By Tom Martin
First Vice President

Oakbrook Terrace - How to improve newspaper coverage of health-care issues is the theme of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association's Spring Conference from 9 a.m. to noon April 25.

The conference, at Oak Trust Credit Union, 1S450 Summit Ave., Oakbrook Terrace, will feature speakers from The Daily Herald, the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, the Coalition for Consumer Rights and the Chicago Tribune.

Tribune investigative project reporter Michael Berens will speak about his investigative work uncovering contamination in hospitals and how harried and inadequately trained nurses contributed to the deaths of thousands of patients.

Lorilyn Rackl, health writer for the Daily Herald, will present tips on deciphering medical studies, sorting spin from reality when dealing with drug companies and reporting on drugs and technologies. Rackl specializes in dealing with these issues for the Daily Herald.

Also on the morning's program are Tony Sanders, chief medical investigator for the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and Gail Siegel, executive director of the Coalition for Consumer Rights. Sanders will discuss the duties of his office and guide journalists toward public records that can help them report on issues involving licensed professionals. The Department of Professional Regulation licenses and disciplines professionals in 51 categories, from doctors to polygraph examiners.

As an advocate for patients' rights, Siegel will talk about stories newspapers are missing and what her consumer group is trying to accomplish in regard to patient safety and regulation.

The conference will cost $25 for NINA members and $50 for non?members. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 18.

Registration

What: NINA Spring Conference
When: 9 a.m. to noon Friday, April 25
Where: Oak Trust Credit Union, 1S450 Summit Ave., Oakbrook Terrace
Cost: $25 for NINA members, $50 for non-members.
To register: Call Dana Ditrichs-Kunkel at (815) 753-1564, e-mail dditrichs@niu.edu, or fax to (815) 753-7109. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 18.
Questions? Contact Jim Killam, jkillam@niu.edu, (815) 753-4239.

Directions

Oak Trust Credit Union is on Summit Ave., just north of Butterfield Road. Map

From South and west: Take I-88 to the Midwest Road exit and head north. Midwest Road becomes Summit Avenue. The credit union is on the west side of the street, about a half-mile north of Butterfield Road.
From north and northwest: Take I-290 or I-294 south, to Route 83 south. Take Route 83 south to Butterfield Road. Turn west (left) on Butterfield, then north (right) on Summit.