Online Abstract Submission Guidelines

• Submission website will open December 8, 2017
• Abstract Submission Deadline: March 8, 2018
• All abstracts must be submitted electronically: https://pva.am.pesgce.com

Submit Abstract Electronically

Our Purpose

The  Healthcare Summit 2018 will focus on the novel ideas, strategies, and methods to promote excellence and achieve State of the Art Healthcare for veterans and others living with spinal cord injuries and diseases.

Our Mission

The mission of Healthcare Summit 2018 is to bring together professionals across the  continuum of care for individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and dysfunction, multiple sclerosis (MS) and  amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to share new clinical information, research data and innovative initiatives to  improve care and support clinicians in their pursuit of maintaining their specialty certification and/or license to practice.

Summit Objectives:

• To enhance multi specialty care across the lifespan of individuals with SCI and diseases;
• To assess advances in the delivery of healthcare services;
• To present innovative models of care management;
• To improve practice skills of clinicians, surgeons, researchers, and administrators;
• To discuss evidence based medicine;
• To expand the body of knowledge about spinal cord injury and diseases and their medical complications and consequences;
• To identify cutting edge  research priorities; and
• To present data on new developments in assessment, treatment and health policy.

Target Audience

Healthcare Summit 2018 provides an excellent opportunity for learning and networking for  healthcare professionals working across the continuum in spinal cord injury and disease care and treatment including, but not limited to: physicians, pharmacists, basic scientists and clinical researchers, nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation counselors, physical, occupational  and recreational therapists.

Submission Overview

Abstracts are intended to represent clinical practice, research or health policy content related to spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, ALS or other spinal cord disorders.

All submitted abstracts must meet CME/CE accreditation standards to be approved for credit. Abstracts of presentations should be balanced and free of commercial bias. Commercial content, product endorsements, or service related advertisements are not permitted.

Topic Categories for your Submission

Topics should address clinical treatment, research, health policy or program development in the areas of:

• Spinal Cord Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Other Spinal Cord Dysfunction

Guidelines for Submitting Abstracts

1. Abstract title should be no longer than 15 words.
2. Abstract content should not exceed 500 words.
3. The abstract  must include three  (3) measurable learning objectives using action verbs;    the learner will describe, explain, discuss, etc.
4. All contributing authors/presenters must complete:
   
   1. Signed disclosure form
   2. Biosketch or brief CV,  not to exceed two pages
   3. Identify any commercial interest or sources of funding, if applicable.
5. Each abstract should contain elements for publication and where applicable: background, research design, methods, results and conclusions.
6. Only results of  completed research should be submitted.
7. Abstracts should include a concise description of the presentation:  include demographics, treatment/intervention, results/outcome, and clinical significance when applicable. In the text, an abbreviated word or term must be spelled out at first use with its abbreviation or acronym in parentheses.
8. Abstracts will not be returned for editing or proofing. Authors are responsible for ensuring that the text is accurate, concise, clear, and includes information about all sources of funding, if applicable.

Healthcare Summit Abstract Submission Presentation Formats

1. Platform Presentation: Keynote Address, Plenary Session, and General Platform Presentation.
2. Electronic Poster Presentation

Platform Presentations

Presentations may be on research or clinical issues and must be 30 or 60 minutes in length, with an additional 15 or 30 minutes, respectively, allotted for questions and discussion.  A 45-minute presentation would be expected to have a single speaker.  A 90-minute presentation would be expected to have no more than three speakers.   Information on all contributing authors must be included in the abstract submission; however, only the presenters will be listed in the Healthcare SUMMIT 2018 program.

Presentations will be grouped in 90-minute moderated time blocks according to topic and focus. High priority will be given to submissions with one (1) or two (2) speakers per 90-minute session.  If you are a single presenter for a 45-minute session, the Program Committee will attempt to pair you up with another single presenter with a similar topic.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU INCLUDE THE DURATION OF YOUR PRESENTATION, INCLUDING TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Platform Presentation Abstract Submission Requirements

1. Background: Brief introduction, statement of objectives or hypothesis
2. Design: Setting, study design, follow‐up, outcomes
3. Methods: Study population, selection criteria, essential features of interventions/observations, statistical analysis
4. Results: Data analysis should indicate findings in narrative (rather than tabular format), confidence intervals, and statistical significance
5. Conclusion(s): Supported by evidence, include clinical relevance and application

The abstract should include a summary of information to be presented, including major themes, expanded version of learning objectives, outline of issues/subjects to be discussed, an overview of case studies, points to be illustrated, and principles to be discussed during the interactive session.

Electronic Poster Presentations

A poster is a visual formatted presentation of a topic using charts, graphs, illustrations, and photographs to supplement a written narrative. The topic may be clinically or research based, or describes new techniques, procedures, or technologies. It provides a visual forum for one‐to‐one discussion with the presenter. The presenter must be available at designated times, as specified in the program, to discuss information with conferees.

Presenters will have the opportunity to discuss pertinent issues highlighted in the poster with attendees during the viewing sessions. Interactive viewing sessions, with presenter present, are scheduled during the Healthcare Summit 2018. Posters will be available for viewing throughout the meeting.

Electronic Poster Presentation:  Abstract Submission Requirements

The abstract must contain all of the following elements:

1. Objectives,
2. Problem statement,
3. Methods,
4. Data analysis,
5. Significance and conclusion.

Please keep in mind that reference to equipment, devices, or pharmaceutical products must use the correct manufacturer, trade, and generic names; appropriate acknowledgements for financial support must be declared; in all cases, patient anonymity must be protected in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Law.

Selection Criteria

Abstracts will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Innovation and Originality of topic/content
• Clarity and organization of proposal/presentation
• Importance and applicability to Summit audience
• Presenter experience/expertise in topic area
• Applicability across settings
• Absence of commercial content

Session Acceptance

All applicants will be notified of  proposal approval / disapproval by May 1, 2018.  If you are unable to accept the session assignment, you must contact PVA by May 15, 2018 at Summit@pva.org.

Final PowerPoint slides of your presentation must be submitted, using the online system, on or before June 29, 2018.  PVA plans to make PDF versions of the PowerPoint slides available to Healthcare Summit 2018 attendees.

Submit Abstract Electronically

Questions/Contact information:

Program-related questions: please contact summit@pva.org.

Technical assistance: please contact: PESG technical support at am_support+pva@pesgce.com.