Victorian Infection Control Professionals Association Conference

Victory Room, Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Australia

November 23 - 25 2005

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'HOW TO GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK'

On behalf of the VICPA Executive and the Conference Organising Committee we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the VICPA 2005 Conference.

As we are all working at a time when there is close scrutiny of operating budgets, justification of infection control positions and changes to infection control funding, the VICPA Executive has chosen 'How to get More Bang for your Buck' as the title for the 2005 Conference at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

Health care associated infections have a substantial impact on health service budgets and have a significant socio economic impact for patients entering our healthcare systems and their families. The delivery of healthcare services is shifting away from the traditional inpatient care model. Many services are now provided through or via hospital in the home and outpatient programs where there is less emphasis on infection control activities. As infection control programs do not generate an income for healthcare services it can be difficult to justify some of the services provided by Infection Control teams. However, even small infection control program initiatives have been demonstrated to be cost-effective. This year's Conference program has been designed to highlight some of these initiatives and challenges as we attempt to maintain and compete for infection control program resources and to work out 'How to get More Bang for your Buck'.

At this year's VICPA Conference, the Scientific Program will include concurrent sessions on both days to meet the needs and diversity of interest for our VICPA members. Our keynote speakers, Dr Victor Rosenthal (ID Physician) and Dr. Nicholas Graves (Health Economist) will be speaking on issues related to the economic impact of hospital acquired infections on our health systems and Infection Control programs.

We would like to encourage all Victorian Infection Control Professionals to contribute to this exciting Conference by sharing your expertise, innovations and knowledge with your infection control colleagues.

Please visit this website for program updates.

We look forward to you joining us at the VICPA 2005 Conference.

Cindy Grieve
Convenor