Held this year at Canberra’s Chiefly Hotel on Friday and Saturday, the 21st Annual Scientific meeting of the ASCVP attracted 92 registrations (of which 52 were perfusionists) and received corporate support from eleven medical companies.
The ASCVP would like to extend a special note of thanks to Lovell Surgical Supplies Pty Ltd for their sponsorship of the Friday lunch, to Cardio-Research for Friday pre-dinner drinks, Mayo healthcare, the sponsor of our Friday night dinner, Pal Corporation for Saturday lunch, Cellplex Pty Ltd for Saturday pre-dinner drinks along with Sunday lunch at Telstra Tower, and their highly convenient satchels which attendees took to meetings. Special thanks are also due to Medtronic Australasia Pty Ltd who provided our official scientific Meeting Program Book.
Additional organisations with products on display included Abbott Australia Pty Ltd, Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd, Helena Laboratories Australia Pty Ltd and Terumo Corporation. Thanks also to Medtel Ptd Ltd who kindly sponsored Mr. Al Stammers recent trip out from the U.S.A., and I for one never tire of hearing him speak.
Amongst the impressive line-up of speakers addressing this years’ conference were our two overseas representatives from the U.S.A.: Messrs Al Stammers, Chief Perfusionist, Geisenger Medical Centre PA; and Robert Groom, Director of Perfusion, Main Medical Centre, Portland, Oregon.
Amongst the special symposium faculty that was introduced this year were ASCVP Members Mr. Michael McDonald, of Perfusion Services Melbourne; Mr. Arthur Preovolos, from the Royal Alfred Hospital, Melbourne; Dr. Robert Baker and Mr. Richard Newland from Adelaide’s Flinders Medical Centre; Mr. Darryl McMillan, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney; and ASCVP Solicitor Mr. Michael Gorton.
With the aid of superb audio-visual presentations, the team provided a smooth and highly informative range of programs. Friday’s agenda focused on neurological monitoring with cerebral oximetry, haematological outcomes via practical haemostasis, and point-of-care testing. The sessions were followed by a long and sometimes lively Annual General Meeting that included an excellent report from the ASCVP solicitor regarding Registration in New Zealand and Australia, and the election of officers.
Saturday’s symposium saw the presentation of an excellent array of papers. Topics included CPB and discussions ranged widely, including ECMO, the minimisation of circuitry and an insightful session on data collection. My own interpretation is for the need for electronic and continuous data collection, begun as early as practical.
Other hot button topics included: ‘Good Bookkeeping’, and ‘Perfusion Practice in Australia and New Zealand’.
The symposium saw international attendees came from as far as Japan, the Netherlands and the USA, and many took the opportunity to contribute their own papers.
For the first time the conference saw the granting of CEU points from the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. Friday’s attendance saw 5.4 points allocated, and Saturday 6.5 for a total of 11.9. Four ASCVP and three overseas perfusionists were in receipt of these points.
As the ultimate success of any scientific conference depends on the quality and diversity of the papers presented, special thanks are due to Darryl McMillan and Richard Newland for reviewing and selecting the final program.
The symposium would not have happened but for the invaluable contribution of Kaye Collins, who dedicated most of 2004, organising the sessions with only minor input from others. The negotiations with hotels was time consuming and stressful, but once the Chiefly was booked, Kaye planned everything from the trade stands, audio visual equipment, conference packages, Old Parliament House for the Saturday Gala Dinner, to coaches, security guards and many hours conferring with the sponsors of the wonderful trade displays.
Special thanks are also due to Gary Walker from Canberra Hospital in helping Kaye with the fine-tuning that helped produce a fantastic program and to Richard Newland for advice on ASCVP conference planning and his assistance in organising the manual.
The charter for the organising committee calls for the presentation a professional two-day meeting. This I believe we certainly achieved. Many thanks to all concerned.
Terry Connolly,
SafeBlood, North Shore Private