Annual Conference Preview
By Sally Webb, MD and Ben Jackson, MD
2014 SPS Conference Program Co-Chairs
We are pleased to represent the Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital as the host institution for the 2014 Society for Pediatric Sedation Annual Conference, which will take place at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, SC, May 19-21, following the SPS Sedation Provider Course held Sunday May 18 at the MUSC Simulation Center.
Drawing inspiration from the whitepaper defining quality in pediatric sedation recently published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality, the theme for this year's conference is "Great Expectations: Forging a Culture of Safety & Quality in Sedation Practice".
As the pediatric sedation community looks to build on its foundation of safety, a panel presentation by the SPS leaders who authored this paper will be very timely as we move to expand the frontiers of sedation excellence emphasizing additional quality metrics. We look forward to plenary presentations covering an array of topics related to this theme, including the importance of communication to safety and quality, high fidelity simulation-based sedation training, a unique contribution of telemedicine to sedation, the optimization of sedation by enhanced developmental understanding, the pharmacogenomics of opioid use, and valuable insight from sedation in the context of dental practice. Oral abstract presentations and abstract poster exhibits, a broad range of breakout session selections, an optional workshop on ultrasound-guided vascular access, and the opportunity to tour the MUSC pediatric sedation clinical spaces as well as to attend SPS committee meetings round out the conference curriculum.
Conference attendees should come ready to experience Charleston in the splendor of springtime beauty. A first for the annual conference schedule, the afternoon of Tuesday May 20 is open for exploration and enjoyment with a wealth of options from which to choose. Named the #1 U.S. City for Tourism the third year in a row by Conde Nast, Charleston is rich in southern culture, culinary delights, and coastal activities.
Wednesday morning May 21 will mark the conclusion of the conference with what promises to be exciting discussion—and perhaps some debate!—on the case for consideration of pediatric sedation as a new accredited subspecialty. Sedation experts representing a spectrum of disciplines will address future training, practices, credentialing, and privileging that could de-emphasize “provider labels” and territorial disputes while redirecting the focus onto the needs of our pediatric patients, namely care of the highest order of quality and safety by pediatric sedationists.
A robust 2.5-day program yielding up to 19 CME credits/CEUs—and another 9 more for those participating in the Sedation Provider Course—in a pleasant setting with so much to offer has the makings for another excellent SPS Annual Conference. We look forward to seeing you next month!
