Note from the Associate Director: Small group learning at the Outpatient CDI ACDIS Symposium

by Rebecca Hendren

I’m looking forward to November’s ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI for several reasons, not least is the fact that it’s a chance to enjoy the Florida sunshine in a sometimes bleary and chilly month. Another big reason is the fact that the event is so unlike our annual conference and I enjoy the different learning opportunities that are presented at a small, intimate conference.

At the ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI, all the attendees are involved—or trying to figure out how to be involved—in the largest growing sector of our profession. Outpatient CDI is moving from its infancy into the next stage. Not quite adolescence perhaps, but definitely into the prime building and growing years of childhood.

Many attendees started programs a few years ago and come to the Symposium to see how they measure their outpatient outcomes and determine how to continue to grow. Others come to the Symposium to identify best practices for beginning their programs, and they likely have a firm idea of what they want to see happen, now need ideas to build the roadmap to help them get there.

With two tracks of educational sessions, the Symposium offers education for a wide spectrum of experiences for attendees from beginner, or more advanced, programs. But the biggest learning opportunity undoubtedly comes from the networking available at the Symposium. This program is all about coming together to chat with your peers—those who are presenting sessions on their programs and those who sit next to you in each session. The sessions become small group learning opportunities as the more intimate setting allows for questions and discussion as a group.

All the presenters are eager to share their experiences and discuss what worked and what didn’t as they drove their programs forward. We have dedicated time for panel discussions and Q&As where you can ask about anything that may be a problem or a roadblock for you and receive group help on how to overcome it.

Drop me a line and let me know what you’re looking forward to learning about or what you hope to get out of the program.

Editor’s note: Hendren is the associate director of events. Contact her at rhendren@acdis.org.