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Madison AACFS Conference October 8 - 10
And
First Annual PANDA Clinical Seminar and Patient Workshop OCTOBER 7
By
Pat Fero
The
AACFS Seventh International conference on CFS, FM and other Related
Illnesses will provide a unique conference experience for patient
participants. With the utmost cooperation from the AACFS Board and
Planning Committees, Wisconsin Medical Society (WMS) conference planners
and the AACFS business office, our Association is working toward three
intriguing days in October.
Presenting good scientific information to patients shows the complexity of
these illnesses and the fact that researchers are working diligently to
unravel this illness puzzle. Information education gives us the knowledge
to make informed decisions about our bodies and our medical care.
Knowledge empowers. We need the strength to endure ignorance, and to
resist unsolicited medical advice from the public and from medical
professionals who have very little understanding of CFS/FM and related
illnesses. This conference will provide one day of formal research
presentations as well as poster sessions on two days.
Education
Patients have the right to access a balanced research and clinical program
with presentations of innovative studies and alternative treatment
protocols. Until researchers understand the etiology of these illnesses,
patients will seek alternative, integrated medicine to help relieve
symptoms. In turn, this means that those clinicians providing services
should have the opportunity to present for peer review. Two concurrent
clinical/ patient days provide choice and opportunity for researchers,
clinicians and patients to exchange information and increase understanding
of these illnesses.
Education
An
understanding of misdiagnosis and overlapping conditions is crucial to
patients maintaining health and knowing when to seek help. We hope that
several sessions will be devoted to clinical diagnostic skills and to
informing patients about related illnesses.
Education
Our
responsibility as host of this conference is to provide a climate where
patients paying a good deal of money for travel, accommodations and
conference fees, have provisions made for their disability. In addition,
we think that conferences can be frenetic. All participants need
places to go for quiet activity and relaxation. In that light, with the
help of well volunteers, we are working on the following:
Availability of Assistive devices and transit from the hotel entrance to
the conference center.
There is an enclosed walk way between buildings, but after a full day of
meetings, we know that people may not be able to walk that far.
Free bodywork
during conference days.
Art & Soul Music Café on Friday evening.
This early evening, after dinner event provides participants the
opportunity to relax, enjoy and socialize with conference participants. A
short program of wonderfully talented musicians who happen to be patients
will be followed by an open mike. All researchers and clinicians are
welcome to step forward to the piano, or grab a guitar and join in.
Art & Soul Exhibit.
The purpose of this display is to celebrate creativity. We are people
first and patients second. Any patient participant can contribute to the
exhibit. Books, articles, poetry, short stories, cartoons, and artwork of
any kind will be collected early Friday morning at the conference center.
Two well people will set up the exhibit and it will be staffed at all
times.
The Studio.
One room will be set aside for an art studio. Our Association will provide
multi medium materials. The room will be staffed with volunteer
professional art therapists, some patients and others not. The purpose of
this area is to provide conference participants with a quiet place to
socialize, unwind and create.
Quiet room for patients.
Although the conference center is connected to the hotel, some patients
may be at the Sheraton hotel across the street. A small rest area will
accommodate those who need to lie down.
Quiet preparation and meeting room for AACFS board members and speakers.
Expect a conference brochure in July. In addition, conference registration
and accommodation information will appear in the SUMMER 2004 issue of the
Lifeline.
As registration and conference session information is made available to
us, we will post it to the Wisconsin Web site: www.wicfs-me.org
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