Annual Conference Call for Proposals/Presentations

Submission Deadline: February 28th, 2026  

Acceptance Notification: April 2026 

The International Health Facility Diversion Association (IHFDA) will hold its 11th Annual Conference September 28-29th, 2026, at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC.

The IHFDA conference planning committee seeks abstracts for podium, poster, and panel presentations. We are looking for content that addresses diversion, risk management, quality practice, and guidelines/processes used to increase the knowledge, skills, and expertise of professionals in the field.  

  • Proposals on any major topic related to healthcare facility diversion are welcome.  
  • To ensure new material for our conference, presentations that have been previously presented at IHFDA or another professional conference should not be submitted.  
  • Projects in Progress: Abstracts for projects currently in progress are welcome for submission; however, all selected presentations must include finalized data analysis and reported results by the time of the conference. Submissions should clearly outline the project’s current status and the anticipated timeline for completion.  

Note: We cannot accept proposals for vendor products, services, or commercial topics in order to comply with accreditation requirements for continuing education (CE) allocations. 

ABSTRACT TOPICS  MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 

  • Healthcare Facility Diversion Programs: Roles of specialists/teams, KPIs, goals, and outcomes.  
  • High-Risk Settings: ORs, anesthesia, ambulatory surgery centers, procedural areas, ICUs, EDs, etc.  
  • Pharmacy Risks: Monitoring in community or retail pharmacies tied to healthcare facilities.  
  • Case Studies: Specific diversion events and their implications.  
  • Public Health: Patient safety and public health consequences.  
  • Personal Narratives: Stories of diversion’s impact on life or career.  
  • Support & Reentry: Workforce reentry strategies.  
  • Prevention & Research: Initiatives, research, and medication security practices.  
  • Legislation & Policy: Legal issues, investigations, guidelines, and contracting.  
  • Interdisciplinary Teams: Collaboration with HR, legal, security, privacy, risk management, and patient safety.  
  • Requested Topics based on 2025 survey results: 
    • Application of AI into daily tasks. 
    • How organizations define and track KPIs (e.g., DEA terms like “Discovery Date,” “Significant Loss”). 
    • In-depth case studies linking a problem with its solution 
    • Monitoring traveling nurses and medical staff.  
    • Patient notification and bloodborne pathogen testing post-tampering event.  
    • Emerging Drug Risks & Schedule Changes (i.e.: non-CS monitoring, CS infusion monitoring, challenges with marijuana in the inpatient setting) 
    • Just Culture and addressing Secondary Harm (i.e.: psychological impact on staff who report or witness diversion and/or impact on leaders) 
    • Experiences with DEA/FDA audits and investigations.  
    • Patient-Owned Medication policy and process. 
    • Nursing-Pharmacy Synergy in Drug Diversion Programs 

PRESENTATION CONTENT LEVEL 

Please classify your presentation to help the committee develop the agenda.  

Expert: Complex topics, analytics, trending, policy/legislation, and visioning. Does not need to cover standard definitions; the audience is assumed to be familiar with the basics. 

Beginner/Novice: For individuals/organizations just starting a program. Focuses on basic guidance, program development, roles, scopes, and policies.  

Competent: Goes beyond basics to discuss challenges, successes, and investigations. Focuses on outcomes or solutions. Case presentations typically fit here.  

TYPE OF PRESENTATION 

1. Podium  

  • 45–50 minutes of speaking time. 
  • The remainder of the hour is reserved for Q&A and discussion. 
  • Podium Presenters: Conference fee waived for up to two presenters; responsible for travel expenses.  

2. Panel

  • Maximum of 4 panelists representing different organizations/perspectives. 
  • Priority: Submissions with 3 or more confirmed panelists will be prioritized.  
  • Structure: Brief presentation slots followed by facilitated discussion and Q&A. (Total time: 1–1.5 hours).  
  • Note: If a panelist cannot attend, substitutes must be approved by the committee. Substitutions may be denied if requested within 14 days of the conference.  
  • Panel Presenters: Conference fee waived for up to four presenters; responsible for travel expenses. 

3. Poster  

  • Must include sufficient info on content, relevance, data, and outcomes. 
  • Presenters must print and bring their posters for display at the conference.  
  • Poster Presenters: Responsible for costs associated with the poster, including the full conference registration fee and travel expenses.  

Submission Guidelines 

Abstracts must be submitted in Word format and include:  

  1. Presentation Title  
  2. Presenter(s): Name, Title, Email, Phone, Affiliation  
  3. Abstract Body (250–500 words) including:  
    • Background/Introduction  
    • Methods/Purpose  
    • Results/Outcomes 
    • Conclusions/Discussion 

HELPFUL HINTS, REGARDLESS OF SUBMISSION TYPE 

Helpful Hints 

  • Know Your Audience: Attendees understand basic practice. Avoid spending time on definitions unless it is a “Beginner” track session.  
  • Be Specific: If describing institutional practices, provide specific descriptions. This resonates better with competent/expert learners.  
  • References: Ensure references are current. Any reference older than 10 years may be questioned by our CE provider.  
  • Slide Requirement: Accepted presentations must be submitted to the IHFDA portal four weeks prior to the conference in PowerPoint format, including a standard disclaimer slide.  

Acceptance & Inquiries 

  • Notification: We will notify presenters of acceptance by April 2026. Confirmation of intent to present is required within 30 days of notification.  
  • Requirements: Presenters must complete disclosures, submit a bio/photo, and upload presentations for review.  

Questions? Contact the IHFDA educational planning committee at: submissions@ihfda.org  

Submit Proposal / Presentation Here