the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, offer free meals if you sign up for their breakfast satellite sessions, or attend the exhibit hall for complimentary catered lunches.
3) Use the airport shuttle service and reduce costs by one-half (-$25). Or share a cab with several professionals to save.
4) Plan early and benefit from super saver flights or discount airlines (-$100). This has never been more important with the rising cost of flights and built in hidden costs for things such as checking bags or charges for in-flight soft drinks.
5) Total savings = $605
New Total = $1,075

One way of looking at that is you should try to save approximately $20/week.
Other suggestions:

1) Pack a cooler and bring pre-
made sandwiches.
2) Eliminate your Starbucks, Caribou or Seattle’s Best three times per week. Some exhibitors at shows make arrangements with the conference hall coffee shops giving out free coupons for coffee at their booth. Seek out these opportunities and treat them like gold.
3) Investigate whether your facility has allocated education hours for time spent at seminars. If conference runs over the weekend, this maybe a way to offset costs.
4) Collate data and present a poster or platform presentation about a unique treatment intervention, new product, new algorithm, and/or prevention techniques. Manufactures many times
support these activities with
educational grants.
5) Does the institution have a Foundation? There may be educational grants available.
6) Are there specific educational dollars available to maintain
specialization certification?
7) Talk to your tax professionals and find out exactly what portions of these work related trips are deductible on your taxes
and take full advantage of
those sections.
8) Contact the show/conference promoters far in advance and see if they are looking for speakers or people for session panels. Many times these people receive free admission to the event, and possibly other perks such as discounted hotel rooms, etc.
The wound care community; clinicians, corporations and industry, are always looking for new and innovative information. Most also appreciate sharing good clinical examples with colleagues. Do not hesitate to become involved through AAWC, WOCN and APTA. As a united team, everyone can make a difference.

Pamela G. Unger is presently the Vice President of Post Market Research and Reimbursement at Celleration, Inc. and owner of Unger Physical Therapy (consultation for wound management and reimbursement). She can be reached with questions or consultations via her email address at ungerpt@aol.com or punger@celleration.com or phone at (610) 683-9285.