Co-sponsored Symposia
Definition
Co-sponsored Symposia are programs that are co-sponsored jointly by SCCM and the commercial supporter’s assigned third party partner. These programs are considered part of SCCM’s 42nd Critical Care Congress. They offer an opportunity for collaboration with organizations and grantors to help SCCM promote its mission.
When a proposal or suggestion is submitted to SCCM, it will be reviewed by the Congress Program Planning Committee to ensure it meets one or more of the goals listed below, and that session content and speaker members are unbiased and will present and discuss both sides of any issue.
These programs align with the mission of SCCM, which is to secure the highest quality care for all critically ill and injured patients. Four goals have been developed to help further this mission and guide SCCM programming by focusing on one or more of the following:
• Education – Learn It: Enhance and expand offerings and distribution of SCCM educational programs
• Integrated Team of Dedicated Experts – Deliver It: Promote access to compassionate, patient-centered care delivered by an integrated team of dedicated experts who provide service both to the individual patient and to the organization of the ICU
• Outcome Measurements and Reporting – Measure It: Develop ICU outcome measurements and reporting systems that will lessen variability in the delivery of care, thereby reducing errors
• Continuous Improvement – Improve It: Develop information to create high reliability organizations through a continuous improvement process
Co-sponsored Symposia are supported by educational grants. However, commercial supporters may not influence the content of the session or the selection of faculty. According to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the California Board of Nursing, for which SCCM is a continuing education provider, all presentation topics, faculty, and objectives must be approved by SCCM.
The Society’s Co-sponsored Symposia are exclusive opportunities to reach prominent critical care professionals from around the world. Co-sponsored Symposia are developed by SCCM and supported by basic educational grants, which are inclusive of all development and logistics. A potential co-sponsor may submit a proposal to develop the activity jointly with the Society, or the Society can develop the activity solely. For a listing of the Society’s policies on commercial support, click here. Co-sponsored Symposia are complimentary to all registered Congress attendees.
CME/CE
These symposia are considered a continuing medical education (CME) activity for which SCCM is the accredited provider. The Society provides continuing education credit for nurses, pharmacists, and physicians. Therefore, SCCM follows the guidelines for national continuing education boards.
The Society received accreditation with commendation in 2005 and adheres to the newest ACCME requirements, released in October 2006, involving expanded efforts in outcomes management and competency within all activities. SCCM is committed to working with our partners to offer the highest quality programming to all clinicians in critical care.
Day and Time
Symposia will be held Monday, January 21, 2013, 3:30 - 5:00 pm. There will be a maximum of 8 symposia.
Venue
Co-sponsored Symposia will be held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, 100 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, PR 00907.
Fees
The base fee is $80,000 which includes:
1) Project management
2) Faculty management
3) On-site logistics and meeting space management
4) One-time complimentary SCCM Congress pre-registration attendee mailing list
5) Food and beverage costs related to an afternoon refreshment break
The following promotional opportunities (for an incremental fee) can be added:
1) Print advertising opportunities (Critical Connections, Official Program & Exhibit Guide, Congress Special Events & Sessions Brochure)
2) Electronic advertising opportunities (SCCM eNewsletter, Congress Daily eNewsletter, smart phone applications of the Official Program & Exhibit Guide)
3) Marketing programs (postcard mailing, hotel door drop)
4) Enduring materials (Congress review editorial, recorded webcast of the live meeting, printed monograph)
Submit a Request for co-sponsorship of an afternoon symposium
CO-SPONSOR: STEPS TO SUBMIT
1. Be sure to inform the potential speakers of this activity and ensure they are available, but indicate that their involvement is dependent on the review of the SCCM Congress Program Planning Committee. Approved faculty will receive official invitations from SCCM once approved and when the Joint Letter of Agreement has been signed by all 3 parties.
2. 
Please use the following budget template. The budget and grant materials must include the grant portion payable to SCCM and list the required items as stated by SCCM. SCCM provides the registration, general marketing, evaluations, and onsite assistance for each panel. You may add additional lines under the appropriate sections for your charges and any additional amounts for funding on items SCCM already provides in the third column (highlighted yellow).
• Estimated attendance for each panel is approximately 500 people.
• Continental breakfast for symposium attendees is included in the SCCM fee. No changes or additions to the menu or room setup can be made.
The Society must receive the full grant amount and pay the co-sponsor, or receive the grant directly from the co-sponsor, by December 31, 2012.
3. Financial Affidavit. This form must be completed and included with your estimated budget.
4. Review and include all items in the Society’s Joint Letter of Agreement.
Please note: the Society will accept a grantor’s Joint Letter of Agreement, but it must include all language listed in SCCM’s agreement and include involvement of all 3 parties. Please ensure that you have included the Society’s required CME/CE language for the grantor’s legal department prior to finalizing ANY agreement. Once the proposal and budget estimate are submitted, the Congress Program Planning Committee will review and respond within 14 days of receipt. A Joint Letter of Agreement will then be sent to all parties for signatures and upon receipt, the speakers will be officially invited. No speaker contact can be processed until a signed LOA is completed.
DEADLINE: Applications should be received by October 5, 2012. After this date, applications will be taken as space allows, but the event will not be guaranteed to appear in all available advertising or marketing opportunities.
Please note: Multiple industry partners can fund each symposium or may provide funding for multiple symposia.
Guidelines
SCCM adheres to the Guidelines for Commercial Support of Continuing Medical Education as approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, October 2006. Formal faculty invitations, communications and reimbursements must be handled directly by SCCM. Any products must be referenced in generic terms only and not by trade names.
Co-sponsored Symposia are educational programs; product, company, third-party advertising or outside product literature is NOT allowed to appear in any handouts or invitation materials, meeting rooms, Congress hotel, or the Convention Center. Product information may only be disseminated from a company’s exhibit booth. Refer to the complete list of guidelines for more information.
Managing Conflicts of Interest (COI)
The Congress Program Planning committee will address and manage COI as part of the development of all symposia. The COI can be managed by replacing a speaker, refocusing the presentation, or eliciting peer review of the symposium to determine its merit or resolution. Any speaker who refuses to disclose prior to the activity will be disqualified from presenting. If a speaker is replaced at any time during the planning of the activity, the replacement must submit disclosure information, which will be reviewed by the Congress Program Planning Committee to ensure it keeps with the balance of the presentation, before he or she will be allowed to present.
Proprietary Materials and Property
Co-sponsored Symposia are a part of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s educational program. Therefore, symposia, as well as any materials produced, become the sole property of SCCM. Any materials generated subsequent to the Co-sponsored Symposium must be produced in accordance with SCCM policy.
Reimbursement Details (Fees for up to 3 speakers)*
• Travel expenses including round-trip, coach-class airfare made within 30 days prior to the meeting
• One night, single, standard hotel accommodations (not including incidentals) made through the Society
• An honorarium of $750
• Complimentary registration to the 42nd Critical Care Congress
• All honorarium, reimbursement, and speaker arrangements must be made through SCCM. No additional funding or honorarium is allowed.
*Additional speakers may be proposed for an additional fee.
Speaker Details
Faculty Disclosure
All faculty must complete the disclosure form prior to being approved to present. All responses will be submitted to SCCM to resolve any conflicts.
Additional Promotional Opportunities
Additional advertising and enduring material opportunities are available.
