Spring Extended Care Conference and Vendor Fair

BEST WESTERN GRANTREE INN
BOZEMAN, MT
APRIL 2 - 4, 2008

Who Will Attend the Conference?

Each health care professional in Montana plays an important role in determining and improving the health of our state. 

MHA’s Spring Conference has sessions to address the educational needs and current issues of all extended care staff-- administrators, directors, department managers, home health and hospice specialists, dietary and activity professionals, and nurse leaders. We will again this year be providing sessions for Human Resources professionals and Materials Managers. 

The conference will take on a leadership focus this year, with sessions designed to address specific disciplines, and some that are applicable to everyone in their quest for improved leadership skills!

Some New Features This Year!

Nurse Leadership Forum
As a nurse leader in your facility you may be wondering, what’s at the MHA Spring Conference for me?  The answer is LOTS!  For the first time, MHA is bringing a nurse leadership forum to the Spring Conference!  This track promises to not only tackle the biggest issues facing nurses today with better knowledge, better skills, and more take-aways, but we promise it will send you home feeling renewed, refreshed, and ready to face even the most challenging situations.

This year’s nurse leadership track features Kathleen Bartholomew, RN, RC, MN, a well published and nationally recognized speaker on the issues relating to nurse leadership and communication.  As a registered nurse for 13 years and a manager of a surgical unit in Seattle, Kathleen has the knowledge and experience to speak to you about the issues that no one else dares to talk about, and only a nurse can relate to.  Her powerful first session will address the topic of nurse to nurse hostility, followed by a two-hour roundtable session on empowering yourself to be a better leader in your facility through tools and sharing with others.  Finish off your conference with specific topics that are of interest to you.  From pain assessment, to organ procurement, communication skills to relaxation techniques, we are confident you will find something that meets your needs.

A Little Pampering Goes A Long Way!
Ever feel like you go home from a conference feeling even more worn out and exhausted than before you got there?  Then this is the conference for you!  In addition to our new leadership focus, we will also be focusing on the “me” side of caretaking. 

CONFERENCE AGENDA & EVENTS

FEATURED SPEAKERS (just a few of many!)

Kathleen Bartholomew, RN, RC, MN is a registered nurse and counselor and  has been a national speaker for the nursing profession for the past six years.  As a manager of a 57 bed surgical unit in Seattle, Kathleen quickly recognized that creating a culture where staff felt a sense of belonging was critical to retention.  During her tenure as manager, staff, physician and patient satisfaction improved significantly as she implemented her down-to-earth strategies for creating community.

For her master’s thesis she authored “Speak Your Truth: Proven Strategies for Effective Nurse-Physician Communication,” which is the only book to date that addresses physician-nurse issues. In December of 2005, Kathleen resigned her position as manager in order to write a second book on horizontal violence in nursing. In her book, “Ending Nurse to Nurse Hostility” (2006), Kathleen offers the first comprehensive and compassionate look at the etiology, impact and solutions to horizontal violence.

Kathleen’s passion for nursing is infectious.  Her thoughtful presentations inter-laced with research reawaken every nurse’s commitment and love of nursing.  Her most ardent desire is to empower nurses through knowledge and the power of story.

Pat Boyer, MSM, RN, NHA and President of Boyer & Associates, LLC, has more than 30 years of professional health industry experience. Her areas of expertise include long-term care and subacute operations, state and federal compliance programs, and performance improvement process development.

Prior to founding Boyer & Associates, Pat was an Operations Consultant for BDO Healthcare Group, LLC and a national nursing home company, where her roles included director of nursing services, administrator, quality improvement specialist and director of regulatory compliance. She has extensive experience in evaluating facility processes, documentation systems, and developing performance improvement plans to improve efficiency and effectiveness of facility systems. Pat has conducted numerous workshops on related topics at the national, state, and local levels.

She received her A.S. degree in Nursing from St. Petersburg Junior College in 1972, her B.S. degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University in 1999, and her M.S. degree in Management, also from Cardinal Stritch, in 2003.

Cindy Heilman, MS, DTR completed a Master of Science Degree in Dietetic Management at Oregon State University (2005). She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Home Economics, (Quantity Food Service Management) from Fresno State and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dietetic Technology, from Portland Community College.  Cindy has been a DTR since 1995.  She was the recipient of the 1998 Dietetic Technician of the Year Award for the state of Oregon and received the national 1999 American Dietetic Association Award for Excellence in Dietetic Technology.  She was a co-presenter at The American Dietetic Association annual convention in October 1999.  Cindy has worked in a range of foodservice management settings from restaurant owner/operator, to manager of foodservice departments for skilled, residential, and retirement communities. From 1989 to September 2006, she worked as the Healthcare Market Specialist for SYSCO Foodservices of Portland Oregon.  In September 2006, Cindy launched her consulting business, Higher Standards- a company that encompasses her passion for hospitality and assisting communities with the culture change process to better serve and improve the dining experience of older adults living in care communities.  

Julie Priest-Young, M.S., ACC is the owner and principal consultant of Quality Care Solutions, LLC, a Social Service and Activities Consulting Company based in Indiana.  She has over 22 years experience in Long Term Care and has been instrumental in helping facilities establish dynamic, successful programs to meet the individual needs and interests of their residents. Julie earned her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Southern Illinois University and her undergraduate degree in Music Therapy from the University of Evansville.  She is a Nationally Certified Activities Consultant and a pre-approved instructor to teach the 90-Hour Basic Activity Director’s Course (MEPAP – Part I). Julie also teaches the Social Service Designee Course in Indiana and Oklahoma and has conducted numerous workshops and seminars throughout the Midwest.  Her strong knowledge of State and Federal regulations and Social Service / Activities program development, sets the foundation for her expertise as a skilled consultant / educator.

SESSION PLANNER Suggested Tracks

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Continuing Education
MHA has been pre-approved for continuing education credits by the Montana Board of Nursing Home Administrators.

Participants are responsible for turning in their Attendance Verification Form prior to leaving the conference or by mailing it within seven (7) days to MHA.

Attendance Verification Forms will be provided on-site at the Registration Desk.  Blank certificate forms will not be available after the convention.

All other disciplines may apply on an individual basis with the appropriate accreditation organization. MHA does not apply for continuing education credits for individual accreditations.  If you would like to apply for continuing education please send the Attendance Verification Form to your respective accreditation organization for consideration.

Conference Materials
Conference materials will not be pre-mailed; you or your facility contact will receive a confirmation e-mail/fax acknowledging that your registration for your facility was received by the MHA office. Name badges, Certificates of Attendance, and a complete conference booklet will be available on-site at the MHA Registration Desk.

Handouts
Paper handouts for education sessions will NOT be distributed at the conference. Download and print copies of your session materials from the MHA website.  Materials will be posted on MHA’s website starting 10 days prior to the beginning of the conference. AdobeAcrobat Reader (free software) is required to view/print the handouts.

CONFERENCE HINTS

To make the most of your conference experience here are some helpful hints:

• Meeting rooms are kept cool (66°– 69°), and temperatures fluctuate.  Dress in layers, or bring a sweater.
• Wear comfortable shoes -- you will be walking between hotels.
• Due to space considerations, not all meeting rooms are set classroom-style with tables.  Bring along a clipboard or binder if you plan on taking notes.
• Come early to familiarize yourself with the agenda, conference program, and meeting room locations.
• Plan on being at your workshop at least 10 minutes early.
• Allow enough time in your schedule to pick up your name badge and conference materials.  Your name badge is required for access to all events and you may have to wait in line at registration!
• Hard copies of workshop handouts will NOT be provided at the convention.  If you would like to have the handouts for the workshops you are attending, print them off the MHA website before arriving at the conference.
• Bring your business cards to share with colleagues and vendors.

Registration Information

Pre-Conference Registration
Online and by mail/fax.

On-Site Registration
On-site registration and name badges for participants will be available on Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 (until noon).  Registration will be in the Main Lobby of the Best Western GranTree.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Register by Friday, March 21 to take advantage of ‘early bird’ prices!

Registration Methods

You can register by hard copy registration form or you can register online. Please note you if you register online, you do NOT need to send in a hard copy registration.

“Early Bird” Registration Deadline

March 21, 2008
Registrations must be postmarked by or received on March 21, 2008.  After March 21, higher fees apply.

Cancellation Deadline

March 28, 2008
Cancellations must be made in writing and received at the MHA office by 5 pm on March 28.  Cancellations must be submitted by fax or regular mail.  Cancellations received after March 28 will not be refunded. 
E-mail and telephone cancellations will not be accepted.

Refunds
All refunds will be made after the conference, less a $15 per person processing fee ($100 per facility).

MHA Office
Phone: (406)442-1911     P.O. Box 5119
Fax: (406)443-3894     Helena, MT 59604-5119

Questions?
Contact Kim Wiens at (406)442-1911.

Education & Conferences Coordinator
Carrie Krepps
(406) 457-8006
carrie@mtha.org

Registration Fees

Facility Base Registration Fee
The facility base registration fee is paid by each facility/organization registering more than one person for the conference.  This fee is paid only ONCE per facility/organization.

For MHA members, the facility base registration fee is based on the facility’s net patient (NPR), as determined by MHA’s most recent records.  Please refer to the fee schedule on the Batch Report form to determine your facility’s base fee.  If you are uncertain of your base fee, please contact Kim Wiens at MHA (406)442-1911.

For Non-Members, the base registration fee is as indicated on the Facility Batch Registration Form.

Per Person Fees
All conference registrants will be charged a mandatory $80 per person fee, whether attending one day or all three days.  This fee is in addition to the facility base registration fee paid by the facility.  EXCEPTION: If only one person from a facility/organization is registering, the per person fee is included in their “Single Registrant” fee.

Single Registrant Fee
If only one person from a facility/organization is registering, they will be charged the Single Registrant Fee, as listed on the Registration Form. This fee is all-inclusive and includes the $80 per person fee.

Members of MSHHRA & MSHMM whose facilities are not attending may attend for the $80 per person fee.  These affiliates have covered the facility base fee for their members whose facilities are not attending.

Checklist for Hard Copy Registration

1. Every participant must complete a Registration Form
   Provide all items as requested.  Please be sure all information is legible, accurate and complete.  Name badges will be printed from the information on this form. Photocopies of the registration form will also be accepted. Registration Form
2. Select the workshops and sessions you will be attending.
   If you plan on attending a multi-part session, be sure to select that workshop in every session block.  If you do not pre-register for a workshop, you may be denied access if the workshop is full.
3. Subtotal your fees in the specified box on Page 2 of the Registration Form.
4. Turn the completed Registration Form in to your facility’s Administration Office.
   Forms may also be mailed or faxed directly to MHA.  Check with your Administrator for details on how your organization is handling registration.
5. Facility Contact Person:
   Please submit a “Batch Report” (summary of your facility’s registration).  This form allows you to add the facility base fee to your total registration fees.

Instructions for Online Registration

1. If a User Name and Password have not been obtained, the facility’s contact person should complete the “Request for User Name & Password”.  The form must be signed by the person who has the authority to approve the online registration(s), which are linked to the facility’s user name and password. This may be the Contact Person or it may be the facility CEO /Administrator.
2. Submit the completed request form to MHA via Fax: (406) 443-3894. 
3. MHA will verify the facility’s base fee and will email the Contact Person the facility’s User Name and Password.
4. The Contact Person will provide the facility’s User Name and Password to each employee who will be registering for the conference, and ask them to register online.
5. MHA will send a confirmation to your facility to reflect all facility registrations and registration fees due.

Online Registration

BATCH REPORTS

• Batch Reports are used for tracking facility registrations and payments/charges for HARD COPY registrations only.
• If you have some registrants who register on-line and some who register using a hard copy, submit a Batch Report ONLY for the registrants who did NOT register on-line.  Do NOT include on-line registrants in the Batch Report.
• For on-line registrants, you will be sent a report confirming your on-line registrant information, with instructions for payment of registration fees.
• You can send in more than one batch report.  Anytime you send in additional registrations, please include a batch report.  This will help with the accounting process, and ensure you are charged/credited correctly.
• Do NOT include “substitutions” on your batch reports or calculate credits on the batch report.  Inform us of substitutions via fax letter in the following format:
        Cancel Participant: {Name} {Title}
        Replace With: {Name} {Title}
  All “substitutions” must be at MHA prior to March 28 or cancellation fees apply.
• Sorry, we cannot process changes or registrations by telephone.

Batch Reports (pdf) | Request for UserName and Password (pdf)

Questions? Call Kim Wiens at (406) 442-1911.