The American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA) is a multidisciplinary, scientific conference for wound care professionals which include MDs, DOs, DPMs, PAs, NPs, RNs and PTs and other wound care professionals currently working in private practice, acute settings, long term care or home health care. Both oral and poster format abstracts will be presented at the APWCA2009 National Clinical Conference which will also serve as the annual meeting for the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine. Join us at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel where pre-conference program, general sessions and post-conference program will be held over April 2- 5,  2009.

Please adhere to the following regulations:

1. All abbreviations must be defined with the first use.
2. Use generic drug or device names.  Brand names may be used only if the drug or device is part of a clinical trial or there is not generic alternative; however they may not be used in the title.  Posters that do not adhere to the rule will be removed from display.  You may use an asterisk to identify a product name in small print at the bottom of the poster.
3. Presentations that constitute promotion and advertising will not be accepted.  This includes the pervasive or inappropriate use of logos.  No company product information may be displayed or disseminated in conjunction with the oral or poster presentation.
4. You must disclose any financial arrangements or assistance that you have received from a corporation or institution, such as the underwriting of a cost of a presentation.  This disclosure must be made on the application in the applicable area.
5. All abstract proposals must include the following:
   1. Abstract title
   2. Author(s); presenter’s name should be listed first
   3. The abstract is limited to 250 words.
   4. Abstract submissions should include the following information:
      1. Goal and objective.
      2. Purpose or rationale
      3. Methodology
   5. Discussion or conclusion. 
6. Oral and Poster presenters must register for the conference.  Presenters are responsible for making their own travel and hotel arrangements.
7. Oral or poster presentations that have been previously presented of published are eligible for submission as long as previous publication or submission is noted upon submission.
8. Each individual may submit more than one abstract regardless of designation as author or co-author.  The first or primary author can be selected to present, at most, one oral presentation.  There is no limit to the number of poster abstracts that can be submitted by an author or co-author.

Application and submission

1. The deadline for all Oral and Poster abstract application submissions is February 2, 2009. Applications will not be accepted after this date. You should receive acknowledgement of the receipt of your application within 48 hours of submission. Notification of acceptance for presentation will be sent via e-mail by February 9, 2009.
2. All abstract applications must be submitted as an e-mail attachment on the forms available by clicking on the bottom of the web page.  We are unable to process and review fax and other forms of applications.
3. Applicants must indicate on the application the type of abstract, either poster or oral, for   which they are submitting an application. 
4. Applicants may submit a specific abstract for both poster exhibit and oral abstract presentations. Due to the fact that there are two separate abstract committees, two separate applications (one for oral presentation and one for poster exhibition) must be submitted using the APWCA abstract application and indicating the format for which you are applying. 
5. All applications should be submitted to: abstracts@apwca.org.
   
   Please contact Mary-Ellen Dobson, RN-BC, CWOCN, DAPWCA at mdobson@aol.com with questions.  If you have a problem contacting the Chairperson, please contact APWCA headquarters wounds@apwca.org or by phone 215-364-4100.

Review Process

There are 2 Abstract Review Committees, one for posters, the other for orals.  Each abstract will be reviewed based on following criteria:

1. Are the objective(s), materials, and methods stated clearly?
2. Are the objective(s), materials, and methods of importance and interest to this audience?
3. Are the details of the study described so that the progression and/or treatment are clear and pertinent to this audience?
4. Are the findings stated clearly and do they support the objective(s)?
5. Is the information current and relevant to the target audience?

Poster Exhibits

1. Posters must be setup for presentation by 7:30 AM, Friday, April 3, 2009.  Setup time for posters will be available Thursday, April 2.  All presenters are required to have posters available for review from 7:30 AM Friday, April 3, 2009 until 2:00 PM Saturday, April 4, 2009.  Early removal of the poster material is prohibited by the association without prior authorization associated with special circumstances.  Removal of the poster from the poster board Saturday, April 4 at 2:00 PM is the responsibility of the presenter.  Failure to do this may result in damage or loss of the poster exhibit.
2. There will be a dedicated poster session to be scheduled during the conference so that attendees can meet and talk with the authors of their posters.
3. Presenters should also be available to answer questions during designated poster sessions.  While we encourage presenters to attend the their exhibit during all poster sessions, an author or co-author of the abstract must attend their exhibit during the latter portion of lunch sessions on both days of the exhibit, Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4.  (1-2 pm each day). 
4. The Association will provide each poster presenter with a poster board that is 8 feet in width and 4 feet in height.  Presenters must bring their own pushpins, as they will not be provided for you.  Pushpins are the only acceptable form of application of your poster to the assigned board.

Oral Presentations

1. Oral abstract presenters are expected to attend the entire oral abstract session.  The time and date of this session will be provided to the primary author with the acceptance letter of the oral abstract. 
2. Oral abstract presentations will be a 10 minute lecture followed by a 5 minute question and answer session. 
3. Oral presenters must be in the scheduled room at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the oral abstract session to load their presentation on the computer.  Failure to be in the lecture room to deliver your presentation at its scheduled time will lead to forfeiture of your lecture.
4. We also request that presenters remain during the entire session since individuals frequently like to ask questions of presenters, but may be inhibited in front of an audience.