Home Forums Discussions General Discussion ACUC 2011

I just started looking around the new site (after seeing that we are now Meaningfully Certified) and noted a survey for ACUC 2011. It gives no information, but at least they are thinking in that direction.

http://amazingcharts.com/support/amazing-charts-user-conference-acuc/

OK, thought I would bump this.

If we are going to have an ACUC in 2011, we should get it on folks calenders.

I have no more information than what is on the site.

I think we should spread out ACUC 2011 over a month in Hawaii. Spend an hour each day at the conference, and the rest of the time studying the health of people at the beach. Think a sunscreen company might be interested in sponsoring it? We'll need lots of sunscreen.

I like that idea. We should probably hold it starting next week.

Too much sunscreen is bad. I think we should have it sponsored by a vitamin D manufacturer.

Seriously, we would also like to hear more about a 2011 meeting. Is anyone at AC doing any planning for this yet?

Planning is in it's infancy, unfortunately.

You don't have to go out in the sun, I will be happy on the veranda sipping something wet thinking, of course, about AC.

Any suggestions about ACUC?

Well, I only have last year's conference as reference. I thought the location was good and it allowed for more AC staff to attend. It's always nice putting faces to names.

I recommend Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lots of cultural and outdoor activities, a brand new convention center, good food, guaranteed sunshine and a relatively central location so people from both coasts can attend.

Bill, Santa Fe sounds terrific to me. On the other hand, if you look at the thread about the last ACUC, we ran through a series of great suggestions (cruises, islands, etc.). At the end, Jon Bertman brought the discussion back to earth and we ended up in Providence. Which was nice, don't get me wrong, but maybe he should weigh-in at the beginning with a statement as to how open he is to other sites.

I liked Providence, RI in 2010. I'm sure it is a lot easier to get the AC staff out locally on a weekend (and I'm sure Jon liked having it locally so he didn't have to pay for travel and lodging for the AC employees). This kept cost of conference very reasonable. Providence is also available by Southwest Airlines, which likely saved people a lot. The waterfire festival was a nice family activity. The Westin Providence was a good hotel (other than freezing us out in the conference room and having poor wifi.) I'm not opposed to going elsewhere but Providence had a lot of positives.
...Ken (Florida)

I agree with Ken, easy train ride for me!

If you haven't seen the documentary "The Prince of Providence", you should.

I love Santa Fe, but would suggest Albuquerque over Santa Fe for cost and accessibility. Santa Fe is very close. There are many nice day trips to do in and around the area. Weather in summer is hot, but dry (usually). Doesn't have the charm that Santa Fe has, but the cost difference is a lot.

SW flies in and out of Albuquerque.

Phoenix would be even cheaper because it is a SW hub. Would only suggest there in the winter.

I like both ABQ and Santa Fe, but agree for a large conference, ABQ probably makes more sense. Since it will likely be in the summer time, I would prefer not to be in Phoenix.

IMHO One of the issues will be new users vs old users. For new users, the staff helping out with issues is a vital part of the conference. For old users, less so. There were a lot of staff at the conference that otherwise might not have been able to attend if it were outside the RI area.

I suppose if they raised the cost that might be the possible but...

I think we should try for Albuquerque. There are a lot fun things to do in the area. The central location would be great for a lot of us West Costies that could not make RI!

I thought we were really moving toward NM, and then the latest Bert poll says RI again?

Chris, it is in RI again this spring. Too late to do anything about it. But there may be some interest in having a get-together in Tahoe this fall. Anyone interested in that, chime in.

Ken, I think you named them all. This conference was started by the users. I think the majority of us don't care of the AC staff is there. Providence is Providence. Need I say more? I appreciate your comments though.

Hi - a naive newbie question (a user for just a few months) -

Other than the pleasure of meeting all of you face to face (not an unsubstantial benefit ) - are there objectives of such a conference?

Certainly exchanging tips and ideas among each other could be helpful, but my bigger question is to what degree we could consolidate our ideas for improvements (in many ways, already nicely accomplished by Burt and his survey II -results posted anywhere yet?) and will our physical presence in RI make any real difference to the development team (will we even meet the development team?) Do we have any hope of influencing the development team?

Bruce Morgenstern, MD (Neurology)
Denver, CO

I personally am hopeful (although mind you I have been hopeful now for many years)that we may finally be seeing some of the nuisance things fixed and the needed greatly things added, once the Meaningful Use and PM modules are complete. Jon's team should then have more time to devote to the "smaller stuff". Can you influence them at the conference? I have no idea. But, plans I believe are to banter around ideas face to face and discuss the levels of priority and how they may be remedied. If not easily remedied, to learn why not.

The full outline for the program will be soon forthcoming and the objectives will be detailed. I can only speak for myself that the two ACUC conferences I have gone to have been very enjoyable as well as informative.

Don't expect the world to change from attending the conference. You will learn some new tricks, especially since you have only been using it for a couple months.

Amazing Charts has not radically changed in the 5 versions since it came to life. Yes there are a lot of tweaks that need to be done, most of those on the survey were culled from the board. Some are very easy, some are probably significant re-writes.

Because AC was focused on major upgrades, small stuff fell by the wayside. V5 was electronic prescribing. V4 was SQL database V3 had a lot of changes, including search ability over V2 which started things like import items and prescribing at all. V1 had the same basic charting and scheduling that we know today. We still await PM to add then all the basic building blocks should be done. Hopefully more of the small stuff will then get fixed.

Attending will give you a good idea of where it is headed and how big the handbasket really is.

I will tell you that there are lots of little things you can learn that will save time and energy. The conferences are full of energy.

Has a date been set for the conference yet?

I am not sure if the dates have been confirmed yet but the first week of June is the intention (2nd-5th).

Would it be possible to setup a live web cast-for those of us who cannot make it but want to participate?

I believe those kinds of issues are being discussed.

I wonder if it might also be worthwhile having an organized users meeting affiliated with the PriMed (or other)conferences.
They are held around the country and some of the staff is likely to be at the vendor areas any way.
Maybe one evening during the event to have staff and local users interact.
Really easy for the attendees but might also be close enough for users to drive in just for the meetings.

Greg

New Mexico sounds good.

I attended the second user conference (ACUC) and found it worth my time and money. As you know there are things you learn face to face that aren't efficiently learned remotely. Also there are certain things that a company and the users can't put in print, but freely discuss at breakout sessions of conferences.

The number one thing I wish to bring away from ACUC 3 is how to implement meaningful use in version 6. As I understand it we must be up and running by Oct 1, 2011. We have a lot to do and any help and insights from other users will be much appreciated.
...Ken

As I understand it, MU will be on the agenda, as will the PM (but don't hold anyone to that last one. Plans are for it to be ready)

Let's hold ACUC in Albuquerque!

I make a strong vote for AbQ: RI is a long way for us West coast users.

It will be in Rhode Island in early June.

You can make a strong case for future locations, but this one has been decided.

Excited about it RI is nice!

There may be another informal get-together in Tahoe this fall. Plans are being looked at.

Does anybody yet know what is the planned date of the ACUC?

Bruce Morgenstern, MD

June 3-5th at the Biltmore in Providence RI. The agenda is still being formulated.

Boo. Graduation weekend. Well, maybe next year. Or Tahoe sounded kind of nice.

Dang it! I was going to pick your brain!!

Slim pickings, so you won't miss much.
Besides: to paraphrase... "We'll always have Tahoe."
I know you just mentioned that in passing, but I am holding you to it.

I'd like to announce another conference, also held June 3-5, but in beautiful Lake Tahoe. To be known as the "We want to be like Bert" conference, it will be allow participants to develop proficiency in creating on-line polls.

To sign up, merely PM Bert and tell him in 25 words or less why you want to "be like Bert". Hurry, registration is limited!