Saint Louis University Department of Pathology, Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course - September 2017

Location: Hyatt Regency at the Arch

315 Chestnut Street
St. Louis, MO 63102

1. Prepare the investigator to conduct thorough and systematic death scene and telephone investigations which, by law, are under the jurisdiction of a medicolegal office; to then disseminate the investigative information to departmental forensic scientists to achieve a coordinated, efficient and complete death inquiry.
2. Teach capabilities of ancillary forensic sciences (anthropology, biology, criminalistics, entomology, psychiatry, radiology and toxiciology) will be explained.
3. Place emphasis to the medical aspects of death investigation.

The purpose of this 5 day course is to provide training in medicolegal death investigation. Prior to the institution of this course 40 years ago, there was NO training available for medicolegal death investigators. Mary Fran Ernst and Dr. Gantner developed this training course to provide training for those who were tasked with investigating deaths. Fast forward 40 years, we are still the premier basic trainer for medicolegal death investigators.  Anyone who plays a role in the investigation of medicolegal deaths, whether they be coroners, police officers, homicide detectives or medicolegal death investigators can benefit from this course.  It provides basic information on the key players in a medicolegal death investigation by providing lectures from practitioners such as medical examiners, toxicologists, anthropologists, odontologists, crime scene investigators, and homicide investigators on what type of information from the scene should be collected by the death investigator and how that information can help them with the determination of cause and manner of death.  The participants are then given training on how to gather information at various types of death scenes.  The week ends with a review of courtroom techniques and a discussion on social media's impact on next of kin notification.  This week long course can prepare both novice and seasoned investigators to more effectively and efficiently process a death scene and gather all of the information needed. 

Participants need to be currently employed in a position such as funeral director, coroner, death investigator, law enforcement, or other medicolegal field to register for this course.

Participants who complete this Basic Course are eligible to take the Masters Course held every other year. This is a case-based course which covers new techniques and high profile cases. These lectures provide training on what to do in unique situations and how new techniques can assist with obtaining evidence and/or identification.

These courses are training courses, not certification courses or degree courses. We offer continuing education certificates to those wanting to turn in the credits to their professional board to maintain certification. Please refer to the accreditation tab for a list of approved types of CE. We will also provide a certificate of attendance at the completion of the course to all that attend that can be used for your employee portfolio.

Please note,  we are not affiliated with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Saint Louis University staff will not answer question on their behalf. Please contact the ABMDI regarding requirements, exam, and fees.

For additional information and details regarding the Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course, please view our website:   http://medschool.slu.edu/mldi/

COLLEGE CREDIT NOW AVAILABLE!

Attendance at this conference qualifies for 2 hours of college credit through Saint Louis University for those currently enrolled at SLU and pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree and are interested in obtaining additional college credit toward your degree and to be eligible for the student conference rate.

To help offset the additional cost of SLU tuition for the 2 hours of college credit, there is a limited number of reduced MLDI conference student spots available at a reduced conference rate for those who qualify.  Student registration will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and as registration capacity permits.

Non-SLU students interested in obtaining SLU college credit for attending this course may also receive a reduced student conference rate.  Inquiries regarding fees and eligibility requirements may be directed to the SLU CME Office at 314-977-7322 or [email protected].   You will be required to submit a letter of request, on appropriate school letterhead, from your advisor or department chair stating that this course would be beneficial to your studies and SLU credits would transfer and be accepted toward your degree.  Fax to the SLU CME Office at 314-977-4533 or scan and email to [email protected].  Please be sure to include your email address.  After your school letter has been received, reviewed, and approved, we will email you a MLDI Conference Student Registration Form.  Completed forms may be returned by mail, fax, or email.  We will register you and send you a registration confirmation which will reflect the conference fee balance due.  Conference fees must be paid in full before the conference in order to hold your spot.

Separate registration with Saint Louis University for college credit will be completed on the first day of the conference, and you will be billed for the college tuition fees.

Click here for additional information on SLU College Credit; for any questions or to express your intent to ENROLL for college credit, please contact Barb Weekley at [email protected].

The course is held at the Hyatt Hotel:
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
315 Chestnut St
St Louis, MO 63102

This course is designed for medicolegal death investigators, coroners, law enforcement officers, physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, attorneys, forensic scientists, and others who are involved in the investigation of violent, suspicious, and unexpected deaths. 

Fee includes all course materials,  a flash drive, optional post-course assessment with individual results reported; Monday Evening Networking Reception; Wednesday Evening Course Dinner; a breakfast sandwich every morning; and coffee, hot tea, and soft drinks; and an afternoon snack provided each day. 

Each individual registering for the course must be registered with a unique email address and registration fees must be paid in full by September 1, 2017.  The first 100 PAID registrations will be accepted; any unpaid registrations will be wait-listed.  We will notify you approximately one month before the course if your wait-listed/unpaid registration will be accepted.  If registration fee is to be paid by an organization, municipality, or county check, we must receive a  purchase order or other documentation verifying that payment will be made,  in order to hold your registration; please contact us at [email protected] with this information.

All course syllabus material will be shared with paid in full participants 10 days prior to the start of the activity to download or print and bring to the course. We will provide a blank flash drive to use to capture material after the activity for future review.

MLDI Basic Course Attendee: $850 

Fee includes one Continuing Education Certificate. Click on the Accreditation Tab to view the continuing education credits approved for this conference.  Participants will be required to complete a form at the conference indicating the type of continuing education desired.  It is the responsibility of the participant to understand their board's requirements for continuing education credits.

Additional CE credit/certificate: If more than one type of Continuing Education credit is desired, an additional $25 fee will be collected.

SLU and Other Full-time college students registered in a relevant course of study are invited to attend this September training at  reduced fee (must register with collegiate email address).  This fee includes course materials and food items outlined above. There is a limited number of spaces available at this level. Please contact the SLU CME Office at 314-977-7322 or email [email protected] to discuss eligibility, fees, and to register.

ADDITIONAL Course Dinner Party Guest(s): $50 each  (Dinner is included in the Registration Fee for the Participant ONLY; additional Dinner Guest Ticket(s) can be purchased, but cannot be refunded if not needed)

Cancellations received before September 5, 2017, will be issued a refund, minus a $100.00 administrative fee.  

After September 5, 2017, no refunds will be issued; however, if you notify us five days prior to the beginning of the course that you are unable to attend, your payment can be transferred to a future course one time only.  If you choose to transfer more than one time, you will be charged an additional Administrative Fee of $100.00 per transfer.  

If you fail to notify us five days prior to the course that you cannot attend the course, your registration fee will be forfeited and will not be transferable to a future course.

The course is held at the Hyatt Hotel:
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
315 Chestnut St
St Louis, MO 63102

Course Directors:
Michael A. Graham
Chief Medical Examiner, City of St. Louis Medical Examiner
Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University

MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant, PhD, D-ABFAC, Course Co-Director
Associate Professor – Center for Anatomical Science and Education
Director of Morgue and Human Anatomy Lab Operations
Adjunct Associate Professor-Department of Pathology
Director of Forensic Education Saint Louis University
School of Medicine –Center for Anatomical Science and Education (CASE)

Reception
A Welcoming Reception will be held Monday evening, September 25, from 5:30-7:30 pm at The Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.  You are welcome to bring a guest if you wish. Beer, wine, soda and appetizers will be served.  Please try to attend this reception, as this will provide you an opportunity to become acquainted with your classmates before the course begins on Monday morning.  

Merchandise
Various Medicolegal Death investigation merchandise will be available for purchase during the course.

Fall in St Louis is an average of daily high temperatures between 85°F to 74°F  and daily low temperatures 50°F to 63°F.

Apparel for the course should be casual and comfortable. The meeting room temperature is often on the cool side. We suggest that you bring a jacket or sweater to the meeting room as sometimes the room temperature is hard to control…layering of clothes is suggested.  

Casual attire is suggested for the dinner on Wednesday evening.

St. Louis is a historic, upbeat, thriving city with many attractions.  You can do any sightseeing you wish on Friday afternoon after the course concludes, or you may want to arrive the Saturday before the course (super saver airfares may then be in effect).  We have very little free time scheduled during the week and course attendance is strictly monitored.  

The website of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission is www.explorestlouis.com.  The site has many interesting facts, with much information about the area - places to visit and things to do and see…it is definitely worth visiting.

Things to do in St. Louis
Sports:      Baseball  - St. Louis Cardinals: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com
                 Hockey    - St. Louis Blues: http://blues.nhl.com

Theater and Arts:   - Fabulous Fox: http://www.fabulousfox.com/
                                - Saint Louis Symphony: https://www.stlsymphony.org/
                                - Saint Louis University Theater: http://www.slu.edu/saint-louis-university-theatre

Disclosure Information:

Michael Graham, MD
Has a relevant financial relationship with Taser as Scientific Advisor & Expert in Litigation

It is the responsibility of the participant to understand their board's requirements for continuing education credits.  Below is a list of approvals for the 2017 MLDI series.

Daily sign-in is required each morning and afternoon of the activity.  Please look for additional documentation required by your accrediting body. If you do not fall into one of the approved categories below; you will only receive the Certificate of Attendance. No refunds will be issued for additional certificate fees paid. It is your responsibility to understand your CME/CE requirements for tracking and proof of credit/hours.

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Accreditation 

Saint Louis University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

American Medical Association
Saint Louis University School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 31 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Validation of Content:

Saint Louis University School of Medicine follows the ACCME policy on Validation of Content for CME activities which require that:

1. All recommendations involving clinical medicine must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients.
2. All scientific research referred to, reported or used in CME in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection and analysis.
3. Providers are not eligible for ACCME accreditation or reaccreditation if they present activities that promote recommendations, treatment, or manners of practicing medicine that are not within the definition of CME, or known to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients. An organization whose program of CME is devoted to advocacy of unscientific modalities of diagnosis or therapy is not eligible to apply for ACCME accreditation.

Disclosure Policy:

It is the policy of Saint Louis University School of Medicine to insure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in its continuing medical education program. Faculty and planning committee members participating in these
activities are required to disclose to the audiences prior to the activity the following:

(1) A relevant financial relationship within the past 12 months (including themselves and their spouse/partner) as defined by the ACCME. The ACCME defines a “commercial interest” as any proprietary entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, with the exemption of non-profit or government organizations and non-health care related companies.
(2) Their intention to discuss a product that is not labeled for the use under discussion.
(3) Their intention to discuss preliminary research data.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine will review this activity’s disclosures and resolve all identified conflicts of interest, if applicable.

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Saint Louis University School of Medicine will provide Other Learner certificates (for PAs, NPs, Nurses, and other types of learners).  The certificate will state that the activity was designated for 31 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Follow your board's requirements for reciprocal CE credits.

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American Academy of Physician Assistants: AAPA

AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME. PAs may receive a maximum of 31.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for completing this activity.

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Missouri P.O.S.T. Program
Saint Louis University School of Medicine has been designated as an approved provider for 37.0 continuing education credit hours for the Missouri Peace Officers Standards and Training Program.  PER P.O.S.T. ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES, ATTENDANCE AT ALL SESSIONS IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT.  If you are unable to attend any session/day due to emergency or work situations, credit will be withheld until you are able to attend the missed sessions at a future course. MISSOURI POLICE OFFICERS WILL NEED TO PROVIDE THEIR 5-DIGIT P.O.S.T. LICENSE NUMBER IN ORDER TO HAVE THEIR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT UPLOADED TO CLEE DATABASE.  Non-Missouri police officers may receive a Missouri P.O.S.T. CE certificate to turn into your state's accrediting body; it is your responsibility to know and follow your board's requirements for reciprocal CE credits.

Breakdown as follows:
Technical Studies –30.0
Interpersonal Perspectives--2.0
Legal Studies--3.5

Skill Development—1.5

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American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators accepts this course for a maximum of 37 hours of continuing education credit for registered medicolegal death investigators.

To apply for this credit, you must currently be certified by the ABMDI. 

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Continuing Legal Education
This course is accredited by the Missouri Bar Association and has designated this activity for 37.2 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit.

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Pennsylvania Coroners
This course has been approved for eight (8) hours of continuing education by the Pennsylvania Coroners’ Education Board under the provisions of Act 22 of 1988.

Course No. 2017-9

Participant must attend the full course to receive CE hours

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Nursing
Saint Louis University School of Nursing is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Midwest Multistate Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Midwest MSD Provider Approval #118-II
Nursing Contact Hours: 31

Number 1700

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OHIO Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors

This course has been approved for eighteen (18) hours of continuing education by the State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. (Program # 6-925inve.)

 
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, 315 Chestnut St, St Louis, MO 63102               

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch is the meeting hotel.  We have chosen this hotel for you as it is one of the finest hotels in the Midwest. 

To make your reservation online, click on link:      https://aws.passkey.com/go/SLUSeptember2017MDICourse

If you have problems with the website, please call Reservations at 888-421-1442. 

A block of rooms has been set-aside for our conference.  The special conference rate for single or double accommodations is $135.00/night plus room tax.  (If no major credit card is available, a $50/night advance deposit is required at registration.)  Children 18 years of age or younger may stay in the same room with you at no additional charge.

Reserve by (midnight) August 24, 2017, to receive special conference rate.

There is a Cardinals vs Cubs game this week and hotel rooms will be in very high demand in the city; please make your reservations early and before the room block expires, as there will most likely not be rooms available after the cut-off date.

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch checkout time is 12 Noon. 

ILLINOIS STATE EMPLOYEES
If you are required to stay in Illinois, below are a couple of options for nearby Illinois hotels who will honor the government per diem rate.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stlfh-fairfield-inn-st-louis-fairview
http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/illinois/hampton-inn-st-louis-fairview-heights-STLFVHX/index.html

Ground Transportation

GO BEST Express Airport Shuttle

DISCOUNTED AIRPORT-to-HOTEL SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION

The Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course and GO BEST Express have partnered together to provide convenient shared ride shuttle service to/from the airport and local hotels.  Between the reliable and friendly chauffeurs, the clean vans, and amazing rates, there's no other way to GO than with the BEST!

CLICK HERE to receive a discount of 20% OFF standard rates.

Discount rate ONLY available by booking through the provided link. Reservations made on the spot at the counter will be subject to standard rates of $25 one way.Credit cards are required and charged at the time of reservation.

Light rail service (www.metrostlouis.org) is also available from the airport to downtown St. Louis. For more information including fares and schedules please visit www.metrostlouis.org.

The program concludes on September 29 at 11:30 a.m.  It will take you approximately 35 minutes to get from the Hyatt to the airport.  We suggest that you make flight arrangements no earlier than 2:00 p.m.

Parking: 

If you will be driving to St. Louis, parking available as specified below:

  Hyatt Regency Hotel garage (valet) - $36.00/day

• Overnight conference hotel guests, whose rooms were reserved under the SLU room block and who valet park, will automatically be charged  a reduced rate of $28.80 for parking
• Day drivers to the conference may also valet park at the hotel and receive the discounted rate of $28.80 with daily parking validation stickers available at the conference registration desk.
  

  Mansion House next door - $12 per day

Meals can be purchased at several local restaurants within walking distance of the Hyatt or at the restaurants located inside the Hyatt.

The Hyatt offers a special lunch discount for course attendees at one of their restaurants. Vouchers will be available at the registration desk in order to take advantage of this discount.