Cheers to the new year - 2025 is here! However, some of us may feel overwhelmed or wonder how we can cope better this year. This session will encourage participants to try the following: evaluate, empower, and engage. Participants will evaluate the strategies they’ve used in 2024 for mental health and stress management to determine which ones are enhancing their wellbeing. They will then learn about the Self-Comfort Compass and how to integrate it for self-empowerment, especially with Blue Monday coming up. The last component is engage… in learning about recent CSMLS mental health initiatives and published findings.

At the end of this session you will be able to:

• Evaluate your 2024 stress management strategies
• Empower yourself to use the Self-Comfort Compass in 2025
• Engage in learning about CSMLS’ recent mental health initiatives and research

Speaker : Rosina Mete, MSc, PhD, RP

Viscoelastometry was first developed nearly 80 years ago in Europe as a surgical bedside whole blood testing method in some of the world's first human organ transplants. Currently, the TEG and ROTEM instruments are being used widely throughout Canada and the world as a point-of-care method that measures a surgical patient's complete coagulation capabilities. This presentation will outline the history and development of the viscoelastometry instruments that are used today to provide rapid, real-time coagulation results and optimize the utilization of blood products for patients undergoing major surgery.

At the end of this session you will be able to:

• Outline the history of viscoelastometry testing methods and their clinical utilities
• Describe the testing parameters and units of measurement used in viscoelastometry testing
• List the most current viscoelastometry testing equipment being developed for clinical use

Speaker : Terence Litavec, BSc, MTL, SH(ASCP)