Implementing New Ideas from EMS Expo 2009

On November 4, 2009, In Presentations, By 999medic

EMS Expo 2009 attendees from around the world are now home. Did you go to EMS Expo? Which presentations were the best? How many new ideas did you get from speakers, vendors, and other attendees? I always leave conferences with a long list of ideas to use as an EMS professional, share with my colleagues, and ask my employer about. These are my Everyday EMS Tip for turning conference ideas and aspirations into action.

  1. Stop reading now and make a list if you have not already (I think a handwritten list is better because you will have something to tack up or take with you), of at least 10 ideas you got at the conference. Include ideas that apply to you – personally and professionally – as well as ideas to implement in your organization.
  2. Review your list. Mark items as personal or professional.
  3. You should have some items that can be done quickly and others that might take you weeks or months to implement. That is OK.
  4. Pick one easy to item on your list and do it right now.

Welcome back. What did you do? Cross that item off your list.

  1. Prioritize the remaining items on your list. Pick a few to complete in the next few days. Build on your early successes.
  2. Post the list at your desk or some other place where you will see it frequently in the days to come.

My post-Expo list:

  1. Write two articles for EMS1.com about turning conference presentation and exhibit hall ideas into action (completed on the plane ride home).
  2. Compose handwritten notes to people that supported and encouraged me as a speaker at EMS Expo (composed on the plane ride and an ambulance shift on Monday. Now I am searching for addresses for everyone).

Thanks for sharing your ideas and actions in the comments area. I hope to connect with you at the next EMS conference. Which conference are you headed to next?

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EMS Expo Live examines the Sartin Ambulance Bus

On November 4, 2009, In Expo Live, Expo News, New Products, On the Street, Presentations, Setla Films, Show Floor, Video, By setlafilms

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Greg Friese on Presenting at EMS Expo

On October 29, 2009, In Presentations, By 999medic

Yesterday was presentation day for me at EMS Expo. I gave two presentations. 1) Trends in Online Education and 2) Social Media and Networking for Training and Administration. This was the first time I presented either topic. Some segments of each presentation I had given before.

The morning session – online education trends – began at 0830. I was impressed at the number of people that attended given the early start time, especially for the early start time. Audience questions primarily revolved around my comments about the relevance of accreditation and student creation of social media content and uploading it to websites like YouTube or Flickr. Remember you can view a PDF of my slides at EPS411.com/emsexpo2009.

My afternoon session about social media had less people, but many were repeats from the morning session. Overall I felt like I did not know what the audience needed/wanted to hear and I am not sure if the audience knew what they needed. The most significant question was “what happens if your social media efforts are too successful?” This is the first time I have been asked this question. Typically I am asked about how to start a social media presence. Next year I hope to be able to answer this question. Meanwhile, get started with a social media presence. If your efforts have a positive impact on your organization keep doing it. If your efforts don’t work stop doing it.

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Video: Focus on Connections and Collaboration

On October 26, 2009, In Presentations, Video, By 999medic

I am making final preparations for my two presentations at EMS Expo. During my presentation, Online Education Trends for Emergency Responders, I will dispel the myth of free for vendors, hospitals, and training providers to connect with EMS professionals. Sure free CE and free food is always welcome, but it does not build a tribe. Free does not build a long and collaborative connection. EMS professionals want to belong to a bigger movement, connect with other EMS professionals from near and far, interact directly with subject matter experts and EMS “celebrities,” and collaborate with one another to learn, solve problems, and improve the profession.

What do you think about the notion of free? Do you feel connected with the organizations and vendors that give you free food and free CE? Is my premise, connections and collaboration, more meaningful and useful than free?

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A 5 Step Plan for Attending EMS Expo, Part 2

On October 26, 2009, In Presentations, Show Floor, By michael

I started laying out this 5 step plan for attending the EMS Expo here in part one of this article. I finish up the planning here with how to prioritize and schedule our expo to get the most out of the trip. Use these steps along with your list of people, places and things to make sure you don’t miss a thing when you visit the EMS Expo this week.

4 – Priorities at the EMS Expo

Ok, now you’ve made a list of sessions, friends, and new toys you want to see while at the EMS Expo. What’s next? Priorities help sort out the mess and make sure you can get to see the people places and things in the most efficient manner.

First off, don’t let anyone else see the priorities list. It’s kind of like pissing off a friend by telling him that he’s number 14 on your speed dial while your dentist is number 12 (the hygienist is really cute, dude). This list is just for you. Just try to number each category separately from most important to least important. When you’re done, move on to scheduling.

5 – Schedule at the EMS Expo

Finally, you take your three lists, prioritized in some way, and compare it to the schedule. I like to first mark off the top three sessions I want to attend. Sometimes there are two at the same time. Top priority goes first and makes it easy to cross off the list.

I’ll contact my friends and colleagues and see which sessions they’re attending and what time they’ll be in the exhibit hall. I add in some time to get into the exhibit hall at least twice when friends will be there. I also try to meet up for breakfast, lunch or dinner with small groups who might know one another or I think would like to.

Finally, in between visiting friends I make a point to catch up on the toys I want to look at. I pull out my priority list and make sure I hit the booths and toys I really want to see. If they are really busy, make a note to come back later and catch up with them. Always ask for a business card and information on the product and thank the folks in the booth for explaining stuff to you.

One final caveat – keep an eye out for really cool swag (give away items from booth vendors). The good stuff gets snapped up fast. When you see something new and unusual, ask where it came from. This isn’t just for me. I use this stuff as “Daddy went away gifts” for my wife and kids. My wife still raves about an insulated coffee cup I brought back from Baltimore a few years ago. My kids can’t get enough of the stress relief balls shaped like the heart, kidneys, or other interesting shapes.

If you missed part one of this article, check out steps 1-3 of the EMS Expo planning guide here.

But I Can’t Go to the EMS Expo!

Can’t make it this year? My friend, you are in luck! We are going to be video taping interviews, product reviews, and live podcast sessions all three days of the expo and posting them within a few hours right here at EMSExpoLive.com.

You can get live updates in a couple of ways.

Follow any of the EMS Expo Live crew on Twitter – we’ll all be updating our feeds throughout the day and letting our tweets know when our videos are posted. Just search for the hashtag #EMSExpo in twitter.

Become a Fan of our Podcast Facebook pages – video updates will show up there, too.

Follow our podcast blogs for individual and group updates at least once a day!

Check out EMS Expo Live video pages here frequently for the most recent videos and to watch your favorites.

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Encouraging Audience Interaction during #EMSExpo Presentation

On October 26, 2009, In Presentations, Video, By 999medic

Interact with me before, during, and after my presentation on Trends in Online Education at EMS Expo.

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