The topic for this year's meeting is: Claiming the Future of Health Care. Our industry has emerged as a leading solution to the projected healthcare problems resulting from increasing numbers of ill, disabled and dying Americans who will need assistance in the years to come.

The 24th Annual Meeting will focus on how new technologies and improved business practices will make home care and hospice the most effective way of providing quality, caring healthcare.

This year, there will be three headquarter hotels. NAHC has designated the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers as the headquarter hotel for attendees; the Grand Hyatt Seattle is the headquarter hotel for exhibitors; and the Westin Seattle as the headquarter hotel for speakers, presenters and other VIPs. With a meeting this large, the Seattle Convention Bureau requires NAHC to use its housing bureau to help coordinate your reservations. The housing bureau will help you reserve just what you want, when you want it, where you want it, at the best rates negotiated. Please do not call the hotels directly. Fill out the housing form and either fax it to (206) 461-5853 or mail it to:

NAHC Housing Bureau
c/o Seattle Housing Bureau
One Convention Place, 701 Pike Street, Suite 800
Seattle, Washington 98101

Or if you prefer, you can fill out the form online, or reserve via telephone by calling (888) 877-0255.

The Housing Bureau must close 14 days prior to the meeting, to ensure all delegates receive their acknowledgments and confirmations in a timely manner. All new reservations inquiries will be directed to the hotels (if rooms are still available), or to the Seattle Hotel Hotline (a consumer reservations service).

Click here for a full description of this year's hotel accommodations.

NAHC has arranged special discounted airfare rates for all meeting attendees and exhibitors. Whether you book online, or by phone at the numbers listed, make sure you or your travel agent mentions our discount code to get the best discounts available.

• United - 530CG (800) 521-4041
• Northwest - NY915 (800) 328-2111
• America West - AP6496 (800) 548-7575
• Frontier - MC0211 (800) 908-9069

Click here for more information on travel arrangements.

There are three ways to register for this year's annual meeting:

• Online: Click here to register online.
• Fax: Print form and fax it to (202) 544-3625
• Mail: Print form and mail it to:

NAHC Meetings
P.O. Box 91486
Washington, DC 20090

Invitations have been sent out to many of Seattle's business leaders from such companies as Starbucks, Costco, Nordstrom, and Microsoft. All speakers will be announced online at www.nahc.org as they are confirmed - make sure to check back often!

NAHC is offering 80 workshops in eight time slots. Each time slot will be 90 minutes long and will have ten workshops from which attendees can choose. Attendees can earn a total of 24 contact hours for nursing CE's and 22 contact hours for accounting CPE's at workshops, general sessions and the CEO School. Nowhere else is there such high quality and diverse programming covering so many topics at one time. This allows attendees, whether they are nurses or accountants, to earn most of their continuing education credits at one meeting for a relatively modest price.

Click Here for more information on NAHC Annual Meeting Educational Programs.

There will be close to 5,000 attendees including CEO/Executive Directors, CFO/Directors of Finance, Clinical Directors/Directors of Nursing, Compliance/Legal Officers, Human Resources Directors, PR and Communications Directors, COO/Directors of Operations, CIO/IT/IS Directors, Hospice Directors, Medical Directors, Directors of Private Pay, Marketing/ Business Development Directors, Vendors, Suppliers, Nurses, and Home Care Aides.

NAHC is offering 80 workshops in eight time slots. Each time slot will be 90 minutes long and will have ten workshops from which attendees can choose. Attendees can earn a total of 24 contact hours for nursing CE's and 22 contact hours for accounting CPE's at workshops, general sessions and the CEO School. Nowhere else is there such high quality and diverse programming covering so many topics at one time. This allows attendees, whether they are nurses or accountants, to earn most of their continuing education credits at one meeting for a relatively modest price.

Few cities offer the plethora activities available in Seattle. Whatever you want to do, from outdoor activities such as taking a cruise on Lake Union or riding the ferries that transverse the Seattle Sound, to participating in games of chance, or indulging in some needed acquisition therapy, just about anything is available to you. Seattle has it all. Seattle is also the jumping off point for many one day excursions such as Mt. Ranier, beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, the San Juan Islands and the wine country near Yakima. Other activities include:

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Biking
• Touring museums
• Going to the opera
• Hunting antiques

Click here for more local attractions.

You bet! NAHC feels a responsibility to make sure that everyone has a good time and has a chance to socialize with their peers. Below are some of the events that have been planned which will allow you to meet friends of long standing and to make new ones. In addition to those listed below, the informal opportunities to chat with your peers during breaks and in the exhibit hall are limitless.

• The Opening of the Home Care & Hospice Expo Grand Opening and Reception - Sunday night from 5:00-8:00pm
• NAHC Home Care & Hospice Benefit Concert - Monday at 8:00pm
• NAHC Annual Golf Tournament - Saturday at 1:00 PM
• NAHC Celebration for Attendees - Tuesday at 7:00pm

The dress code is business casual. Feel free to wear whatever makes you comfortable.

Seattle in the fall is beautiful. It should be in the 60's - perfect for sightseeing.

For additional information, call the NAHC Meetings Office at:

(202) 547-7424 - Local
(866) 270-6242 -Toll free
Or email: meetings@nahc.org.