This year's Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Congress meeting will take place in the organization's hometown of Denver. The Congress is the largest surgical products trade show in the United States, according to the organization's Web site, and will feature more than 600 exhibits and host 5,000 perioperative professionals this year.

The show, which takes place this year from March 13 to March 18, will be held at the Denver Convention Center.

Next week's AORN Congress presents four impressive speakers, including Janet Corrigan, president and CEO of The National Quality Forum; Atul Gawande, M.D. and author of "The Checklist Manifesto"; Paul Keckly, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions; and David Gergen of CNN.

In an effort to become more environmentally friendly, AORN has posted its Congress Registration Brochure online, reduced the number of pages in the Congress Resources book, and will post the education session handouts on the AORN Live Learning Center bulletin for attendees to print. Recycling bins will be located all around the center, sponsored by Ascent Healthcare Solutions, a company focused on reprocessing equipment to help the environment.

"We have seen heightened interest in reprocessing as a green strategy for hospitals and health care providers since last year's conference," says Lars Thording, Ascent's senior director of marketing. "At AORN next week, we hope to talk with attendees about the push for using resources in a smarter, better way and how reprocessing can help institutions save millions of dollars and eliminate tons of waste."

AORN is offering nearly 100 educational courses throughout the event, including information on hot topics such as whistle blowing, drug diversion, and fire prevention and evacuation. In addition to learning about industry news, products and services, attendees will have the chance to explore Denver through several evening activities planned by AORN. Some of these events include a Denver Nuggets basketball game, a theater production of "Mary Poppins" and an improv comedy show.

DOTmed.com, Inc. will also be in attendance, both exhibiting and shooting footage for our video news channel. Visit DOTmed at booth 2427.

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