Get guest speakers at no cost to you
Would you like a guest speaker to update staff on the American Heart Association’s Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care? If you’re like most ED managers, you don’t have the financial resources needed to pay a lecturer. Here are some suggestions for low-cost or free lecturers, recommended by Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, FACEP, FAAP, director of emergency medical services at Harbor-University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center in Torrance:
• Local physicians. "Often, a local physician is willing to review and critique the guidelines and offer this to staff," Gausche-Hill says. Check with your hospital’s public relations department to find out which physicians might be available, she suggests.
• Speakers at major universities. These individuals might be willing to speak at no charge, Gausche-Hill advises. She suggests contacting the public relations offices at the universities to ask for suggestions for speakers.
• Volunteer organizations. These groups may agree to assist financially or with supplying refreshments, she says. Contact the volunteer office at your facility or your local chamber of commerce to get the names of volunteer groups and contact people, she suggests.
• Local hospitals. Partnering with a local hospital to share the cost of a guest speaker will reduce costs significantly, suggests Gausche-Hill.
• Drug companies. You may be able to obtain financial assistance for guest lecturers, Gausche-Hill says. "However, be aware that some physicians and nurses may not be comfortable with drug company sponsorship. Some EDs may have rules about the use of these types of funds," she notes. Gausche-Hill points out that having a drug company representative as a speaker might also affect whether you can offer CME.
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