NWAS Conferences

[crash2500]

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Anybody been to any of these? Are they decent? Thinking about signing up as they have nice locations but haven't pulled the trigger. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[deleted126335]

Been to a few. Decent but not great courses. Often a nice location slightly off season to keep costs down. The organization is owned and run by a CRNA and attendees were >>50% CRNAs.

 

[anbuitachi]

Been to a few. Decent but not great courses. Often a nice location slightly off season to keep costs down. The organization is owned and run by a CRNA and attendees were >>50% CRNAs.

I wanted to try but registration is too expensive...

 

[B-Bone]

also been to a few. they are pretty garbage if you're looking for real anesthesia info. They have a cadre of "ringers" that give their same canned lectures over and over again. locations can be nice if you're just looking for a write-off, but for a real conference, look elsewhere.

 

[ghastly75]

been to 3 in past 5 years. Not bad in my opinion, some speakers are fantastic and others meh. Locations and timing are what determines my attendance. As someone else said, CRNA owned and >50% attendees have been CRNA’s. One of three had a CRNA lecturer and he was not too good and made me want to vomit ( by some of the subtle propaganda ).

 

[deleted126335]

I wanted to try but registration is too expensive...

They are cheaper than many anesthesia courses.

What are you looking for:

1. Great CME courses where you actually go for the education? Subspecialty courses are best. For a Smorgasbord for a generalist -ASA meeting
2. "Softish" CME courses in nice locations with minimal sign in requirements on a budget? NWAS fits the bill.
3. Total sham CME courses in nice locations that you want to spend CME $ on? They are out there.
4. Luxury destinations with strong educational component-Not Cheap? Anesthesia Camp and Holiday Seminars.

 

[drfeelgood]

I use Travel Medical Seminar which is part of the AudioDigest Foundation. Just tell them your location and they send the materials to you. You can complete the work before hand. That way you can sleep in.

 

[deleted126335]

I use Travel Medical Seminar which is part of the AudioDigest Foundation. Just tell them your location and they send the materials to you. You can complete the work before hand. That way you can sleep in.

See #3 in my post above.

 

[dhb]

The organization is owned and run by a CRNA and attendees were >>50% CRNAs.

That's what puts me off

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Agree with above. I’ve been to two, maybe three. The two I know for sure have been to Maui and an Alaskan cruise. I’d say 50% of lectures were somewhat decent. CCF usually puts on good conferences. I have been doing online CME lately and thinking about ASA this year. But you only go to NWAS for the destination, not the content.

 

[Consigliere]

Been to a few. Decent but not great courses. Often a nice location slightly off season to keep costs down. The organization is owned and run by a CRNA and attendees were >>50% CRNAs.

This means you'll NEVER bump into me at one of these.

 

[greenbean]

im at one now, in banff, the lectures are given by actual physicians and they are good speakers with interesting topics. this conference is CCM, not anesthesia per se. however the conference is run poorly and designed for maximum profit on the part of the nurse anesthetist who owns this company. they should make this only for them, b'c honestly this is one of the worst CMEs i have ever attended. they arent giving us all of our CME credits because they decided to give everyone a 'day off' on wednesday but then resume on thurs/friday, well guess what ? No one discussed that with me and I didn't find out until I attended the conference and saw the schedule When I pointed that out their whole staff is pretty snippy and I suspect racist. Definitely anti physician which is kind of funny.. Anyway I intend to file multiple complaints about them so that they lose their accreditation.

 

[Ashers]

im at one now, in banff, the lectures are given by actual physicians and they are good speakers with interesting topics. this conference is CCM, not anesthesia per se. however the conference is run poorly and designed for maximum profit on the part of the nurse anesthetist who owns this company. they should make this only for them, b'c honestly this is one of the worst CMEs i have ever attended. they arent giving us all of our CME credits because they decided to give everyone a 'day off' on wednesday but then resume on thurs/friday, well guess what ? No one discussed that with me and I didn't find out until I attended the conference and saw the schedule When I pointed that out their whole staff is pretty snippy and I suspect racist. Definitely anti physician which is kind of funny.. Anyway I intend to file multiple complaints about them so that they lose their accreditation.

They often have Wednesday off if it is a 5 day conference (Eg. M-F on Maui). They post the schedule online ahead of time. I've never seen them make it fewer credits.

I'm doing one in Scottsdale that is 20 credits over 4 days Thurs-Sun (no CRNAs teaching because I won't go to one with CRNAs). I had to cancel going to Maui last year, so I needed an easy one to o.

Banff is advertised as 20 credits M-F with Wed off. Some are 24 hours, and they will have a longer daily schedule on the 4 days.

I've done several when they are somewhere that I want to go and use a business expense, but I do look for MD only lectures and topics that interest me. Some lecturers are much better than other.

 

[abolt18]

im at one now, in banff, the lectures are given by actual physicians and they are good speakers with interesting topics. this conference is CCM, not anesthesia per se. however the conference is run poorly and designed for maximum profit on the part of the nurse anesthetist who owns this company. they should make this only for them, b'c honestly this is one of the worst CMEs i have ever attended. they arent giving us all of our CME credits because they decided to give everyone a 'day off' on wednesday but then resume on thurs/friday, well guess what ? No one discussed that with me and I didn't find out until I attended the conference and saw the schedule When I pointed that out their whole staff is pretty snippy and I suspect racist. Definitely anti physician which is kind of funny.. Anyway I intend to file multiple complaints about them so that they lose their accreditation.

Seems like you didn't read the schedule... They nearly always build in a day off on Wednesday for their M-F conferences. Should still get the full 20 credits. Honestly, sign in in the morning, get breakfast, and go to the lectures you want to attend and skip the others. These conferences are 100% about vacation with the side benefit of CME. Take a chill pill and enjoy the trip.

I just did the one in Maui last month for critical care. 1 solid lecturer, one okay, and one I refused to go to because he has no credibility (was formerly at my institution and has a poor reputation amongst all clinicians that worked with him).