IVECCS gears up for New Orleans

New Orleans-

The International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium (IVECCS) is readying for a Sept. 9-13 meeting that promises to save lives.

According to conference organizer Dr. Gary Stamp, of the Veterinary Emergencyand Critical Care Society (VECCS), "We present continuing educationthat saves lives. We want to raise the level of patient care for the acutelyor seriously ill."

To accomplish the goal, the small animal and equine program is packedwith lectures and hands-on practical laboratories on all the issues facedby emergency and critical care veterinarians and technicians.

This year's program has expanded its "limited enrollment" sessionsto 50, Stamp says, which are small laboratories and seminars covering manytopic areas. "People really have a chance to receive some very individualizedinstruction," Stamp explains.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Bernard Rollin of ColoradoState University who will discuss the ethics of intensive care. A two-dayprogram on pain management also is a highlight of this year's conference,Stamp says. In addition, the conference will host a grief counseling workshopfor technicians.

The meeting is expected to draw more than 2,000 veterinarians and techniciansthis year. Last year, the meeting's attendance grew by 25 percent. Stampsays the meeting will continue to offer high-quality continuing educationfor small animal practitioners, but says the conference also has grown itsemergency and critical care offerings for equine practitioners, too.

The entire program is available at www.veccs.org.

For more information call (866) 348-3227 or (615) 301-3045; e-mail:[email protected]. Questions on IVECCS program or VECCS call (800) 948-3227;e-mail [email protected].