Approximately 200 Data Managers came to Tandem in Salt Lake City, UT, including many first time attendees.

 

Tandem is the annual meeting of CIBMTR. It is the one time each year that all of the CIBMTR working committees meet to discuss current projects and propose new research for CIBMTR to do. In 1995, CIBMTR and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) combined their annual meetings because of a significant overlap in attendees. This formed the BMT Tandem Meetings.

 

The first conference day this year was solely directed towards Data Managers. Tandem attendance grew after that to have thousands of participants from the field. There is a main scientific track and also parallel conferences for specific transplant center staff, such as nurses, administrators, and pharmacists. Eager learners can go to any session of their choice. 

 

We also celebrated the 1 millionth transplant worldwide and heard projection for our very positive future work to meet the growing need for transplants. 

 

This was a wonderful opportunity to network with people from all over the world, to ask questions and learn, plus build long-lasting relationships. We hope to see you in Dallas next February.

 

Sincerely,

Lori Colt

CIBMTR Training Specialist


 


 

Highlights from 2013 Tandem:

  • Listened to FormsNet3  user feedback.
  • Held a FormsNet3 question and answer lab for individuals with specific questions.
  • Delivered training to data managers on lymphoma, molecular markers, late complications, and HLA typing.
  • Reviewed Hot Topics
  • Described what it takes to bring a study from start to finish.
  • Held small-group topic specific round tables. 
  • Enjoyed a wonderful wine and cheese reception hosted by our Mentors.

 
QUICK LINKS
What kind of Learner are you?
Tandem Data Manager participants took a quick assessment test to discover what kind of learner they each are using an adaptation from Kolb's Learning Styles. Psychologist, David Kolb, suggests that there is a correlation between learning styles and chosen careers, which is probably why most Data Managers at Tandem were in the two learning types of  Converging and Assimilating. 
  
  
Knowing your own preferred learning style helps you to seek those opportunities while being aware that you have weaknesses to learning when other types are given. At those times you might have to work harder to "get it". Knowing a group's common learning styles helps the instructional designer to develop materials best suited for that group. This exercise helped CIBMTR Training to adapt the design of the new  e-Learning modules which will release with the Forms Revisions this summer. Although most people have some cross-overs into all of the styles, by using the most common styles in the design, the training is likely to have better success.
Paper Error Corrections

With the release of FormsNet3, all corrections to data submitted using FormsNet2 need to be sent via Paper Error Corrections.  This includes all Legacy Data (submitted prior to FormsNet2) as well.

 

Detailed instructions can be found in the updated FormsNet3 Recipient Module Frequently Asked Questions.  (See FormsNet2 Editing, also Lost to Follow-up and Center Forms Due).
FormsNet3SM User Feedback at Tandem
I would like to express my thanks to everyone who participated in the FormsNet3 User Feedback session at Tandem.  We asked the participants to rank the application on a scale of 1-10.  The response was a solid six.  While we had great feedback on the new features, user interface and improved validations, there were clearly areas for improvement highlighted in the 173 responses. Since Tandem we have made three significant changes:
  • Periodic log out issues have been resolved by reducing the frequency of recycling our servers
  • The FireFox logout issues have been fixed
  • The blank forms on CIBMTR.org are being reformatted for easier use

Our team is reviewing the entire list with your CRCs and assessing the remaining suggestions for programming changes (potential defects and suggested enhancements), clarifying training and communication materials and personal follow-up where needed. This newsletter, the FAQs on CIBMTR.org and the new communication messages on the FormsNet3 Landing page will be updated as we work through the list.

 

We are looking forward to enhancing our collaboration with you through additional site visits, period webinars and surveys this year.  Please continue to report issues and concerns to your CRC - they are our liaisons to you!

 

Colleen O'Neill

Director, CIBMTR Information and Technology

Data Back to Center (DBtC)
   
The DBtC application was launched to help Transplant Centers retrieve data they have submitted to CIBMTR through FormsNet on all TED and TED level "equivalent" data since your center began reporting to CIBMTR. 
  
Now available to International Centers also. 
  
Click here for more information PLUS how to register for a Portal account. 
 
Please keep in touch with CIBMTR Training. We look forward to getting your feedback and comments. Send in general Data Manager questions to CIBMTR Training. You may see your question and its answer in a future "Data Matters" issue.
  
CIBMTR Training  
Thank you to the contributors for this month's newsletter:  Colleen O'Neill, Shirley Wayne, Tamara Lezaic, Liz Johnson, Jeanne Burkart, and Tiffany Hunt