26th ADA Convention Held In Palm Springs
Between the bright, leisure-inducing sunshine and the information-packed forums, there was plenty for attendees at the 26th annual convention of the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists (ADA) to enjoy.

This year’s conference, which was held at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs, Calif, on October 9-13, featured a wide variety of special educational sessions, in addition to more than 75 exhibitors in the main hall of the hotel.

With the theme of “Rock Your World,” the conference got off to a rocking start indeed with a standing ovation for ADA president Robert Manning’s address, followed by a dynamic lecture by keynote speaker Frank C. Bucaro (see sidebar) on ethics. Both presentations led into three days of panel discussions, general sessions, as well as theme events.

One of the conference’s highlights was a group discussion entitled, “Ethos in Audiology: The Distinguishing Character of Our Business, Professional, and Personal Lives.” Led by keynote speaker Bucaro, this well-attended session also included some well-regarded industry veterans, animatedly discussing the relationship of audiologists to the hearing aid industry. Speakers on the panel included Dennis Van Vliet, MA, Angela Loavenbruck, EdD, Bryan Liang, MD, Carole Rogin, executive director of the Hearing Industries Association, and David Fabry, PhD. Loavenbruck in particular told the audilogists in attendance to “examine their relationships” with the industry, and focus on character and ethically sound business practices.

Another popular session examined the role of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the industry. Titled, “Code Blue: Don’t Let Reimbursement Kill You,” this session was led by Paul Pessis, AuD, and Alan Freint, MD, and presented a wealth of information on this important legislation. The panel reviewed administrative simplification, fraud and abuse, national provider identifier, and purpose and use of medical waivers. Ultimately, those in attendance agreed that the legislation was certainly going to change the way they run their practices and do business.

In addition, a session on AuDNet, led by Dave Smriga from AuDNet, proved to be both entertaining and interesting. “Can this program revolutionize the industry and educate the public as to the value of the doctor of audiology?’ was the question he posed to the interested audience.

Another popular session was “Advertising to the Baby Boomer,” with Roger McGuire of AHAA (see his Sept. 2002 HR article, page 44). The conference also featured presentations on tinnitus, neuroplasticity, delivering exceptional customer service, labyrinthine oscillopsia, ampclusion, auditory processing disorders, otoacoustic emissions, the BHI physician referral program, and several other industry topics.

To round things off, a pool party, a cocktail party, silent auction, and art auction completed the social highlights of this year’s event.

The 27th ADA convention takes place next year on October 15-18 at the Sanibel Harbor Resort in Ft Myers, Fla.