Conferences, Conferences, Conferences: Our Community At Work

Like many of you I spend many of my working hours in my office or in meetings – so I look forward to the opportunity to meet with and learn from people across the health care spectrum at conferences and other community events. Here is what is happening around Washington state in the next couple months – join me as we share best practices, learn from innovative pilots, look at data, and build a healthier, more affordable, and equal health care system and state.

April 19 in Spokane, WA and April 20 in Seattle, WA | Evidence-based Dental Pain Care: A New Opioid Prescribing Guideline from Washington State
You will learn about the latest recommendations for acute dental pain care, best practices for managing acute dental pain in patients with substance use disorder, emerging federal and state policies on opioids, clinical pearls in opioid prescribing from your peers and much more!

Spokane | Thursday, April 19, 2018
Register here
8:30 am – 12:30 pm | Doubletree Hilton, 322 N Spokane Falls Ct., Spokane, WA

Seattle | Friday, April 20, 2018
Register here
8:30 am – 12:30 pm | Alder Commons Auditorium, University of Washington, 1315 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA

April 26 | Under the Boughs with Christine Bechtel: Democratizing Health Data
Register here
Too often, consumers face barriers to accessing their own health information. Liberating that data, while understanding individuals’ rights to under HIPAA, improves the health care experience for doctors and patients alike. On April 26, the Cambia Grove, host Lee Huntsman and series partner UW BioEngage are pleased to welcome Christine Bechtel, President and Chief Strategist of X4 Health, to discuss consumer demand for health data.
4:00 – 6:00pm | Cambia Grove, 1800 9th Ave., Suite 250, Seattle, WA

April 30 | Fireside Chat with Bruce Greenstein, Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Register here
Join Cambia Grove for a fireside chat with Bruce Greenstein, CTO of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to discuss the current and future state of health care innovation.
11:00 – 12:30pm | Cambia Grove, 1800 9th Ave., Suite 250, Seattle, WA

May 1 | 16^th Annual Northwest Patient Safety Conference: Propelling Patient Safety Into the Future
Register here
At a time when the healthcare landscape is rapidly changing, the value of the patient experience must not be lost. This unique event will unite medical professionals, patients, and students for a day of learning around this theme. All those concerned with embracing modern healthcare innovations while maintaining the sacredness of the patient experience are invited to join for a day of networking with a likeminded audience and engaging in sessions with industry thought leaders.
7:00 – 4:30pm | Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center, 17620 International Boulevard, Seattle, WA

May 3 | Value in Cancer Care Summit | Hutchinson Center for Cancer Outcomes Research
Register here
The 5th Annual Value in Cancer Care Summit will bring together providers, patients and patient advocates, payers, health system representatives and researchers to discuss the theme of “Making Measurement Matter” in oncology. Over the course of several plenaries, interactive panels and small-group workshops, participants will learn from experts about national trends and opportunities in performance measurement, as well as strategies for implementing practice change in the clinic setting and paying for value in oncology.
8:00 – 5:00pm | Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA

May 8 | Washington Mental Health Summit
Register here
Leaders in education, business, policy, health care, academia and philanthropy will come together to discuss innovative ways to transform mental health care in Washington State. Sponsored by Chad’s Legacy Project and hosted by the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the May event is a continuation of an effort started in October 2017 with the launch of ten, bold initiatives ranging from developing new licensure programs for medical paraprofessionals to promoting mental health literacy for youth.
8:30 – 4:30pm | UW Husky Union Building (HUB), University of Washington, Seattle, WA

June 12 | Obstetrical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (OB COAP) Annual Meeting
Register here
The OB COAP Annual Meeting provides an opportunity to review data, identify best practices, learn from a wide spectrum of peers how to implement effective quality improvement projects, and hear cutting edge critical practice improvement and patient safety information from local and national experts in the field. Dr. Barbara Levy, VP of Health Policy at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology will deliver the keynote address on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality, specifically examining data from OB COAP participants. Dr. Ellie Kauffman, OB COAP Medical Director, will review performance in process and outcomes; and Renee Smith, an expert in organizational development will discuss the human side of quality improvement efforts. Hear the latest evidence and best practices in elective inductions from Dr. Gordon Smith of Cambridge University and in management of the second stage of labor from Dr. Aaron Caughey of Oregon Health Sciences University.
8:30 – 4:30pm | Conference Center, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

June 13 | Cardiac Clinical Outcomes Assessment Program (COAP) Annual Meeting
Register here
Under the theme The Human Side of Quality Improvement, COAP presents keynote speakers Renee Smith, Organization Development expert and founding director of Lean Transformation Services at the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, and John Lauber, PhD, a research psychologist who spent his career reducing human error and building systems that support human achievement in the aviation industry.  Additional speakers include Dr. Steven Bradley, Associate Director at The Center for Healthcare Delivery Innovation, Minneapolis Heart Institute, who will share innovations in achieving high value coronary care; Dr. Ravi Hira, Interventional Cardiologist and COAP’s new Medical Director, who will share updates on COAP’s quality improvement work across the state; a debate between cardiologists and surgeons around What’s Best For the Patient—Surgery or PCI?; and presentations from physicians and hospital teams regarding best practices and quality improvement efforts at their sites.
8:00 – 4:30pm | Conference Center, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

June 14 | Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP) Annual Meeting
Register here
Attend to review SCOAP data to change the way you and your institution provide surgical care.  Listen to speakers including keynote speaker, John Lauber, PhD, previously a member of the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) and SVP for safety worldwide at Airbus who will look at “lessons learned” and the human factor in the airline and railroad industries with regards to safety; Greg Marchand, Director of Benefits Policy and Strategy at Boeing will summarize his thoughts and priorities with regards to employees’ health; and Drs. Rick Thirlby and Arman Dagal will provide SCOAP’s “year in review.”
8:00 – 4:30pm | Conference Center, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

October 15-17 | Washington State Public Health Association Annual Conference | Investing in Our Future: The Changing Landscape of Public Health
Registration will be available here
This event brings together professionals from across the state to learn, connect, and celebrate the dedication of the community to improving the public’s health. With a mix of workshops, breakout sessions, and social events, the conference offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers who share your commitment to public health and the chance to gain valuable skills and knowledge to use in your daily work.
Wenatchee Convention Center, Wenatchee, WA

Ginny Weir, MPH, Program Director, Bree Collaborative