WHERE: The Donor Family Services and Aftercare Best Practices Summit will be held in Ann Arbor, MI at Gift of Life Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
WHEN: October 18-19, 2022
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: The Summit is open to all OPO staff who are involved in some aspect of donor family care, which includes those involved in family services or aftercare. The Summit is open to staff of any level, from the front line hospital and call center staff all the way up to senior leadership.
Because space is limited, OPOs are asked to check with RPG if more than five participants will be registering.
WHAT WILL BE COVERED: The Summit will discuss how those in Donor Family Services and Aftercare roles have been adapting their communication and outreach during the changes brought about by COVID-19 and will also focus on brainstorming solutions to emerging problems brought about by longer-term changes in the hospital environment and the lives of donor families.
This will be a highly collaborative, discussion-based Summit, and participants will be broken out into moderated breakout rooms to share their individual ideas and challenges with their peers.
COST: There is no fee for the Summit. Dinner is provided on the 18th and lunch is provided on the 19th (as well as light breakfast refreshments and snacks). Attendees are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.
HOW TO REGISTER
You can register here or at the follow link:
https://researchplan.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PHhVDFiNCzB7XU
Registration is required for each attendee. Please ensure every individual from your organization who is coming is registered so we can ensure we have a name badge and enough food for each participant.
This meeting is in-person and will not have a virtual component. Recordings will be made available after the event. If this event must be shifted to a virtual format, the decision will be communicated to registered attendees by early September.
TRANSPORTATION AND LODGING
HOTEL: We have a block of rooms reserved at the Holiday Inn Express Ann Arbor West, which is directly adjacent to Gift of Life MI and within walking distance. To make reservations call 734-213-1200 or visit https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/ann-arbor/arbrp/hoteldetail using the group code “RPG”. Room rates should be $107 per night. Make sure you book the correct hotel (on Research Park Dr.) – there are three Holiday Inn Express locations in town!
NOTE: You may need to call to be included in the block, as the registration code is no longer working on the website.
We have an overflow hotel as well if needed. It is the Staybridge Suites on Research Park Dr.
Please contact Trish Mertens for more details.
TRANSPORTATION: Gift of Life MI is about 20-30 minutes by car from the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. You can take a cab, shuttle bus, Uber or Lyft to get there or rent a car and park it at the hotel. We will not be going offsite nor providing transportation to/from this event.
If you have any questions, please contact Sean Jordan or call (314) 962-0083 x102.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
Tuesday, October 18
5:00-6:00 – Welcome and dinner
6:00-8:00 – Preliminary session and keynote speaker
8:00-9:00 – Afterglow reception with dessert
Wednesday, October 19
7:30-8:00 – Continental Breakfast
8:00 – 10:00 – Presentations by OPO Representatives
10:15 – 11:00 – First breakout session
11:00-12:00 – Panel and Presentation
12:00-1:00 – Lunch and Photo
1:00 – 2:30 – Second Breakout session centered around topics below
2:30-3:00 – Wrap-Up and Farewell
To see past Best Practices Summit content, please visit http://www.researchplan.com/bestpracticesvideos.
TENTATIVE BREAKOUT TOPICS
FAMILY SERVICES / FAMILY SUPPORT
- Requesting and authorization
- Providing clear explanations and guidance to donor families about what will happen
- Setting appropriate expectations for the DRAI
- Providing immediately-needed resources to donor families
- Preparing donor families for the aftercare process
GRIEF SUPPORT / AFTERCARE
- Direct Communication and Donor Family/Recipient Meetings
- Support Groups/Donor Family Events
- 6-Week Donation Recovery Letter
- Aftercare Mailings
- Staff Grief Training