MEDNET'99 4. WORLD CONGRESS ON THE INTERNET IN MEDICINE in Heidelberg (Germany)

mednet99 FAQ

 

 

I am a presenter - which presentation media can I use?

We are providing slide projectors and overhead projectors. Double projection is not encouraged.

You may also just bring your powerpoint files (powerpoint 97 on PC) -  beamers and a computer will be provided by us. The computer hopefully will have Internet access - but it may be slow or not working at the time of your presentation (=Murphys Law), so you'd better do not rely on the Internet access it but also prepare offline-sceenshots!

The best possibility is to bring your own notebook with a powerpoint presentation and to have the ppt-file on a 3,5' disk. We recommend to bring a backup of your presentation on transparencies or slides. Please note that in Germany 220V is used. Make sure that you have a socket adapter for Germany, if appropiate. For example, the power socket in the US and in Britain is different from the one used on the European continent!

We will have only PCs, no Macintosh !!

We would very much like to get a electronic version of your slides to publish it on the mednet website and/or on a possibly forthcoming CD-ROM. So if you email us your original file (eg Powerpoint) and/or a jpeg files of your slides  (with a resolution good enough to read everything) before the congress we would be happy to publish it on the website.

How much time do I have for my oral presentation?

According to the schedule (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue), each presenter has 15 minutes time including discussion. However, experience shows that some presentations are cancelled on short notice as some presenters will not show up. The chairman of the session may then decide to give every presenter more time, or use the free time for additional discussion. In some sessions we have already allocated some additional time for discussion (see schedule).

I am a poster presenter - which format should the poster have?

One poster board will be allocated for each poster presentation. The poster boards have the format of 2 meters high and 1 m wide.
We recommend to create posters with the size A0, i.e. 84cm (width) x 120cm (height).

We would very much like to get a electronic version of your poster (in addition to your paper poster to be displayed on the congress) to publish it on the mednet website. So if you email us your original file (eg Powerpoint) and/or a jpeg file (with a resolution good enough to read everything) before the congress we would be happy to publish it on the website.

Please note that JMIR (the Journal of Medical Internet Research) awards a 500 Euro (500 US$) poster prize, with which we will award the best poster, so take some time to create a really good one!

IMPORTANT: Posters only qualify for the poster prize if we receive an electronic version and if a full paper is being submitted to JMIR (http://www.symposion.com/jmir) by September 15th, 1999.

When should I mount and remove my poster?

Mounting your poster: We recommend to mount the poster on Saturday (8:30 - 18:00 h) or Sunday (8:00-9:00 h).

Poster viewing: Posters are accessible during the whole congress. The program states that the author(s) will be present to answer any questions
concerning their poster during the official congress breaks on the day(s) their poster is being presented. Presenters are requested to be 'on duty' by their poster during this time to answer questions.

Removing of your poster: Material should be removed on Tuesday, 16:00-19:00h. Material that has not been taken down by the author(s) on Tuesday, 19.00 hours, will be removed and destroyed. 

Can I submit my presentation for publication on the website?

YES, we actively encourage you to send us your POWERPOINT and/or JPEG files, which either contain your presentation and/or your poster. We will then publish it here on the website.

What happens after registration?

Note that after online registration you have to print out the invoice (which will be automatically emailed to you within minutes) and send it with your payment information to us.

If you paid by cheque or transfered the money, we will send you an email when we received the money. If you paid by VISA, you will get no payment confirmation from us.

We will NOT send you any tickets etc. - after arrival in Heidelberg you only have to go to the registration desk (open on Saturday from 8 am - 5pm, and on Sunday from 8 am - 5pm) and register by QUOTING YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER.

Who will participate at mednet99?

We expect mainly physicians, medical informaticians and people from the Internet Healthcare Industry from more than 52 different countries. For a list of institutions and companies preregistered as of 6/99 see participants. For a profile according to country and profession see here.

I have problems with accessing your website – can I submit my abstract via email?

Sorry, but you have to submit your abstract via the website (http://www.yi.com/mednet99/submit.htm).

I cannot attend, but can you send me the proceedings?

Yes, you can order the proceedings here.

How much will the conference cost?

Full registration (3 conference days)	Before 31st July 1999	After 1st August 1999 - 15th September	Late/On-site registration (15.-21.9.99)
Regular, Non-Member*	EUR 350	EUR 450	EUR 495
Reduced (Student), Non-Member*	EUR 175	EUR 190	EUR 235
Regular, SIM Member	EUR 225	EUR 295	no reduction for SIM members on site
Reduced (Student), SIM Member	EUR 90	EUR 110	no reduction for SIM members on site
Single day registration (1 conference day)		EUR 150	EUR 165

*To save money, we recommend to become a SIM member prior to registration! (see below how to join). The application process for SIM membership may take some days or weeks, so we advise you to do this early! There is no reduction for SIM members if you register "late/on-site" as we will not be able to verify your membership.

Please note that registration fees do not incur VAT.

All figures given in Euro (EUR) - for an indicative calculation how much this would correspond to your own currency use the currency calculator e.g. at http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currency/currcalc.cgi/curcalc.html. Please pay preferably in EUR (Euro), DEM (Deutschmark) or in your local currency.   Use USD or DEM only if you pay cash.

Registration fee covers: All conference materials, coffee breaks with snacks and lunch. Not included are the Saturday, the German track on Saturday, social events such as dinners on Saturday and Sunday and a lunch on Saturday - these have to be registered for and paid extra, if you wish to attend.

To register proceed to the registration form!

How can I become a member of the Society for Internet in Medicine?

Just fill in the membership application form at the SIM website. If questions remain, mailto:s.keevil@umds.ac.uk .

How can I pay my congress fee?

Attention - important changes for you if you intend to pay you mednet99 congress fee by cheque, if you have not yet mailed your payment to the congress secretariat and if you are from a non-EURO country
Unfortunatly we have learned that the banks are charging us a fee of 25 Euro (approx. 25 USD) per cheque if the cheque is issued in EURO and not in the local currency.
We therefore urge you to issue the cheque in your local currency if you are from a country in which the Euro is not legal currency (for example, in GBP if you are from the UK, or in USD if you are from the US).
You may use the currency calculator at http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currency/currcalc.cgi/curcalc.html. to calculate from Euro to your currency.
I apologize for this revision of our payment policy. G.E. 29.7.1999

To register and pay for mednet99: First, fill in the registration form! If you have a java-script enabled browser, the form will automatically calculate your registration fee. After having submitted the form, print out the resulting page and mail it to the conference secretariat. The following modes of payment are possible:

• transfer (by wire) the money to the following bank account and enclose with your registration form a copy (xerox) of your transfer order (or, if not available, tell us when you tranfered it). Use the following account:
      Gunther Eysenbach
      Account Number: 382435759
      Bank: Postgiroamt Karlsruhe (Mail Address: Postbank Karlsruhe, 76127 Karlsruhe, Germany)
      Swift-Code: PBNKDEFF 660
     Bankleitzahl: 660 100 75
• or enclose a Eurocheck in EURO (no handling costs)
• or enclose an order check, issued in EURO ( if you are in a country where the EURO is legal currency) or in the currency of your country - please use the currency calculator e.g. at http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currency/currcalc.cgi/curcalc.html. to calculate from Euro to your currency.
• or by credit card (VISA only!). If you pay by credit card, add 3% handling costs.
  

I would like to attend mednet99. Unfortunately, we have no funds. Is it likely that I can apply for a bursary please to attend? Are there any funds for travel assistence?

Active participants (e.g. those having submitted an abstract) from poor (developing and Eastern European) countries and/or students may apply for a reduced or even waived fee. We are however not able to cover any travel costs or provide free accomodation (though we may help you with cheap accomodation).

We will may have some travel assistance for young (max. age 35 yrs.), active participants from developing countries (around 500 US$ and a waiver of all congress fees) who would otherwise not be able to attend. If you are interested, please send a short email (max. 400 words) describing why you would benefit from attending Mednet99. We also require a written statement from the head of your department that there are no other ways to fund your trip. We further request that you make an oral presentation about the situation regarding Internet access, usage for health care etc. in your country or continent. (You may also choose another topic). Please enclose an abstract (again, max. 400 words) about this. Mailto:eysen@yi.com (Gunther Eysenbach).