2021 Call for Session Proposals



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Speak at the 2021 NRAA Annual Conference! 
Memphis, TN | October 6-8, 2021

Submission Deadline: February 12, 2021

               

For this year's Annual Conference that will take place from October 6-8 in Memphis, Tennessee, we are seeking speakers who can deliver topic sessions that include:

  • Case studies of "lessons learned" in quality improvement
  • First-hand experience implementing new programs, procedures or technologies
  • Insightful techniques to maximize quality outcomes and reduce costs
  • Practical ways to communicate and engage with patients and staff
  • Practical ways to enhance the functioning of the interdisciplinary team
  • Effective programs for promoting patient safety and reducing risks

About the Conference 

NRAA's Annual Conference is the preeminent educational event where small, medium and independent dialysis providers convene to share perspectives on the most recent developments in renal healthcare. 
 
The conference attracts over 500 administrative and clinical professionals, including administrators, nurses, physicians/medical directors, dietitians, social workers, and technicians from dialysis modalities such as facility-based, home, pediatric and hospital-based. Dialysis industry representatives are also present at the conference. 
 
Proposals and presenters (up to 2) that are accepted to speak will be given complimentary registration to attend the NRAA Annual Conference in 2020. NRAA will cover registration fees for speakers of accepted presentations. As the program is finalized, travel funding for speakers will be evaluated.
Who Can Submit a Session Proposal?

You are invited to submit a proposal if you are a (an):
  • Administrator
  • Nurse
  • Social Worker
  • Physician and/or Medical Director
  • Dietician
  • Technician
  • Government employee in ESRD
  • Dialysis Consultant
  • CMO / CEO / CFO of a dialysis facility

Submission Criteria

All submissions are reviewed by members of NRAA's Program Committee. Submissions will be reviewed un-blinded and only once. Proposals will be accepted based on criteria met and appropriateness for the program. The Program Committee reserves the right to accept as many or as few submissions as it wants. Reviewers will use the following criteria to select the most appropriate submissions for inclusion in the NRAA Annual Conference. Submission should be clearly written and meet the following criteria:

Relevance to the Dialysis and ESRD Community
Topics must be relevant to the activities, initiatives, or direction of the dialysis professional. NRAA offers a list of broad topic areas you may consider for your presentation; however, your topic need not be limited to these areas.

Timeliness and Originality
Proposals will be evaluated on the timeliness and innovation of the program or service, and significance to dialysis professionals or stakeholders in the ESRD community.

Educational Presentation
All presentation proposals must be educational in nature. Proposals that are written in a manner that promotes a product, company or service, will not be considered.

Educational Formats
NRAA strongly encourages speakers to provide opportunities for attendees to ask questions, discuss problems and solutions, and interact informally with the faculty and with each other.

Balance
Abstracts and descriptions must be written in a manner that clearly, concisely and logically conveys the subject matters background, purpose and learning objectives.

Suggested Educational Session Topics

NRAA strives to offer a program with a wide array of topics of interest to dialysis professionals that will help advance patient care and safety. Conference attendees have expressed interest in learning about best practices, trends, innovations, opportunities and threats. Topics of interest to attendees include, but are not limited to:

  • Billing and Reimbursement (QIP, ESCOs, Reimbursement and Billing Tools, Documentation)
  • Legislative Advocacy (Health Policy Development, Communication Skills (Hill), Government Relations, and Lobbying Skills.)
  • Facility Operations (Infection Control, Home Dialysis, Data Management, Culture of Patient Safety, Nursing Home, Skilled Nursing Facility... (Hospital-based)
  • Regulatory Compliance (Survey Preparation and Response, QAPI, CROWNWeb, Benchmarking.)
  • Technical Oversight (Documentation, Medical Director Responsibilities, Water Treatment, AAMI, Standards and Recommended Guidelines.)
  • Clinical Management (Policies, Procedures, Protocols, Staff Continuing Education, Care Coordination, Clinical Practice Guidelines, Standards of Preparation.)

Session Goals
When considering the content for your session, you may incorporate the following:
  • A case study to demonstrate a challenge and solution.
  • Q&A opportunities-plan questions within the session to ensure interaction among participants.
  • Presentation slides that capture key points and drives presentation (e.g. less text, more visuals is an effective learning tool).
  • Interactive activities-find opportunities to engage in group work to apply learning to real-life situations.
  • Audience polling.

The deadline for submission is February 12, 2021, at which point, the Annual Conference Program Task Force will undertake a review of proposals and assess the topics based on several criteria. Make this truly YOUR meeting and share your professional aptitude and expertise with your peers!


Submission Deadline: February 12, 2021

               
 
For questions about the session proposal opportunity, please contact Valerie Okrend, Director of Education, vokrend@nraa.org for more information.