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Health and Safety

Live Education for the Main Street Practitioner

PAINWeek 2021: Adapting to a Changing Environment 

Following a 2-year hiatus, all of us on the PAINWeek staff and faculty are looking forward to hosting you next month in Las Vegas for PAINWeek 2021. We know that you share our excitement for the resumption of in-person learning and exchange, even as we are all mindful of the uncertainties of today’s public health situation. With these concerns in mind, we would like to address some questions that you may have, and to share some of our thinking as we complete preparations for the conference. 

The Current Plan: A Live Conference for 2021! 

In preparing for PAINWeek 2021, we surveyed past attendees, faculty, and exhibitors, and the overwhelming sentiment was to return to a live, in-person experience. At the same time, we recognize the necessity of contingency planning for a virtual component or a completely virtual event. At present, those plans are on hold, but at the ready; we are focusing our energies on producing the best in-person, face-to-face educational experience ever! 

What to Expect at PAINWeek this Year 

If you’re an alumnus of PAINWeek conferences, you can expect the same curated experience, the same cutting-edge educational sessions, and the same thought-provoking art. The curriculum for 2021 will encompass more than 100 course offerings across dozens of subject areas, enabling attendees to earn up to 34 credit hours. 

Arrival and Conference Check-In 

We encourage all attendees to be vaccinated well in advance of their arrival in Las Vegas, but we will not ask for your vaccine status, nor require proof of vaccination. At check-in, you will be asked to indicate your comfort level with social interaction. A color-coded identifier will be printed on your name badge indicating whether you are okay with hugs and handshakes, whether are okay with talking but no touching, or if you prefer to keep your distance.  

In addition to our registration desk attendants, self-service registration kiosks will be installed to prevent congestion and minimize contact. A few days before PAINWeek we will email you your conference confirmation email that will include a QR code. Print it out, and scan the QR code at a kiosk.  

Staying Safe at PAINWeek  

A July 27, 2021, directive from the Governor of Nevada requires all hotel guests and employees, fully vaccinated or not, to wear masks while indoors. Complimentary masks will be available at the PAINWeek registration desk or from The Cosmopolitan at check-in. For attendees with a confirmed medical condition that does not permit them to wear a face mask, complimentary face shields are available from the hotel.  

The Cosmopolitan has made an extensive range of enhancements to contribute to the well-being to all of those who visit the resort. Please visit https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/health-and-sanitization-guidelines to see a summary of the updated standards designed to make your visit a more reassured and protected experience. 

A detailed discussion of safety policies and procedures to be implemented at PAINWeek 2021 may be found here.

Flexibility Is the Watchword! 

Finally, the PAINWeek staff want to extend the assurance that we are continuing to monitor, discuss, and adapt to the evolving challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. With respect to emergence and spread of the delta variant, we will trust the science, look at the data, and adhere to the guidelines as they are promulgated. We hope that you, your loved ones, and your colleagues and friends are safe and healthy, and we will do all in our power to ensure that status as we all re-engage in the critical work of pain education. 

See you next month—at PAINWeek 2021!