Florida Medical Directors Association Post-Conference Press Release

 Florida Medical Directors Association Hosts Successful 2014 Best Care Practices Conference

11^th Annual Poster Award winners announced

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA) and President Dr. Robert Kaplan are extremely pleased with the outcome of the recent Best Care Practices in the Geriatrics Continuum conference, held this past October. The renowned geriatrics conference gathered together more than 240 physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, and administrators at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Excellent accommodations, amazing speakers and a focused clinical theme, “Future Directions: Transforming Long-Term Care”, were highlights of the conference that aims to provide a high quality educational and networking experience for all those with an interest in long-term care and geriatrics.
This year’s conference again featured an outstanding presence from AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, FMDA’s National Affiliate. Best Care Practices was honored to have AMDA President, Dr. Leonard Gelman, AMDA President-Elect and FMDA Director, Dr. Naushira Pandya, speak on Friday and Saturday of the conference. AMDA Past-President Dr. Charles Crecelius, AMDA Executive Director, Mr. Christopher Laxton, and AMDA’s Director of Public Policy, Mr. Alex Bardakh, were also in attendance.
A major focus of the conference each year is the National Leaders Forum which invited Dr. Gelman, Sharon Clackum, PharmD, President Elect of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and Rachel Pryor, Senior Adviser to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington, D.C., to speak briefly about their respective organizations and what challenges they may be facing. This is a very important session every year and brings up great talking points that impact the continuum of long-term care in clinical, administrative, and legislative areas.
FMDA President Dr. Robert Kaplan is delighted with the growing success of Best Care Practices and the level of support received year after year from our collaborating organizations.
“As the president of FMDA, we are very grateful for our successful collaboration with numerous long term care health care organizations across the state. FMDA will continue to work hard to provide high quality education for those practicing in long-term care and working for our nation’s elderly population.”
Lastly, during the Annual Awards Luncheon at this year’s conference, winners of the 11^th Annual Posters Session were announced. Katherine Hypes, ARNP, was named the 1^st place winner and received a $50 Amazon gift card for her study on video games as therapy in the skilled nursing facility. Dr. Pandya, who chairs the Poster Awards Committee, was impressed with the amount of quality submissions this year. She is already looking forward to next year’s process.
For more information about next year’s Best Care Practices Conference taking place at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, October 22-25, 2015, please contact FMDA’s Sr. Manager of Association Services, Matt Reese at (561) 689-6321.

The Florida Medical Directors Association represents nearly 250 medical directors, attending physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Florida’s post-acute care continuum including sub-acute care, hospice, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities, as well as in continuing care retirement communities. The mission of FMDA is to promote the highest quality care as patients’ transition through the long term care continuum. FMDA is dedicated to providing leadership, professional education and advocacy for the inter-professional team.

FMDA is the official state chapter of the American Medical Directors Association and a Specialty Society of the Florida Medical Association.  It is based in West Palm Beach, Florida.