2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM APRIL 27 MAY 1, 2014

Transcription

1 18 TH ANNUAL 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM APRIL 27 MAY 1, 2014 Sounds of Success: Your Voice, Your Vision associates LLC INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR NURSE LEADERS

2 Synova Associates is pleased to announce the 18 th Annual NICU Leadership Forum entitled Sounds of Success: Your Voice, Your Vision This unique conference for NICU nurse leaders blends cutting-edge information from nationally recognized speakers, panel discussions highlighting clinical and leadership best practices, individual presentations by meeting attendees, and many networking and social activities. This year, the Planning Committee has put together an amazing conference that also includes poster sessions, three pre-conferences and a postconference for more in-depth learning, and plenty of time for discussion!

3 The NICU Leadership Forum provides valuable insights and applicable strategies for all nurse leaders and will provide a solid foundation of knowledge to share with and inspire the people they lead. Who Should Attend? The NICU Leadership Forum is open to nurse directors, managers, and members of their leadership teams. Highlights of this year s meeting: You are not just your title! You determine your role by what you give to each moment of your day. The keynote address by Dave Gordon will inspire you to enhance the meaning of your every day work, master the skills to become more creative, engaged and communicative, and boost your productivity. Presentation of the second annual Jennifer L. Howse Excellence in NICU Leadership Award by Carol Jaeger, our 2013 award winner. Linda Talley, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Children s National Health System in Washington DC, will provide an overview of healthcare reform and discuss NICU specific challenges and opportunities. What are NICUs doing to respond to accountable care mandates? Whittney Brady, NICU Clinical Director at Cincinnati Children s, and Shannon Holland, Assistant Director of Nursing at Texas Children s Hospital, will give concrete examples of ways to pare down expenses to save money and discuss times you have to spend money to get full reimbursement for patient care. Two cutting-edge presentations by Peggy Gordin, Vice President of Patient Care Services at St. Louis Children s Hospital, including one on the importance of aligning your work with your true self, and a track session on developing skills needed for professional advancement. Mary Coughlin, author of Transformative Nursing in the NICU, will wow you with her presentation on trauma-informed, age-appropriate care and explain how it meets Joint Commission standards, exemplifies the tenets of Magnet and IS the future of healthcare. Resilience is an imperative leadership skill and it s not too late to develop it! Paula Sturgeon will explore ways to bounce back when you get knocked down. A day of concurrent sessions covering critical leadership topics: - Building front line leaders - Caring for the caregiver - Leading a quality organization - Staffing challenges - Communicating successfully to multiple generations - Developing skills to advance your career Three in-depth Pre-Conferences: New Leader Bootcamp, TeamSTEPPS and Building a Business Case that Works, as well as a Post-Conference on Evacuation Planning. Nine attendee presentations and a poster session highlighting best practices and current research from around the country. An opportunity to share successes and challenges in a two-hour session (over breakfast) with leaders in positions similar to yours. Leadership book swap! First time attendee welcome prior to the Opening Reception. Exceptional teams are in tune with each other. Pee Wee Harrison, an executive coach and current member of the famous Harlem Globetrotters, will close the conference with an inspirational presentation about leading All Star teams.

4 PRE-CONFERENCE FACULTY CONFERENCE FACULTY Lisa Aurilio, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC Vice President of Patient Services, Chief Nursing Officer Akron Children s Hospital Lisbeth Fahey, MSN, RN Executive Director, Quality & Accreditation, Licensure, & Regulatory Affairs Shannon Holland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Assistant Clinical Director Carol Jaeger, RN, MSN, NNP-BC Consultant Graduate Teaching Associate Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program The Ohio State University Joan Rikli, MSN, RN, CPNP, NE-BC Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Women s and Infant Services Spectrum Health Pamela Spivey, MSN, APRN, CCNS Neonatal CNS, Newborn Center Master Trainer for TeamSTEPPS Linda B. Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer William J. Ward, Jr., MBA Associate Professor of Health Finance & Management Associate Professor of Nursing Director Emeritus, Master of Health Administration Degree Program Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, MD Music is the art of thinking with sounds. Jules Combarieu Whittney J. Brady, MSN, RN Clinical Director, Newborn Intensive Care Unit Cincinnati Children s Hospital Medical Center Mary Coughlin, MS, RN, NNP President and Founder Caring Essentials Collaborative Cynthia Duncan, RNC-NIC NICU Manager St. Rose Dominican Hospital Siena Campus Judith S. Gooding Vice President, Signature Programs March of Dimes Foundation Peggy Gordin, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Vice President of Patient Care Services St. Louis Children s Hospital Dave Gordon Personal, Team and Corporate Brand Strategist Owner/Partner, Gordon Creative Inc. Jennifer Hamilton-Gilpin, RN, BSN Patient Care Manager SIH-Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Melissa Hamms, BSN, MBA, RNC Program Manager Nationwide Children s NICU at Doctors Nationwide Children s NSCU at Dublin Methodist Les Pee Wee Harrison, MBA, BS Executive Coach, Current member of Meadowlark Lemon s Harlem All Stars comedy basketball team Shannon Holland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Assistant Clinical Director Audrey Hubbard, MSN, RN Director of Quality and Shared Services McLane Children s Baylor Scott & White Judy Johnston, RN, MBA, FACHE Director, Newborn Intensive Services St. Louis Children s Hospital Paula Sturgeon, BA Author and National Speaker Linda B. Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer POST-CONFERENCE FACULTY John J. Burke, MS, EMT-1 Adjunct Professor Boston University School of Medicine Healthcare Emergency Management Graduate Program

5 PLANNING COMMITTEE Celina Afenir, BSN, RN, MBA/HCM Manager, NICU Banner Thunderbird Medical Center Micki Arrizola, MBA, RN, MSN, IBCLC Director, NICU Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children s Hospital Whittney J. Brady, MSN, RN Clinical Director, Newborn Intensive Care Unit Cincinnati Children s Hospital Medical Center Cynthia Duncan, RNC-NIC NICU Manager St. Rose Dominican Hospital Siena Campus Tiffany Epperson, MSN, BSN, RNC-NIC Neonatal-Perinatal Clinical Manager Children s Medical Center, Dallas Linda M. Eschberger, RN Manager, NICU Women and Children s Hospital of Buffalo Kaleida Health Systems Tara Floyd, BSN, MPH, RN Director of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing Deborrah Furse, RN, BSN Director, NICU North Florida Regional Medical Center Lisbeth Gabrielski, RN, MSN, IBCLC Interim Manager, NICU & Lactation Children s Hospital Colorado Jennifer Hamilton-Gilpin, RN, BSN Patient Care Manager SIH-Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Melissa Hamms BSN, MBA, RNC Program Manager Nationwide Children s NICU at Doctors Nationwide Children s NSCU at Dublin Methodist Sheralyn Hartline, MSN, RNC-NIC Director, NICU Cook Children s Medical Center Shannon Holland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Assistant Clinical Director Audrey Hubbard, MSN, RN Director of Quality and Shared Services McLane Children s Baylor Scott & White Pat Jensen, BSN, RNC-NIC Manager of Patient Care Operations Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children s Hospital Judy Johnston, RN, MBA, FACHE Director, Newborn Intensive Services St. Louis Children s Hospital Erin Keels, RN, MS, NNP-BC NNP Program Manager Nationwide Children s Hospital Cathy Leon, RN, BSN, MBA, BC-NE Clinical Manager, NICU California Pacific Medical Center Michelle Lopes, RN, MSN, NEA-BC Director, Women s and Children s Services John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Dana Lunde, DNP, RNC, APN, NNP-BC Director of Maternal and Neonatal Services Sunrise Children s Hospital Betty May, RN, BSN Manager, NICU Cohen Children s Medical Center Joan Rikli, MSN, RN, CPNP, NE-BC Director of Neonatal Intensive Care, Women s and Infant Services Spectrum Health Pamela Spivey, MSN, APRN, CCNS Neonatal CNS, Newborn Center Cheryl Weber, RN, BSN Patient Care Supervisor NICU/NPCU Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Judith S. Gooding Vice President, Signature Programs March of Dimes Foundation Jodi Steverman, BA Senior Manager, Strategic Planning & Programs Philips Children s Medical Ventures Cathy Bush, BA, MEd Partner Synova Associates

6 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM AGENDA Pre-Conferences Sunday, April 27 9:00 am to 4:30 pm New Leaders Bootcamp Linda B. Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Joan Rikli, MSN, RN, CPNP, NE-BC Director of Neonatal Intensive Care, Women s and Infant Services Spectrum Health Lisbeth Fahey, MSN, RN Executive Director, Quality & Accreditation, Licensure, & Regulatory Affairs The role of the new nurse leader is more challenging than ever. New managers need to learn basic concepts related to their administrative, operational and relational responsibilities while leading at the unit level. As hospitals prepare for healthcare reform, nurse leaders will be increasingly accountable for outcomes associated with quality of care, patient experience, and safety, while also meeting expense reduction and cost containment targets. The New Leader Bootcamp will provide a framework for success and give practical information and solutions to common problems. The course is broken into three parts: managing the finances of your unit, performance improvement and working with your team. The entire day will be interactive with opportunities to ask questions and interact with the faculty and attendees. Come prepared to learn skills that will lead to increased confidence and success in your new role. The New Leader Bootcamp is intended for leaders who have been in their roles for less than four years or those who might want a refresher course. Key topics will include: Review of budget basics Roles and responsibilities in day to day management of your budget Introduction to variance analysis and strategies used to develop action plans Development of strategies that shift the focus to efficient use of resources Tangible ways to partner with your Executive Team (CEO/CFO/COO), including how to begin a dialogue that fosters collaborative problem solving Prioritizing quality: Where do I start? Introduction to problem identification, creating effective solutions, overcoming barriers to success, and measuring effectiveness of interventions. Using tools to accelerate the improvement process Identification of your communication style and its strengths and weaknesses Best practices for holding difficult conversations with staff, families, physicians, peers and uplines Developing strategies to combat personal and staff burnout Bring your questions! Lots of time for sharing and advice 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm TeamSTEPPS: Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety Pamela Spivey, MSN, APRN, CCNS Neonatal CNS, Newborn Center Master Trainer for TeamSTEPPS Shannon Holland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Assistant Clinical Director TeamSTEPPS, designed for health care professionals, is a powerful program for improving patient safety within your unit/organization. This evidence-based teamwork system, developed by the Department of Defense s Patient Safety Program in collaboration with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, improves communication and teamwork skills among health care professionals. It is scientifically rooted in more than 20 years of research and lessons from the application of teamwork principles. TeamSTEPPS provides higher quality, safer patient care by: Producing highly effective healthcare teams that optimize the use of information, people, and resources to achieve the best clinical outcomes for patients Increasing team awareness and clarifying team roles and responsibilities Resolving conflicts and improving information sharing Eliminating barriers to quality and safety This will be a fun-filled, interactive session containing video vignettes, role playing, teamwork exercises and coaching opportunities. Come join us as we enhance our knowledge and skills together to ensure a safe environment for our patients, their families, and our colleagues.

7 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM AGENDA Pre-Conferences Sunday, April 27 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm Build a Business Case that Works! Lisa Aurilio, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC Vice President of Patient Services, Chief Nursing Officer Akron Children s Hospital Carol Jaeger, RN, MSN, NNP-BC Consultant Graduate Teaching Associate Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program The Ohio State University William J. Ward, Jr., MBA Associate Professor of Health Finance & Management Associate Professor of Nursing Director Emeritus, Master of Health Administration Degree Program Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, MD Budgeting, quality, productivity, staffing you ve got this. But what s next for you? In many hospitals, a growing number of middle managers are seeking a limited number of promotional opportunities, or simply want to continue expanding their knowledge base and connections. Do you have a great program idea, but need to know how to make the case for resources? Are you fully confident in your ability to speak with executives, or do you struggle with building effective presentations or business cases? This session will use real examples to help you plan strategically, build strong business cases, understand what financial information should be used and how, present yourself confidently, create strong connections within your organization, and leverage resources in your favor. From the everelusive boardroom presence to how to say the right things to the right people at the right time to get you noticed, we ve got you covered. Using a relevant NICU business case, our panel of experts and insiders will help you with step-bystep instructions on how to present your idea so that it aligns with your organizational strategies, assures that your business plan answers all the questions that your executive team will ask and prepares you to calculate important financial indicators for your project such as return on investment and operating margin so that your idea is sure to be accepted. Bring your team and business plan ideas with you, refine your current drafts or work together with us on a plan to meet your organization s specific needs. This is one session you ll be talking about all year! A real leader faces the music, even when he doesn t like the tune. John Maxwell

8 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM AGENDA Sunday, April 27 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm First Time Attendees Welcome 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Opening Reception & Toast Conference Registration Monday, April 28 7:30 am Breakfast Conference Registration 8:00 am Welcome and Introductory Activity 10:15 am Keynote Presentation: Rock Your Role Dave Gordon Personal, Team and Corporate Brand Strategist Owner/Partner, Gordon Creative Inc. The most recent studies show a high incidence of Leader and Manager burn out. It s not because people don t value their jobs it s most likely because they have lost the meaning behind what they do. They are uninspired. They look to external motivation instead of what really drives their productivity, meaning and purpose. Your work-day starts with an entrance. What song is playing in your head when you walk in the door to work? If it s Highway to Hell by AC/DC, we have a problem. We have wedding songs, fight songs, workout songs, love songs and songs that continue to anchor us to the meaningful moments in our lives, but, do you have an entrance song? Rock Your Role is designed to motivate, inspire and share best practices for NICU leaders to find, rekindle or enhance the meaning of what they do each and every day. By doing so, they will not only boost productivity in themselves, but also in their teams and their entire organization. And, yes, there will be music in this session lots of music. 12:00 pm Presentation of the Dr. Jennifer L. Howse Excellence in NICU Leadership Award 12:15 pm Networking Luncheon 1:30 pm Better Healthcare at Better Costs: How is Healthcare Reform Changing You and Your Team? Linda B. Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Hospitals and their leaders are changing in many ways relative to healthcare reform. Nurses are well positioned to optimize these changes and create opportunities for improved outcomes by becoming more engaged and maximizing their capabilities. This presentation will provide an overview of health care reform, the various measures that hospitals are using to respond to changes and opportunities for nursing to bring innovative improvements to the overall patient experience. 3:30 pm How to Trim the Fat Without Losing the Flavor! Whittney J. Brady, MSN, RN Clinical Director, Newborn Intensive Care Unit Cincinnati Children s Hospital Medical Center Shannon Holland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Assistant Director of Nursing We have all been challenged to be more efficient, lean, and fiscally responsible. We aim to provide excellent patient care and in order to do that, we need money! This presentation will discuss practical solutions for going lean and provide balancing measures to assure optimal outcomes. We will also discuss ways to ensure that staff have the tools they need to do their job, maintain or improve family and staff satisfaction, and ensure that the unit is fiscally sound. 4:45 pm Refreshments with the Sponsors 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Optional Group Dinner

9 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM AGENDA Tuesday, April 29 8:00 am Share Your High Notes and Your Low Notes During small group breakfast meetings 10:00 am Trauma-informed Care in the NICU Paradigm Shift & Leadership Courage Mary Coughlin, MS, RN, NNP President and Founder Caring Essentials Collaborative This session will introduce learners to the concept of trauma-informed, age-appropriate care in the NICU highlighting the epigenetic impact of the experience of care of the premature and critically ill term infant. Delivering on the right thing to do EVERY TIME takes courage, commitment and creativity. Evidence based leadership strategies that ensure accountability in the complex, dynamic environment of neonatal intensive care are mandatory to achieve cultural transformation for measurable results at the patient interface of care. 11:45 am Sponsor Showcase 1:00 pm Roundtable Luncheon 2:30 pm Leaping Back...the Truth About Resilience Paula Sturgeon, BA Author, Speaker Itinerant Storyteller, grounded in reality, unleashed by laughter In business, as in life, change is a constant. Surprises are the new normal. What makes the difference between winning and losing in these situations is how you bounce back. Resilience is the ability to positively adapt, grow, and thrive and it is critical to your success as a leader. Paula will identify the component parts of resilience with practical ways to make it part of your daily life. Her presentations are experiential and encourage both introspection and laughter! 6:30 pm Dinner and Social Activities

10 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM AGENDA Wednesday, April 30 7:45 am Breakfast 8:30 am: Concurrent Sessions Caring for the Caregiver: Taking Care of You (first) and Your Staff (second) Judith S. Gooding Vice President, Signature Programs March of Dimes Foundation You know the pre-flight instructions: Put on your own oxygen mask before helping the person next to you. What does it mean to care for yourself before helping others and how to you go about that? This interactive session on coping with the stress of the NICU environment begins with preparing the NICU leader to model self-care to staff. The presentation will examine the stressors and challenges NICU nurses and other health care providers encounter, including the added stress of interacting with families. Participants will discuss and identify successful, real-world experiences in coping with those stressors. Attention will be paid to relaxation techniques, methods of peer support, and systems and practices that NICUs might adopt and adapt. Talkin bout My Generation: Don t hate what you don t understand. (John Lennon) Whittney J. Brady, MSN, RN Clinical Director, Newborn Intensive Care Unit Cincinnati Children s Hospital Medical Center Leading four generations of nurses requires nursing leaders to understand and appreciate generational differences in order to leverage strengths, produce outcomes and increase staff satisfaction. We will explore strategies and provide creative communication tools that appeal to all generations! Nurse -> Manager -> Leader: Transferrable Skills to Advance Your Career Peggy Gordin, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Vice President, Patient Care Services St. Louis Children s Hospital This session will explore the skills that you have developed as nurses and unit managers, as well as our professional identities and attitudes. Which of these can help you evolve into senior leadership roles and those that hold you back. Many of the skills used in professional nursing practice and in unit leadership are readily developed and transferred to leading an entire organization if we are open to that possibility. Are you ready to go there? 9:45 am: Concurrent Sessions Nine Individual Best Practice Presentations from meeting participants 10:45: Concurrent Sessions You Get What You Give: Quality is Your Job Audrey Hubbard, MSN, RN Director of Quality and Shared Services McLane Children s Baylor Scott & White Strategy is important but culture is the foundation of success in quality and patient safety. Unit level leadership facilitates and teaches the front line staff to execute the strategy. Weaving together the threads of multi-disciplinary clinicians practice produces the fabric of daily quality and patient safety in a NICU. Determine how solid your foundation is and if you have everyone on your team weaving the right fabric! Don t Stop Believing: Crazy Times Require Creative Staffing Solutions Melissa Hamms BSN, MBA, RNC Program Manager Nationwide Children s NICU at Doctors Nationwide Children s NSCU at Dublin Methodist Cynthia Duncan, RNC-NIC Manager, NICU St. Rose Dominican Hospital Siena Campus Jennifer Hamilton-Gilpin, RN, BSN Patient Care Manager SIH-Memorial Hospital of Carbondale The perinatal guidelines for staffing are often ambiguous and leave front line managers expending time and energy justifying staffing expenses. We have moved from simply doing more with less to expecting those same few nurses to eliminate preventable harm, increase breastfeeding rates and exceed customer expectations. Our panel will discuss solutions that have helped their hospitals to improve quality, patient/family and staff satisfaction, and then open the floor for group discussion. Moving on Up: Building Front Line Leaders Judy Johnston, RN, MBA, FACHE Director, Newborn Intensive Services St. Louis Children s Hospital Have you wondered how to identify future leaders in your department? Do you know who might take your place when you retire or if you have to take a leave? Have you started preparing future leaders, but need guidance, advice or recommendations? This presentation will help you answer these questions and more with best practice advice from many leaders around the country. 12:00 pm Poster Session Sponsored by NANN, Professional Education Partner 1:30 pm Optional Recreational Activities (or focus groups)

11 2014 NICU LEADERSHIP FORUM AGENDA Thursday, May 1 7:30 am Breakfast 8:00 am Authentic Leadership: Aligning Your Work with Your True Self Peggy Gordin, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Vice President, Patient Care Services St. Louis Children s Hospital How do authentic leaders respond when their organization asks them to do things that create dissonance with their personal values? Authenticity is not a skill to be learned; it is about being true to ourselves while executing our roles as leaders. This session will explore the concept of authentic leadership, what it is and why it is important. We will discuss some examples of conflicts between leadership roles and personal values and explore options for resolution. 9:45 am Presentation of Annual NICU Leadership Forum Spirit Award 10:00 am Hold On, I m Coming Les Pee Wee Harrison, MBA, BS Executive Coach; Current member of Meadowlark Lemon s Harlem All Stars comedy basketball team; Founder: A.P.P.L.A.U.S.E.S, Anti-Bullying program, Showtime Athletes Inc., non-profit youth organization; 3 Guysandaball.com entertainment marketing company, The Great Date Night Power is knowledge used wisely and wisely we must empower!! Pee Wee Harrison inspires, encourages, motivates and challenges leaders to empower their staffs and hold them accountable to create an All-Star organization. His humor and interactive style will draw you in, hold your attention and maybe even teach you a little about playing basketball. 11:15 am Wrap Up and Slide Show 11:45 Adjourn Post-Conference 1:00 pm 3:30 pm Operation Silent Angels Tabletop Exercise John J. Burke, MS, EMT-1 Adjunct Professor Boston University School of Medicine Healthcare Emergency Management Graduate Program Come and test your NICU emergency preparedness skills and participate in the Operation Silent Angels tabletop exercise as a post-conference activity. Participants will have to make decisions on triage, evacuation and supplies based on a fictitious event at a children s hospital. The exercise is limited to 12 participants and will help you glean potentially life-saving information to bring back to your unit. There will be simulated patient cards and participants will have to follow the Hospital Incident Command System. HICS vests and portable radios will be used to add realism to the exercise. With so many unexpected emergencies facing hospitals in recent years, this is a session you just can t miss.

12 Registration Information Click here to register now! Or visit: NLF-register/; click on NICU Leadership Forum, 2014 meeting. Registration will not be complete until we have received the following: Registration form, submitted electronically. Full payment by credit card or hospital check. Completed on-line Attendee Directory information, including an uploaded professional picture. Registration Fees Conference Registration: $599 $675 $775 Pre-Conference & Post-Conference Workshops New Leader Bootcamp 1 $249 $269 $350 (Lunch included) TeamSTEPPS 2 $149 $159 $250 Build a Business Plan that Works 2 $149 $159 $250 Tabletop Exercise in Evacuation Planning 2 $59 $69 $89 1 Full day 2 Half day Early: Before February 15 Open Registration: February 15 March 31 Late: After April 1 (if available) Since conference registration and hotel rooms are limited, early registration is advised. Registrations sent without payment or purchase order will not be complete. Confirmation will be sent by when all information is received and, at that time, the participant is officially registered. Out of consideration to registrants, children of any age and spouses/guests may not attend the sessions. Spouses/guests may attend designated social events for additional payment. Tuition includes continuing education hours and meals (including all social events) as indicated on the agenda. Scholarships There are seven scholarships available for the NICU Leadership Forum. The National Association of Nurses (NANN), our Professional Education Partner, is pleased to offer five full tuition scholarships to NANN members. Go to for more information. Synova Associates will also offer two need-based, full tuition scholarships that can be used for tuition or travel expenses. Please click HERE for a link to the application. In addition, the March of Dimes Foundation gives two full scholarships (tuition, hotel and travel) to the winner of the Jennifer L. Howse Excellence in NICU Leadership Award winner and Synova gives a tuition scholarship to the winner of the previous year s NLF Spirit Award. Accreditation The NICU Leadership Forum is approved for approximately 20 contact hours through California Provider C The pre-conferences and post-conference will be awarded contact hours depending on the length of the program. Method of Payment Payment may be made online using Visa, Master Card or American Express. Hospital checks will be accepted if received by April 15. Registration fees must be paid and received by the registration deadlines in order to receive the discounted rates. Payment should be made to Synova Associates, Sexton Dr., McKinney Texas Tax ID: Tax Deductibility Expenses of training, tuition, travel, lodging and meals to maintain or improve professional skills may be tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor. Cancellations Cancellations must be made in writing via to Sandy Chapman at schapman@synovaassociates.com. Cancellations received before March 31 will be fully refunded, minus a $25 processing fee. Cancellations made between March 31 and April 15 will be assessed a $75 processing fee. After April 15, no refunds will be made, however, we will gladly transfer your registration to another meeting participant. If this meeting is cancelled for any reason, including labor strikes or acts of God, liability is limited to a full refund of registration fees only. Program Changes Synova reserves the right to make necessary changes in speakers, topics or schedule. Please see for the most up-to-date agenda. Questions? Sandy Chapman: or schapman@synovaassociates.com Chrissy Burke: or cburke@synovaassociates.com

13 Registration Information (con t.) Hotel Accommodations The 2014 NICU Leadership Forum will be held at the Sawgrass Marriott. Sawgrass Marriott 1000 PGA Tour Boulevard Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Nestled along Florida s northeast coast in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, the Sawgrass Marriott is an indulgent getaway just south of Jacksonville and north of St. Augustine. The breathtaking resort is a sanctuary for the soul from the sublime stretch of nearby private beaches to the natural serenity of the pools, lagoons, waterfalls and views. The resort offers complimentary beach access to the Atlantic Ocean, daily recreational activities, as well as a full-service day spa. A limited block of rooms is being held at a special group rate of $ (plus a daily $20 resort fee and tax). Reservations must be made prior to March 31 st, 2014; after that date, rooms will be available if space allows. Click here to make your hotel reservation online now! property/propertypage/jaxsw?groupcode=mhcmhca&app=resvlink Or you may reserve online by going to select Reservations, then enter the group code SALSALA. You may also call the hotel directly at (800) and mention Synova Associates 18th Annual NICU Leadership Forum for the group rate. All hotel reservations are guaranteed for late arrival. Air and Ground Transportation Jacksonville International Airport is the closest airport to the conference center. Rental cars and cabs (estimated one-way cost of $90) are available at the airport. There is an Avis car rental desk at the hotel for one-way drop off or day trips. You may also schedule group transportation for $49 each way with East Coast Transportation. They will track all arrivals and group you with other attendees for a shared ride to and from the airport. Click the link below to make a reservation. Carol Jaeger, recipient of the 2013 Jennifer L. Howse Excellence in NICU Leadership Award Ruth Pruitt, winner of the 2013 NLF Spirit Award