The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) announced plans for its 2011 Sleep Apnea Multi-Modal Transportation Conference (SAMTC) on November 8-9, 2011, at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center. Currently cosponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), this second in a series of health and safety conferences focuses on the role of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management within the major modes of transportation, including air, rail, ground, and maritime.
"Last year’s conference received unanimous praise for providing the most up-to-date information and exploring a range of issues on the impact of undiagnosed OSA in trucking," said ASAA executive director, Edward Grandi. "With the National Transportation Safety Board issuing recommendations for sleep apnea management in all major modes of transportation, we believe this conference will be tremendously beneficial for the regulatory agencies, industries, and employees coping with the health, safety, and economic issues associated with this increasingly visible problem."
The 2011 SAMTC is organized by ASAA to provide a state of the OSA science approach with a specific focus on practical issues relevant to operating companies and their employees. Conference topics and speakers will home in on operational considerations pertaining to OSA diagnosis and treatment that ultimately affect fitness, certification, and related workplace issues. Informative presentations, reality-based program implementation and outcomes, and panel discussions will provide a forum in which current practices can be identified and discussed from all relevant viewpoints.
