New sessions, credits and speakers at Internal Medicine 2013
Learn about the upcoming products, programs and services that will be offered at Internal Medicine 2013 in San Francisco.
The flight to San Francisco may be long for many Internal Medicine 2013 attendees, but once they arrive, attaining knowledge and continuing education credit will be quicker than ever before.
This year's meeting, to be held April 10-13 at the Moscone Center, includes the debut of a new session format, Clinical Triad, which will present information on multiple topics within a subspecialty in an hour-long session.
During each triad, three speakers will discuss different aspects of an overarching theme. “These sessions will be fast-paced, as each speaker has only 20 minutes for his or her presentation,” said Barbara Licht, ACP's director of educational meetings and conferences.
The Clinical Triad sessions, six in total, will be held each day of the meeting at 8:15 am and 4:30 p.m. (4 p.m. on Saturday). Topics include sexually transmitted infections, end-stage liver disease and long-term effects of cancer. “The format is modeled after Multiple Small Feedings of the Mind,” said Ms. Licht. “I think these sessions are going to be very popular.”
Last year, for the first time, attendees could earn up to 30 points toward the American Board of Internal Medicine's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirement by completing multiple-choice question modules based on information presented in the Scientific Program. That will continue this year. In addition, as part of a pilot program, attendees will be able to earn MOC points at two workshops—skin biopsy and incision and drainage of abscesses—held in the Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center.
“We intend to roll out more workshops eligible for MOC points in 2014. The idea is for attendees of these workshops to be able to claim MOC points by performing the skills taught in the session with structured observation and feedback by a faculty member,” said Ted Warren, ACP's manager of education and career development.
In another change for 2013, physicians won't be the only ones learning medicine at the meeting. ACP is partnering with Consumer Reports to hold a Patient Empowerment Expo on Saturday morning. Through advertising and targeted e-mails, the Bay Area public will be invited to come to the San Francisco Marriott Marquis for health screenings, information from groups like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and AARP, and lectures by College-affiliated physicians.
“The expo is going to focus on the College's High Value Care Initiative from the perspective of the consumer and make them savvy consumers of what is necessary, good preventive medicine and what may be excessive and unnecessary testing,” said Ms. Licht. Internist speakers will tell the public attendees, who could number up to 1,000, about recommended screenings and lifestyle measures.
