Seminars
Portland, Oregon

Join us in the stunning, lively, quirky, beautiful and friendly Rose City—Portland, Oregon—for two-day seminars of learning and scintillating discussion about key issues in evidence- and value-based clinical improvement activities.

Seminar Menu........

Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature for Therapies
Selected Topics
April 4 & 5, 2012

Join us and improve your critical appraisal skills. Without highly developed critical appraisal skills, the quality of studies tends to look “OK.” In fact, there is a world of difference between “knowing the evidence” and knowing which evidence is valid & clinically useful and which is not. We aim to make critical appraisal of the medical literature meaningful, useful, simple and doable...

This is a more advanced program. Attendance does not require knowledge of evidence evaluation essentials, although it helps to have at least basic critical appraisal skills. Program is otherwise designed as a stand-alone which will include highlights of critical appraisal essentials. This program will be particularly helpful to those who routinely evaluate the medical literature.

Teaching methods include mini-lectures, exercises (includes critical appraisal exercises), discussions, Q&A sessions. 

"I have been meaning to thank you and Mike for all of the training and insight that you have given me. It really has made a huge difference in my professional life. For example, this summer I tackled an important safety debate. It took me many hours, but at the end of the day, I concluded that we, as a company, needed to make new recommendations. Without my Delfini training, I would have never had the confidence, nor been able to develop a convincing case. I know sometimes the jaded medical world may feel that evidence-based medicine and critical evaluations are nice academic exercises that rarely, if ever, influence member safety. We know that this is not the case. Keep carrying the banner of enlightenment in 2011! Your workshops help re-ignite for many the real reason they got involved in pharmacy and medicine in the first place. We definitely can make a difference..." Name Held in Confidence

About the Venue

We have chosen a magnificent location for this program. RiverPlace Hotel is a unique Portland gem, and we will be taking advantage of its beauty and amenities. Located in downtown Portland, the RiverPlace Hotel is a boutique hotel which is located right next to the 36+ acre Tom McCall Waterfront Park and directly in front of the western esplanade of the Willamette River. The hotel features river views from its wrap-around deck, exceptional restaurant, Three Degrees Waterfront Bar and Grill. The hotel décor is elegant Pacific Northwest-rustic. It is both a peaceful and refreshing refuge and just steps into the busy heart of downtown. Following the program on Day 1, there will be a no-host social at the Three Degrees Waterfront Bar & Grill, where we can enjoy each other’s company and the gorgeous river views.

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Topics Made Understandable & Time Saving Tips include—

• Highlights of the Essentials of Critical Appraisal—The 5 "A"s of Evidence-based Practice
  • The 3 Basic Steps of Critical Appraisal
  • Assessing the 4 Phases of Primary Studies for Bias, Confounding & Chance:
    1. Subject Selection
    2. Study Performance
    3. Attrition
    4. Assessment
  • Meaningful Clinical Benefit
  • Evidence Grading
• Composite Endpoints
• Selected Analysis Issues
• Time-to-Event Analysis (Survival Curves)
• Interpreting Forest Plots
• Understanding & Applying Confidence Intervals
• Safety Issues
• Assessing Comparative Directions
• Cross-over Designs
• Working with Secondary Studies & Sources
• Oncology Outcomes
• Searching & Sources
• Evidence-based Decision Support

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Fast Facts & Fine Print

This is a no-frills *keep-it-simple* program:

1. Fast Facts & Fine Print

   This is a no-frills *keep-it-simple* program:

   1. Continuing education credit is available for pharmacists in the States of Montana, Oregon and Washington at a minimum.
   2. For those of other professions or in other states, no continuing education credit is offered (we are happy to explore this with you)—but you will receive valuable, practical information and learn key skills which will improve your ability to evaluate studies and perform professionally.
   3. You are on your own for meals and beverages; great choices abound. This is a foodie city. We will give you great tips!
   4. A limited number of sleeping rooms are available for program attendees at discounted rate at the RiverPlace Hotel. Reservations can be made by calling the Hotel directly at 800-227-1333. Guests need to refer to the group when making their reservations to receive the agreed upon room rate. Reservations will be taken on a space and rate availability basis.
   5. Registration fees are not available by day. This is a total package.
   6. Select handouts and tools will be provided.

Dates & Times

• Wednesday, April 4, 2011, Day 1: 8 AM—4 PM
• Thursday, April 5, 2011, Day 2: 8 AM—3 PM

Location

• RiverPlace Hotel
  Banquet Room
  1510 Southwest Harbor Way
  Portland, OR 97201
  (503) 228-3233

A small number of sleeping rooms are being held at a discount rate. Individual guest reservations can be made by calling the hotel reservation line at 800-227-1333. State you are coming for the Delfini Group event.

Registration & Payment

To secure your spot, we need your payment and the following information which can be mailed or emailed to us:

1. Name
2. Email Address
3. Mailing Address
4. Phone Number
5. Company
6. Profession or Student or Other (please specify)
7. Indicate this is for the CA Seminar
8. We also recommend waiting to learn if we have sufficient registrants for the event before purchasing plane tickets. We reserve the right to change or cancel the program or program conditions. If the program cancels for any reason, we will refund program registration fees in full.

To Pay

Fees are in US Currency—

• $500.00—Before January 1, 2012
• $545.00—On or after January 1, 2012
• $385.00—Full-time students

You can mail your check, along with the information above, to—

• Michael Stuart
  6831 31st Ave NE
  Seattle WA USA 98115

Or you can pay by credit card (US Currency will be automatically calculated by PayPal)—be sure to email us the above registration information items.

Student rates are available to full-time students and are only available by choosing the Student Rate at the time of payment.

Registration Fees

Before January 1, 2012 $500.00 On or after January 1, 2012 $545.00 Full-time Student $385.00

Refunds

Refunds must be requested in writing to Dr. Stuart at the above address or by email to . Refunds will be by check only and mailed to the registration mailing address.

Refund Schedule

• Full refund, less $100 non-refundable, upon our receipt of your request 3 months prior to the seminar.
• Fifty percent refund, upon our receipt of your request 2 months prior to the seminar.
• No refund after 1 month prior to the seminar.
• We reserve the right to change or cancel the program or program conditions. If the program cancels for any reason, we will refund program registration fees in full.

Privacy

• Any payment information between us is confidential.

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Schmooze With Us

The Delfini: Sheri Ann Strite  &  Michael E. Stuart MD

We have secured space in the beautiful Three Degrees lounge for a "Sips & Schmooze" social following the seminar on Day 1. This will be a no host event.

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About Portland, Oregon

And some fun things about Portland:
http://www.uniquely-portland-oregon.com/

Public Transportation including Airport to Downtown

Recommended Towncar (We love Mo!)

Ace Towncar
Mr. Mo Ramezani
503-516-2000
http://aaatowncars.com/

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Download Seminar Brochure

Delfini Seminar Brochure:
Critical Appraisal of the
Medical Literature for Therapies

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About us

Delfini Group
Delfini is a public service entrepreneurship founded to help solve the little known societal problem of medical misinformation which frequently results from lack of awareness and skills in the conduct and reporting of research and in evaluating scientific information. We are dedicated to helping individuals and organizations learn and apply the concepts, methods, processes, skills and tools of evidence- and value-based clinical improvement to achieve improved medical decision-making, outcomes and value. More about us, including freely available tools and information, is at our website at www.delfini.org.

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CONTACT DELFINI