# Presentation: 683499

## VeHU 2007

- Session #166
- New Attendee Orientation
- Orlando, Florida

## Conference History

- Began as CAMP CPRS in 1997
- First CAMP had around 150 participants
- Last year, there were around 900 participants
- Beginning in 2005 attendance cap instituted
- 2004 – first year as VeHU

**Notes:**
First CAMP (Come And Make Plans) held in Austin, Texas.

Last year, there were nearly 150 faculty.  That just about equals the number of attendees from the first year.

This year, we have around 1600 participants...

## Conference Materials

- Course catalog
- Abstract booklet
- Schedule
- Tickets
- ID badge/lanyard
- Barcode

**Notes:**
Course catalog describes each class and tells where and when the class will be taught.  In addition, the catalog includes a handy day-by-day schedule so you can quickly see what’s offered on each day.

The abstract booklet is your key to the posters that will be on display in the exhibit hall.  We had a phenomenal amount of entries this year and it really is worth your time to see what your peers are doing.

You should have a copy of your schedule.  Please review it to make sure it’s correct.  Pay special attention to the hands-on classes.  If there are mistakes, we’ll discuss how to fix those in a few minutes.

Tickets.  If you are scheduled to attend classes, you should have a ticket for each of these classes.  If you’re missing a ticket or if you have a ticket for a class you aren’t scheduled to attend, you’ll need to correct that.  More on that in a few seconds as well.

ID Badge/Lanyard – You should have an ID Badge in your packet that has your name/site on it. This year the name badge will also include a barcode. We’ll discuss what that barcode is used for a little later. 

## Classes

- Numbering
- Lecture or hands-on?
- Lunch and learn
- Usability lab(s)
- Live Meeting Simulcasts

## Scheduling Issues

- Incorrect class
- Want to drop/add classes
- Ticket Exchange – Hands-on/Lecture

**Notes:**
If you see that you’re scheduled to attend a class that you don’t think you signed up for or if you don’t see a class on your schedule that you thought you signed up for, please proceed to the ticket exchange desk.  

You can make certain changes to your schedule, should you need to, by going to the ticket exchange desk. In particular, if you’re planning on dropping a hands-on class, we’d really like to have you turn in your ticket for that class rather than just not showing up.  By turning in your ticket, you’ll be giving someone else an opportunity to attend that class.

Of course, if you’re already reviewed and updated your schedule via the website prior to coming to the conference then your hands-on tickets will be printed and given to you at registration.  Please be sure and check to make sure that the tickets that are printed are for the classes you want to attend.  Any problems can be handled at the ticket exchange desk.

## Class Specifics

- Name Badges
- Room directors
- Question cards
- Evaluation forms

**Notes:**
Name badges will be required to attend any class or VeHU event.  Security will not allow you into any classroom without your badge. No exceptions.   We mentioned previously that your badge contains a barcode.  Upon entering a class, there will be staff at the doors to scan your badge.  This allows us to track numbers of attendees at each session and analyze and plan better for class sessions in the future.  Rest assured that we are not interested in tracking anyone’s whereabouts at the conference or what sessions you do or do not attend.  This is just another way that we can improve the VeHU experience in years to come.

Each room where classes are held has a room director.  The room director is there to make sure that the everything goes smoothly.  Should you have any issues please let the room director know so they can attempt to resolve those issues for you.  All room directors wear the same color shirt each day of the conference so they can easily be identified in the room where the class is being held.  

On your table in each class room there will be 3x5 index cards.  Should you have any questions related to the presentation, please write your question on the card.  In addition, put the class number at the top of the card as well.  At the end of the class, the room director will collect all question cards and give them to the presenter.  Should there be time remaining, the presenter will address your question.  If there isn’t enough time, the questions will be answered and those answers will be put up on the web site.

You should have received evaluation forms in your registration materials.  The form included with your registration material is for the overall conference.  You should receive individual evaluation forms in each lecture class.  For each hands-on class, you will be able to electronically complete a session evaluation prior to leaving the class.  Please take the time to fill these out and turn them in.  We really do look at your feedback.

## Non-class Information

- Exhibit hall
- Posters
- Virtual Hospital
- Breaks
- Buses

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- FREE FOOD

- Tuesday night reception – free food!

**Notes:**
Some tracks will have either a dinner or some other type of get together in order to provide additional networking opportunities. If you were not aware of any of these opportunities, your catalog should include information to help you. If you need more information, as always, go to the Information Desk. These are excellent networking opportunities and you should really take advantage of them if possible.

The exhibit hall includes vendors as well as VA groups.  Be sure to schedule time to go through the exhibit hall.

Each year, we invite sites to submit posters detailing innovative ideas that they’ve implemented.  The posters are categorized by groups All of the posters are judged and a winning poster is selected from all accepted poster entries.  All of the accepted posters, including the winners, are on display in the exhibit hall.  Come and take a look and see if something there might help you solve a problem at your site.  On Tuesday night, there is a reception and poster presenters are usually available to answer any questions you may have about their poster.  Also, on Wed and Thurs at lunch, in the exhibit hall, the poster winners will be presenting their posters.  Lunch will be available in the exhibit hall so come and join us and hear about some great ideas.

For the second year, the exhibit hall will include what we term the VeHU Virtual Hospital. This will include some booths that you can visit that simulate the service that veterans experience while receiving care at VA Medical Centers or clinics.  This will highlight those areas where technology facilitates the care we provide.  The Virtual Hospital includes both VA booths and vendors that have devices interfaced with VA applications.   While touring the Virtual Hospital, you will receive stamps offered by selected booths and vendors. By collecting stamps at each of these booths, you will be entered in a raffle to win one of many cool prizes throughout the conference.  For more information, stop by the Virtual Hospital registration desk in the exhibit hall and pick up a guide.

In addition, there is free food at the reception.  Come on down and take advantage of another great networking opportunity.

And if Tuesday night’s free food isn’t enough, each day of the conference at break times (once in the morning and once in the afternoon) there will be snacks and refreshments available to help you through another educational day.

If you happen to be in the overflow hotel, there is bus service which you probably used to get here.  There is a defined schedule for this bus service and you will find that in your conference materials.  Unfortunately this service only operates to and from the overflow hotel, it will not transport anyone to Orlando attractions.

## Exhibit Hall Hours

- Tuesday 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
**Reception 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm ****Free Food!**[Poster staffing 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm]
- Wednesday 12 noon – 6:00 pm
- Thursday 8:00 am – 1:30 pm

**Notes:**
The reception will include some kind of entertainment.   And this is a great opportunity to network with others and just browse the booths to see if there are any can’t miss stops during the other open hours.   And did we mention Free Food?

## Staying In Touch

- Daily newsletter
- Signage
- Information booth
- Message board
- Greeters
- Conference website

**Notes:**
Each morning, a newsletter is printed and handed out.  Be sure to get a copy to find out the latest information regarding the conference.  Any changes to class locations, meetings, after conference activities, etc will be noted in the newsletter.

Outside of each room that is hosting class sessions, you will see a large stand-up sign that will have the sessions held in that room for the entire week.   This can be helpful if you want to take note of where a session that you will be attending later is held or it can verify that you’re in the right place at the right time.   Around the hotel and conference area there will be other signs with the VeHU 2007 logo on them and they will have directions or other information that can be of use to you so take a moment to look them over if you see one in an unusual place.   

The information booth has answers to all of your conference related questions.  If you have any questions, I’d start here because if they don’t know the answer, they’ll have access to someone who does.  In addition to answering questions, you can also order conference related logo-wear or purchase one of the limited VeHU t-shirts that will be available.

The message board is usually located next to the information booth and provides a way to leave messages for other attendees or to notify folks of meetings they might be interested in attending.  Often times, VISNs will have after conference meetings.  Please check the message board throughout the day to stay up-to-date on conference happenings.

The conference web-site is available during the conference and is updated every night.  Every hands-on class has access to the website.  Once a course has been presented, the power point presentation will be available for your review.  In addition, any questions that were not answered in the class will be posted, along with their answer.  The web-site can be accessed well after the conference ends to obtain information regarding classes, etc.  In addition, the web site available to your colleagues at home will be updated each night as well so they will be able to download presentations as quickly as someone at the conference.

## Final Items

- Continuing Education Certificate – you _must_ attend the closing session in order to receive your certificate
- Problems?

**Notes:**
This conference is accredited and you will receive credit from your professional association for attending.  However, in order to receive your certificate of attendance, you must attend the closing session and either leave your badge or have it scanned. Instructions will be given during the closing session.

Should you have any problems during the conference, please feel free to approach any staff member, room director, or the information booth.  We really want you to enjoy and learn at this conference and we’ll do everything we can to help you accomplish those goals!