Educational Opportunities at Annual Meeting

By Penny Brooke

As a trustee, it is not only important to understand the immediate challenges facing your hospital, but the larger trends affecting the entire field. The 2011 AHA Annual Membership Meeting, April 10-13 in Washington, D.C., is an excellent opportunity to stay current on the latest in health care and governance. You’ll hear from experts and congressional leaders, and have the opportunity to voice your concerns to AHA staff.

There also are educational opportunities just for trustees. The AHA’s Center for Healthcare Governance again will sponsor three educational sessions:

On Sunday, Summer H. Martin and Anthony M. Balloon of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, Atlanta, will explain how increased government scrutiny and related regulatory changes will impact providers, and identify a path to ensure hospitals and their boards comply with laws and regulations in “Health Care Governance and Compliance in the Era of ‘Fraud, Waste and Abuse.’”

On Monday, James E. Orlikoff, president of Orlikoff & Associates Inc. and a senior consultant to the Center, will present “The Governance Challenge: Jumping the Curve to Deliver Value,” which will focus on confronting continued economic pressures and the challenge of creating the delivery systems of the future.

Finally, on Tuesday, Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., director, Disparities Solutions Center and Multicultural Education, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, will present “Improving Quality and Achieving Equity: A Blueprint for Eliminating Disparities,” which will examine the issues that link disparities to quality, safety and cost, and give leaders a blueprint for improving quality and equity.

You’ll also have time to network with colleagues. On Tuesday morning, for example, the COG will sponsor the trustee leadership breakfast. This year, noted political analyst Charlie Cook will join us.

I urge you to approach your CEO for support to attend the annual meeting, as participation in the educational sessions benefits you and your hospital. Visit www.aha.org to register. I look forward to welcoming you in April.

Penny Brooke (Penny.Brooke@nurs.utah.edu) is COG chair and a trustee of Intermountain Health Care Central Urban Region in Salt Lake City.