Sponsored by
Western Regional EMS Inc and The Emergency Medical Service Institute 221 Penn Avenue Suite 2500 Pittsburgh, PA 15221-2166 412/242-7322

General Information

EMS Update 2008 is the Emergency Medical Service Institute’s twenty-first annual conference and exhibit.


We are proud to have Western Regional EMS Inc as the sponsor and producer of this event. WREMS is a non-profit organization devoted to sponsoring educational activities on behalf of EMSI.


Most of the classes count toward continuing education requirements for first responders, EMTs, EMT-paramedics and health professionals as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Continuing education credits also may be applied to EMS certifications from other states. Check with your state agency. Additional information on the con-ed credits is available in each class and at the registration desk.


The expanded exhibition area is open to conference attendees and the general public on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at no additional cost.

REGISTRATION

Registration for EMS Update 2008 began January 15. Sorry, but we cannot hold any spaces.


COURSES

The EMSI Board of Directors chose to have a committee develop the educational programming for EMS Update 2008. Members of the committee include (Chair - Doug Garretson, Richard Adobato, William Groft, Richard Lippert, BJ Pino, Jim Sadler, Vern Smith, Walt Stoy, and Richard Wadas, MD).

All classes are filled in the order in which paid registrations are received.
Class schedules and faculty are subject to change. WREMS reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment.
WREMS does not permit auditing of classes.


TUITION

Tuition for EMS Update 2008 includes: continuing education credit where approved, class materials, refreshment breaks, lunches as scheduled and tickets to social events as provided in course descriptions. Tuition does not include hotel accommodations, activity fees at Seven Springs, or admission to exhibitor-sponsored social events.


MEALS

Seven Springs’ famous breakfast buffet is included in your hotel reservation if you stay at the resort. Complimentary coffee and tea is provided each morning of the conference for a limited time in the registration area. Lunch is provided on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for those attendees registered for classes. You will receive a ticket in your registration materials for the lunches. Seven Springs has several restaurants, snack bars and pizza parlors throughout the resort. You can purchase additional tickets at the EMS Update registration desk for your friends and family.
During the conference, coffee and soft drinks are provided during breaks. Breaks are generally scheduled from 10:00am to 10:30am and from 3:00pm to 3:30pm on all three days.


Social Events

WREMS hopes that all attendees have an enjoyable time at the social events held during the weekend. Conference participants should consider their fellow attendees and exhibit professional behavior during the weekend. Seven Springs Resort reserves the right to remove people from the resort with no possibility of a refund.


Due to Pennsylvania state law, only those persons 21 years of age and older are permitted to join us at the Friday and Saturday social events in Convention Hall. IDs will be checked at the door and throughout the evening.

A limited number of party tickets will be available for purchase in Stag Pass during registration hours until sold out. Tickets are $10 per night. Tickets will be sold at the door of the event.
Note that lost tickets for social events and lunches WILL NOT BE REPLACED. There are also no refunds for tickets to the social events and lunches.


Note: Seven Springs security will check all IDs at the social events and all entertainment venues at the resort. Attendees must show proper identification to be permitted entrance. Seven Springs prosecutes those people misrepresenting themselves or producing false and/or altered identification. Undercover security agents monitor the social events for persons buying and supplying alcohol for minors.
An admission ticket is mandatory to enter the EMS Update 2008 social events. Preference for the limited number of tickets available is given to those registered for classes. Due to fire marshal regulations, only a limited number of tickets are available for sale. Note: Ticket requests exceed tickets available.


CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

EMSI has applied for the maximum continuing education credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Office.


WELCOME RECEPTION

Join us in Convention Hall on Friday, March 28, as the EMS Practitioner of the Year is announced. The Welcoming Session also features morning refreshments, general conference announcements and opening remarks from EMSI’s president, executive director and the director of the EMS Office, Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Keynote Presentation by Paul Werfel is the highlight of the conference!

EXHIBIT

The exhibit area, located in Exhibit Hall, will feature manufacturers and suppliers of state-of-the-art EMS and public safety equipment, services and apparel. This area is open:


Friday, March 28 10am - 6pm
Saturday, March 29 10am - 5pm

Refreshment breaks on Friday and Saturday are served in Exhibit Hall.
Note: Exhibit Hall and the Seasons Rooms are closed both days from 1:30pm until 2pm.



EMS UPDATE 2009

Can’t make it this year? Join us for EMS Update 2009, March 25 through March 28, 2009.