SEMPA 360 Conference Update

[SEMPA]

Dear Colleagues,

After careful consideration, SEMPA has made the difficult decision to cancel the SEMPA 360 conference in Chicago, IL, scheduled to take place March 16-20, 2020.

We have been closely monitoring updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as state and local governments. In the last week, there has been an increase in the number of cases throughout the United States along with institutional-imposed travel bans. Last night Illinois declared a state of emergency.

The health, safety and well-being of our members, staff, exhibitors, faculty, and the patients we serve is of the utmost of importance. SEMPA also feels that as emergency medicine providers on the front lines of health care, we should be focused on caring for our patients and supporting our communities  during this trying time. 

In addition, we’ve heard from a large number of you that institutional travel bans and the need to remain available for emergency medicine services in your local communities will prevent you from attending the conference. We expect that number to grow. In addition, a large number of faculty for the conference have already cancelled their attendance, and we expect that number to increase as well.

For these reasons, we determined that the impact from the COVID-19 outbreak has made holding the conference impossible at the present time.  

SEMPA will be issuing you a full refund for your 2020 SEMPA 360 registration. Due to the large number of refunds that will need to be processed, please allow at least two weeks to receive your refund. SEMPA has also instructed the Hyatt Regency to cancel all hotel reservations booked through the SEMPA block. If you do not receive your hotel cancellation in the next few days, please follow up directly with the hotel.

This is a unique and unprecedented situation for everyone. While this has been one of the most difficult decisions the organization has ever had to make, we feel that it is the right decision for the health and safety of you and the patients you serve.

Thank you for all that you do every day in the ED and your community.

Sincerely,

Dayna Jaynstein, MSPAS, PA-C
SEMPA President