Much of the human race has benefited from advances such as in sanitation that have in recent centuries reduced dramatically the toll taken by infectious diseases, but the emergence of a pandemic now is a harsh reminder of vulnerability that always remains.  Nutritional and lifestyle measures that may decrease chronic disease incidence or compromised immune function in a population, cannot be expected to prevent dangerous outcomes upon exposure to novel or aggressive pathogens such as COVID-19.  We must respect the catastrophic scale of the current society-wide threat from coronavirus spread, and follow carefully the evolving guidance from appropriate public health authorities about trying to lower risks.

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PUBLIC HEALTH EVALUATION OF SCHEDULED DATES

We are a nonprofit organization committed to public health betterment through evidence-based measures, and we intend that no action we ever take, including the scheduling of a conference, will introduce a risk of harm to any persons.  If at any time it is the judgement of public health authorities at the local, state or national level, or of our host institution (Eastern Michigan University), that assembling our conference participants in Ypsilanti MI at our future date of [had then been:  May 30, 2020;  is now:  July 24, 2020] will result in a hazard to our visiting attendees and speakers, or to the members of the university or Ypsilanti communities, then we will promptly postpone this event.  

There is no such judgement at this time, [had then been:  78;  is now:  128] days before our 7th annual national conference, that it will be necessary to postpone this event.  At all levels, from personnel who coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control, down through our host university staff, down through our nonprofit board of directors, monitoring and assessment will be proceeding day by day with focused intensity.  Although no COVID-19 case has been identified in the county of our conference site, the university has temporarily suspended in-person classes, and is scheduled to resume campus classes and events on April 1.  The university posts regular updates about the implications of COVID-19 for the campus and community, and the extensive precautionary measures being undertaken locally, along with links regarding guidance and resources.
 

POSTPONEMENT CREDITS AND REFUNDS

If our 2020 conference is postponed due to action by external authorities or by us, then all our paid registrants will have two options:  applying toward our rescheduled event or any future P-POD event, all payments we received;  or else receiving full refunds without any cancellation fee.

If any registrants choose to cancel their paid registrations for our May event based upon public health concerns, they will have two options:  applying toward any future P-POD event, all payments we received;  or else receiving full refunds without any cancellation fee.
 

LIVE VS. ONLINE

We have specific assurance from the university that postponement dates would be available to us later in 2020, should worsening public health conditions necessitate rescheduling.  It is emphatically our intention to execute this conference as a live event.  Under the extremely unlikely circumstances that rescheduling a live event would become impossible, we would undertake to reconstruct the conference program in an online webinar/virtual format retaining full accreditation for our continuing education credits.
 

CARE AND DILIGENCE ON CAMPUS

We are at this time going forward with all original plans for our 2020 conference, supplemented by numerous measures that we regard as protective for the well-being of all our P-POD community members and host staff.  For example:

--If any P-POD registrant, speaker, board or staff member, or volunteer, before arriving at the conference, experiences any upper respiratory disturbances, fever, cough, shortness of breath or flu-like symptoms, then we require that person NOT to travel to the conference site, but rather to seek medical assistance or evaluation.  Similarly, for any person known to have had close contact within the past 14 days with someone infected with COVID-19, we require not traveling to the conference site unless currently appropriate testing procedures conclude there is no danger that an incubation period may be in progress.

--We will expect all participants to observe on-site the universally recognized measures that can reduce transmission of viral infections:  thorough hand-washing with soap;  avoidance of touching surfaces likely to transfer viral contamination;  not shaking hands;  minimizing the touching of one's own face;  use of high-alcohol sanitizing substances in situations where thorough hand-washing is impossible.  Guidelines such as these have been published widely, such as via the American Public Health Association.

--If any P-POD participant experiences on-site any upper respiratory disturbances, fever, cough, shortness of breath or flu-like symptoms, then we ask that the person step out from the current activity and pursue medical assistance or evaluation.

--We will be coordinating closely with our university host to ensure that there are continuously available help-lines / points-of-contact for any health-related needs of participants, and that any necessary basic medical supplies and sanitation resources are readily and plentifully on hand.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES

If need arises, a P-POD participant may seek medical attention at these locations:

--On Campus:  IHA Urgent Care at EMU, 1065 N. Huron River Dr., Ypsilanti MI 48197
  Phone:  734-896-4112
  Hours:  Fri. 7am - 9pm   Sat. and Sun. 8am - 4pm   Mon. 7am - 9pm
  Services Available:  Patients of all ages served for non-emergency illness or injury concerns.  Minor procedures and diagnostic testing including x-ray are available.
  Distance:  1,900 ft. (just over 1/3rd mile) from the Student Center (closer to The Village housing;  farther from the First Year or Putnam housing, or from Pease Auditorium)

--Nearest Hospital and Emergency Room:  St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital, 5301 McAuley Dr., Ypsilanti MI 48197
  Phone:  734-712-3456
  Distance:  2.7 miles from the Student Center

 

WELCOME

We very much look forward to reassembling our conference family, in furtherance of our nonprofit mission to reduce society's chronic disease burdens via coordinated action by health care professionals and their community allies.