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why aren't more of us going to Las Vegas conference?


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  • Administrator

Don't think conferences in general are a good use of time/money, have closer options available if I did, have other organizations whose national conferences I would rather attend than AAPA if I DID go to a conference, don't like Las Vegas, don't need CME.  Oh, and not an AAPA member, but that's really not a big part of the decision--I got burned out on conferences long before I switched from IT to medicine.

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Guest UVAPAC

I would love to go but the fact of the matter is that our hospital continues to make drastic budget cuts...

 

The hospital nickel and dimes and fights with you over every single penny.  Technically I should get $1,500 a year for CME credits.  In reality I am lucky to get $1,000 approved, and it all has to be approved by our departments medical director.  

 

"Why would you go to Las Vegas there are conferences closer by"

"Airfare and hotel room are unnecessary expenses"

"Conference doesn't solely pertain to our speciality and therefore there are better conferences"

"We can't afford to have you out of the office for more than a day or two"

 

 

Take your pick... but I have heard them all before...

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Guest Paula

I'll be going next year as I'm on the HOD then.  I'm not thrilled with the location for next year.  I've been there, done that, oh well. 

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I get the impression that not many on this board are going to the conference in Las Vegas. Why is that? Don't like Las Vegas? (which I can't imagine), don't like AAPA? don't need CME? expense? what?

I had the intention of going, however, I'm was in the middle of my semester for my masters program, and unfortunately didn't collaborate well with time off/time to study/etc. But I agree, it would've been so beneficial and interesting to have gone:-/

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Vegas hate huh?  Come on, it's a cool place to look at, and they have great shows and spas and restaurants and stuff in the casinos.  Stay at my secret Motel 6 on Flamingo near MGM grand for $29.  Recently remodeled and well kept.  Who needs to gamble?  Who has time with all the other cool stuff going on?

 

If you haven't taken the Hoover Dam tour, it's only 30 miles away, so unbelievably cool.  They also have the Nuclear testing museum which I haven't been to.  

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Don't you like to have fun?

 

Vegas just makes me sad. Watching a bunch of retirees with nothing better to do than blow their social security playing games that are all more or less rigged in the favor of the house. Crowds, noise and lights I can do without.

 

Give me a conference with good lectures someplace with a little fresh air. I'd rather walk in the woods than on the Strip any time.

 

PS: Regarding next year, New Orleans is a cesspit, too.

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  • Administrator

With the availability of free or cheap online CME, are conferences ANYWHERE really worth the time and effort?

 

Between recerting ACLS, PALS, etc. in person; UpToDate credit for things I actually use; teaching EMT class; Journal-based Cat 1 CME; and a few other miscellaneous sources, I routinely exceed 100 hours of Cat 1 CME per year.

 

I would rather network locally than nationally, because I'm already living and working in my chosen community.

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  • Moderator

I go to AAPA generally as a social event or because it is in an interesting city. At this point in my career most of the cme in my specialty is presented at a level which is too basic with few exceptions , like the excellent sepsis small group panel I attended last year. this is a great conference if youhave been in practice less than 5 years or are changing specialties. If you are looking for hard core, cutting edge cme in a specialty probably better to go to a specialty specific pa or physician conference(for me this would be sempa or acep).

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I agree with some of you.  CME online is easier and cheaper, but sometimes I like to see a real speaker, maybe even ask a question.  I also like to interact with other PAs.  Maybe run into an old classmate.

 

Regarding Las Vegas, I enjoy it there.  Even for people who don't gamble, there's lots to do: great restaurants, spas, fancy hotels, golfing, some terrific shows, museums, outdoors experiences.  I find that most people who "don't like Las Vegas" don't realize how much it offers.  That's OK.  Less crowded for me.

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I too like conferences more than online CME - as online, let's face it, half the time I'm barely paying attention to what I am reading.  But I have all the CME I need for this cycle and I'm already taking 3 weeks away from work/home to go to Iraq so I'd rather not spend another week away when I don't need it.  I'm 4 yrs out from graduation, haven't attended the AAPA conference yet, did go to SEMPA last year. 

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