IHI Kicks Off 24th Annual National Forum, Welcoming 5,500 Health Professionals to the World’s Leading Improvement …

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a leading innovator in health and health care improvement worldwide, kicked off its 24th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care in Orlando, FL this weekend. From December 9-12, 2012, IHI is convening more than 5,500 health care professionals from 49 different countries, with the goal of sparking defining conversations and new thinking and ideas that will accelerate the improvement of health and health care worldwide.

At the Forum, IHI will reveal the results of a new survey exploring student perceptions around the importance of quality improvement and patient safety training, whether available courses meet expectations, and what students worry about most as they anticipate entering the workforce. In addition, IHI will release a 14-page action brief for health care leaders, outlining nine crucial elements for bridging the gap between the care we have and the care we need, and featuring predictions and insights from some of the nations foremost quality improvement and policy experts.

A Defining Moment in Health Care

In the wake of both the United States presidential election and the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, IHIs Forum takes place at a defining moment in health care. As Senator William Frist stated at an IHI event just two days following the election, in health care, things have radically changed in the last 48 hours. Forum participants will gather together this week to take stock of where we are, share insights on where rich opportunities lie and learn from each other at more than 140 workshops and presentations.

Issues to be addressed at the Forum include IHIs approach to reducing avoidable reshospitalizations; creating high reliability organizations; integrating palliative care in the ED; implementing accountable care organizations (ACOs); person-centered IT; and how payers can drive quality in large health systems. Sessions will also spotlight recent developments related to Project JOINTS, as well as The Conversation Project and IHIs Conversation Ready initiative.

Global Perspectives

A wide spectrum of perspectives will be represented at the Forum, including those of practicing physicians, nurses, quality leaders, health care administrators, executives, patient and family advocates, and a growing number of students training to be health professionals. Keynote and featured presenters include:

Event Details

Sunday, December 9 Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center The plenary events and keynote addresses take place on December 11th and 12th. (For additional information, please visit http://www.IHI.org/Forum.)