Medical/Healthcare Travel Task Force Innaugural Meeting, 18 Mar 2011
As follow-up to the Medical Simulation Event with Industry co-hosted by Mayor Crotty in November 2010, Gary Sain, Orlando/Central Florida Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Rick Walsh, Knob Hill Group, convened the innaugural meeting of the Medical/ Healthcare Travel Task Force. Participants agreed that there is a real opportunity for this group to contribute in many areas important to the community … both as we seek ways to build medical education travel and in reinforcing related economic development efforts.
It was suggested that we should first inventory all of the facilities, companies and related medical education assets available in Central Florida. Some work has already been done by the Metro Orlando EDC and the EDC is ready to share that information with a team of student researchers. UCF is in search of senior and graduate level market research students that the task force can employ on a short-term project basis to develop the necessary inventory. The research is anticipated to take approximately 60 days. A number of participating organizations have agreed to provide funding for the research. Once a budget is prepared, it will be shared with the group—additional offers to participate will be welcome.
Major points from the meeting:
Success of this initiative will require packaging …more than the destination itself, but rather content from all the various sectors, providers, interests.
Our community must “up the ante” to be pre-emptive of all competitors.
Simulation is only one element but it crosses all lines.
Our community should offer specialized content/activities (i.e., use of UCF Med School anatomy lab in partnership with region’s simulation companies for training during conferences)
Local participation is key … getting our medical community engaged as assets in training.
We must inventory all of the facilities, companies, etc. that could be put to force for meetings and training. The UCF Med School is willing to make that a class project. Knob Hill Group and the High Tech Corridor are prepared to help with funding.
We must determine what the users want and should consider using the upcoming Convention Center Medical Advisory Board meeting as a focus group.
We must offer training that people cannot get through virtual sources … use virtual sources to promote our ability to provide hands-on opportunities here.
We need a business plan with distinct silos that address the Conventions Market, Potential Training Users, Virtual Training Users and the possibility of a Medical Mart.
