WELCOME

Following the success of the inaugural meeting it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to “Bedside Critical Care 2011”. The inspiration for this initiative has arisen from two key needs. Firstly, a desire to have an educational meeting with a balance of short clinical updates reinforced with practical skill sessions. To this end we have planned a program comprising of four streams:

• Hemodynamic Monitoring
• Renal Replacement Therapy
• Difficult Ventilation Scenarios and Rescue strategies
• Critical Care Radiology

The great success of the meeting has come from assembling a group of hands-on clinicians to update us in how they manage their patients. The morning clinical update sessions are then brought to life at the bedside, with afternoon practical skills workshops.

The second need has been to provide an academic meeting that does not demand participants to forgo yet another of their precious weekends at home. The demands of our on-call already take us away from our homes and families so this meeting has been planned mid-week and in school holidays. The venue at Kingscliff has an excellent mix of world class conference facilities set in an environment that is relaxing and conducive to learning. Whether you bring the family or travel alone the social program will have plenty for everyone.

The seed funding for the meeting has been kindly provided by the Northcare Foundation with administrative support from ANZICS and the College for Intensive Care Medicine. CME point accreditation and endorsement are being sought from the College.
 
I would strongly encourage you to come and update your practical skills and to bring your families.

Roger Harris
Chair Organising Committee