“Charting a Course to Health” Conference Scheduled May 17

For the fifth year in a row, Aging and Disability Services (ADS)—the Area Agency on Aging for King County—is coordinating a conference that brings health care and human services professionals and others together to discuss new ways to work together to decrease avoidable hospital readmissions. Hospitalizations contribute significantly to the cost of health care—costs borne by insurance companies, taxpayers (Medicaid and Medicare), patients, and families.

This year’s conference—Charting a Course to Health—takes place on Tuesday, May 17, at IAM751 (9125 15th Place South, in south Seattle).

Keynote speaker Dr. Jane Brock oversees care transitions quality improvement work nationwide.

In 2011, ADS reached out to several south King County hospitals that were particularly challenged by higher rates of chronic illness among area residents and 30-day Medicare readmission rates that exceeded the state average. Those connections grew to include an annual conference that is guided by a 20-member community planning team and two dozen sponsors.

Keynote speakers

We are proud to announce that Jane Brock, MD, MSPH, chief medical officer at Telligen, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Colorado, which oversees care transitions work nationwide, will take the stage as the first keynote speaker. Dr. Brock is also president of The American Health Quality Association.

Dr. Paul Ciechanowski is an international authority on case management programs, behavior change, treatment adherence, and patient-provider communication.

Paul Ciechanowski, MD, MPH is chief medical officer and founder of SamePage Health, a Seattle-based healthcare technology and services company.

General sessions and workshops

Topics that will be addressed at the conference include:

• Balancing cost of care with quality of care
• The link between better communication and better health outcomes
• Community partnerships that improve medication use and overall care
• Disabilities and accessible healthcare
• Telehealth
• Transportation strategies for health care appointments

Additional information about speakers and conference sessions is available on the conference website.

Who should attend?

This year’s conference is expected to draw 250 participants from more than 60 organizations. The conference is open to anyone engaged in improving health care quality and transitions of care. Hospital and home health care administrators, discharge planners, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, policymakers, social service providers, consumers, community leaders, and anyone whose role involves empowering patients and families to manage their health care are strongly encouraged to attend.

South County ADS case manager Keith Rapacz was among 200 participants at the 2015 care transitions conference.

Registration for “Charting a Course to Health” is now open on Brown Paper Tickets. For those who prefer to register by mail and pay by check, click here.

For more information about the conference, visit www.agingkingcounty.org/CTconference.