16th VistA Community Meeting

Registration & Cost

Click here for Non-member registration.

Current WorldVistA members will get an e-mail with a URL for member registration.  If you believe you are currently a member in good standing and have not received an e-mail, please contact Peter Bodtke (all contact e-mail addresses are below) as soon as possible.

Cost

WorldVistA members: $200 / Non-members: $300 (includes 1-year membership)

About the 16th VistA Community Meeting

The goal of VistA Community Meetings is to allow those involved in the VistA Community to network & collaborate, i.e., to share ideas and work, with the objective of moving VistA & the VistA community forward.  VistA Community Meetings are highly interactive, hands-on, working meetings.  Please come prepared to contribute as well as to learn.

Compared to most meetings, VistA Community Meetings are relatively unstructured.  The agenda is always a draft agenda, because the attendees are free to change it – even during the meeting – in order to better meet their objectives.

VistA Community Meetings were originally almost exclusively technical meetings.  Over time, the balance has shifted, so that although there is still a strong technical focus, there are increasingly discussions on other aspects, including implementation, support, demonstration, education, training, and WorldVistA organizational issues (e.g., membership).

Please come prepared to discuss your interest in and work with VistA.  If you wish to present material, please come prepared with your presentation, either electronic or a poster.  There will be ample opportunities to present your work to others who are interested.

To send suggested changes to this agenda, please e-mail K.S. Bhaskar or Peter Bodtke (e-mail address for contacts are at the end).  Also, if you have actually implemented VistA in your organization, please contact Bhaskar or Peter as soon as possible - we would like to have you talk about your implementation.

New!

We are introducing some new features at this meeting.  You can sign up in advance, as well as at the meeting.  First come, first served.  Please contact K.S. Bhaskar and Peter Bodtke to sign up.

1. Vendor Showcase - short sessions for each vendor to present their expertise.
2. Lightning talks - short presentations by anyone on any topic that they would like to present on.

We will also have a repeat of the highly successful Community Health Clinic (CHC) track that was pioneered at the 15th VistA Community Meeting in Seattle, and which was organized entirely by the CHC community.

Tour of Midland Memorial Hospital

A tour of Midland Memorial Hospital is planned for Friday evening.  Since group sizes are limited, please sign up on a first come, first served basis with K.S. Bhaskar.

Location, Facilities

The 16th VistA Community Meeting is scheduled to take place at The Midland Center in Midland, Texas in the downstairs meeting rooms, Thursday, January 10 through Sunday, January 13 (we will finish up early afternoon on Sunday).

Wireless Internet access will be available.

There is a parking lot reserved for Midland Center that is east of the building.  There should be plenty of
space.  Also, we will request the City of Midland not to ticket vehicles parked around Midland Center.

WorldVistA wishes to express its appreciation to David Whiles, CIO of Midland Memorial Hospital, for hosting this meeting at Midland Center.  Thank you so much!

Meeting Organization

Note: If you would like to make a presentation please contact K.S. Bhaskar or Peter Bodtke as soon as possible.

There are many areas of discussion for those interested in VistA, some of general interest and some specialized.  To accommodate the maximum number of needs, VistA Community Meetings have some plenary sessions of general interest and multiple tracks that provide more focus.  Also, about 50% of the conference time is unscheduled to facilitate collaboration and impromptu presentations and discussion.

Tracks for VistA Community Meetings are ultimately decided by the attendees, their interests and their ability to present.  The following are the current tracks for the 16th VistA Community meeting (please contact bhaskar at worldvista dot org or pbodtke at worldvista d to provide feedback and discuss the tracks):

• Special CHC track: Migrant and Community Health Centers - Coordinated by Jeff Weinfeld, Johanna Barraza-Cannon & Matt King

• Technical - Coordinated by Dave Whitten & Larry Landis
  
• VistA Installation & Configuration - Coordinated by Nancy Anthracite, K.S. Bhaskar, Larry Landis and Peter Bodtke.
  
• If you come with a laptop or PC, you will be able to leave with a free / open source VistA software stack running on it.  This stack is based on Linux:
• In the event you want Linux installed on your hard drive, you will be able to do this at the meeting.  If you are running a version of Microsoft Windows, please defragment your hard drive before you come to Midland and ensure that you have at least 5GB free.  The installation process will create a new partition from the free space and configure your PC to dual boot.  If you plan to do this, back up your PC before you come to Midland - although the installation is generally safe, we don't want your PC to be the statistical exception.
  
• If you do not have or wish Linux installed, please bring your laptop and a 2GB USB flash drive - you will be able to run a free / open source VistA stack without touching your machine's hard drive.  This option is also available to Macintosh users.
• A VistA software appliance can also be installed to the hard drive of a Windows XP PC.  Please ensure you have 2GB free.
  
• WorldVistA Organization - Coordinated by Joseph Dal Molin & Maury Pepper
  
• Update to members
• Other tracks depending on interest.

Hotels

We have arranged for a block of rooms at the Hilton Midland Plaza, which is across the street from Midland Center.  Reservations can be made for January 8 through January 14 at a conference rate of $100/night that applies to all rooms (singles, doubles, etc.).  You can call Hilton Worldwide reservations at 800-HILTONS (800-445-8667) and ask for the group code WVA or call the hotel directly at 432-683-6131.  There is also a web site for reserving rooms at the conference rate.

The cut-off date is January 3, 2008.  After that date, the group rate will be honored if rooms are available - call the hotel and ask for the sales manager, Brandi Fischer.

The rooms include free high speed Internet.  The hotel has two restaurants, a Starbucks, two bars, a fitness center, a free airport shuttle, and ample parking.

Living Agenda

The meeting's living agenda is still evolving and will continue to evolve till the end of the meeting.  Check back regularly.

In addition to the above, topics of interest include:

• Implementation site report
• Supporting languages and development tools
• New developments
• Privacy
• Certifications and standards
• Panel discussions
• Drug and procedure issues

Please contact K.S. Bhaskar or Peter Bodtke with suggestions or to volunteer to give a presentation.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

0800	Arrive, network, pick up registration tags
0900	Welcome to Midland by Russell Meyers, CEO of Midland Memorial Hospital (Room 5)
0915	Meeting Overview and Logistics by K.S. Bhaskar (Room 5)
0930	WorldVistA Organizational Update by Maury Pepper (Room 5)
0945	WorldVistA EHRTM Update by Joseph Dal Molin (Room 5) Status of release of software Certification procedures More...
1015	Break - refreshments provided
1030	Introductions (Room5) Since networking and collaboration are the most important goals of VistA Community Meetings, an important activity at VistA Community Meetings is for all attendees to introduce themselves.  Take 60 seconds to tell the group: Who you are and what organization(s) you are associated with. What your interest in VistA is. What would make the meeting a success for you.
1200	Lunch - provided by GT.M
1315	Panel Discussion - Implementing VistA (Room 5) Clinica Adelante by Matt King Midland Memorial Hospital by David Whiles Community Health Network of West Virginia by Jack Shaffer Clinica Adelante went into live production in August 2007 with a pre-certification release of WorldVistA EHR.  Matt King, Medical Director of Clinica Adelante will discuss their experience with VistA, including what went well, what could have gone better, and what they knew at the end of the project that they wish they had known at the beginning. Midland Memorial Hospital was the first implementation of VistA outside the VA to go live, in early 2006.  David Whiles, CIO of Midland Memorial will provide an update on their VistA implementation update. Jack Shaffer will the experience of the Community Health Network of West Virginia in implementing RPMS. Others who have implemented VistA in their organizations are invited to share their experiences in a panel with Matt King following his presentation.  Please contact Matt King, David Whiles, K.S. Bhaskar or Peter Bodtke if you would like to participate.
1445	Finalize tracks and agenda based on interest
1500	Break - refreshments provided
1515	Breakout into parallel tracks Community Health Centers (Room 2) 1515 Update - HRSA Initiatives by Johanna Barraza-Cannon 1600 What is free / open source software and why it is important to CHCs by K.S. Bhaskar VistA Installations and Configuration (Room 1) Please note: Room 1 is the smallest room.  It is always available for VistA installations and other active small collaboration groups.  The VistA installation team will not remain in this room all the time - the intent is that if you want VistA installed, you will schedule a time with them in this room. Technical Track - Tutorials (Room 3) 1515 Introduction to Fileman by Tom Ackerman 1600 VistA lab interface by (Blue Cliff) Other Tracks (Room 5) Please note: Room 5 is the largest room.  When it is is marked as being used for Other Tracks, the intent is that any ad hoc tracks and impromptu meetings can use it.  By virtue of being large, several small meetings can go on simultaneously.
1645	Regroup (Room 5) An important part of VistA Community Meetings is that we refine them as we go, and this meeting will help refine the meeting for the subsequent days. Coordinators of tracks to report on progress of and plans for each track. Feedback to organizers - what needs improvement.
1700	Dinner - on your own

Friday, January 11, 2008

0900	Beginning Clinical Application Coordinator (CAC) by Syed Bokhari (Room 5) CAC is the most important single role in the successful installation and continuing operation of VistA.  Syed Bokhari will  provide a tutorial on this essential role.
1015	Break - refreshments on Friday, January 11 provided by InterSystems
1030	Parallel tracks Community Health Centers (Room 2) Barriers to the adoption of electronic health records in general, and VistA/RPMS in particular - group discussion led by Matt King VistA Installations and Configuration (Room 1) Technical Track (Room 3) 1030 The Very Latest Fileman Enhancements by George Timson 1120 Implementing the VistA-Quest Labs Inteface by Anna Joseph Other Tracks (Room 5) Vendor forum 1 - an opportunity for vendors involved in implementing VistA to get together and discuss what is important to them in terms of a VistA community.
1215	Lunch - provided by Medsphere
1330	Product, Vendor & Organization Showcase & Update (Room 5). These short presentations will feature short presentations on products, vendors and organizations in the VistA arena.  This session focuses on non-profit organizations 1330 The Hawaii Consortium for Medicine and Health by Frank Fukunaga 1350 VistA Expertise Network by Owen Hermesen 1410 VistA Software Alliance by Duncan Pringle 1430
1500	Break - refreshments provided
1515	Parallel Tracks Community Health Centers (Room 2) How can HRSA help you? - group discussion led by Johanna Barraza-Cannon VistA Installations and Configuration (Room 1) Technical Track 1 (Room 3) 1515 New Decision Support System by Emory Fry 1600 Projecting VistA to SQL for Analytics and Reporting by Dave Lutz Other Tracks (Room 5) Lightning talks 1 - first come first served, real-time sign-ups 1515 CAC and Family Practice by Steve Watson 1535 Access auditing for HIPAA by George Timson 1555 1615
1645	Regroup and review (Room 5) Coordinators of tracks to report on progress of and plans for each track. Feedback to organizers - what needs improvement.
1715	Dinner - on your own
1715	Optional - tour of Midland Memorial Hospital Since the number of attendees on a tour is limited, please contact K.S. Bhaskar or Peter Bodtke if you would like to go on the tour.  First come first served.  However, if there is enough interest, we may be able to schedule another tour on a different evening.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

0900	Plenary Session (Room 5) 0900 Demonstration of VistA by Syed Bokhari 0945 HIPAA and VistA by George Lilly and Dave Whitten
1030	Break - refreshments provided
1045	Parallel Tracks Community Health Centers (Room 2) VistA Installations and Configuration (Room 1) Technical Track (Room 3) 1045 Intermediate Clinical Applications Coordinator by Syed Bokhari 1130 Advanced Fileman Tutorial by George Timson Other Tracks (Room 5) Lightning Talks 2 - first come first served, real time sign-ups 1045 1105 1125 1145
1215	Lunch - provided
1330	Product, Vendor & Organization Showcase & Update (Room 5). This session focuses on commercial products and vendors. 1330 Medsphere by Kathy Doub-English 1350 Blue Cliff by Norman Dodd 1410 GT.M by K.S. Bhaskar 1430 DSS by Mike Ginsburg
1500	Break - refreshments provided
1515	Parallel Tracks Community Health Centers (Room 2) 1515 Update - RPMS at IHS by Howard Hays (tentative remote presentation) 1600 Other Tracks (Room 1) 1515 Vendor forum 2 - an opportunity for vendors to provide input to WorldVistA leadership on a formal structure for vendors to participate in what is today an organization of individuals Technical Track 1 (Room 3) 1515 Continuity of Care 1 group discussion led by Nancy Anthracite and George Lilly Technical Track 2 (Room 5) 1515 Security, Continuity of Business and other Robustness topics - the GT.M / Linux / x86 FOSS platform below VistA by Larry Landis 1600 Security, Continuity of Business and other Robustness topics - the VistA application by David Whitten
1645	Regroup and review (Room 5) Coordinators of tracks to report on progress of and plans for each track. Feedback to organizers - what needs improvement.
1715	Dinner - on your own

Sunday, January 13

0900	Product, Vendor & Organization Showcase & Update (Room 5). This session is for any that could not be accommodated earlier. 0900 Picis by Chip Lyon 0920 Kabot International by Arif Toor 0940 1000
1030	Break - refreshments provided
1045	Parallel Tracks Community Health Centers (Room 2) 1045 An opportunity for CHSs to provide input to WorldVistA leadership on a formal structure for CHCs to participate in what is today an organization of individuals 1130 Group discussion - how to create a community of CHCs adopting free / open source EHR systems VistA Installations and Configuration (Room 1) Technical track (Room 3) 1045 Update on EsiObjects and GUI Registration by Emory Fry 1130 VistA & Personal Health Record (PHR) Systems by Jose Lacal
1215	Working lunch - provided (Room 5) Coordinators of tracks to report on progress of each track Feedback to organizers - what can we do better next time? Action items / follow-up
1330	End of 16th VistA Community Meeting Meeting organizers and WorldVistA officers and directors are requested to stay to debrief behind if flight schedules permit.
1400	Depart

Contact Information

People mentioned above can be reached at e-mail addresses below.

Person	e-mail
Nancy Anthracite	nanthracite at verizon dot net
Johanna Barraza-Cannon	jbarraza-cannon at hrsa dot gov
K.S. Bhaskar	bhaskar at worldvista dot org
Peter Bodtke	pbodtke at worldvista dot org
Larry Landis	ldlandis at gmail dot com
Joseph Dal Molin	dalmolin at worldvista dot org
Matt King	mking at clinica adelante dot com
Maury Pepper	mpepper at worldvista dot org
Jeff Weinfeld	jweinfeld at hrsa dot gov
Dave Whitten	whitten at worldvista dot org