VHHA Foundation Hosts 92nd Annual Fall Conference, Oct. 31-Nov. 2

November 1, 2018

The Theme of this Year’s Conference at The Omni Homestead Resort is “Beyond 2020: Redefining the Health Care Workforce”

HOT SPRINGS, VA – This week, the VHHA Foundation is hosting the 92nd annual Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) Fall Conference (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA. The theme of the meeting is “Beyond 2020: Redefining the Health Care Workforce.” Its focus is on providing health care executive leaders with valuable information, insights, and organizational strategies that support a resilient and agile workforce that is capable of effectively meeting the ongoing needs of patients, their families, payers, administrators, and regulators.

This year’s conference features a lineup of well-respected keynote speakers with expertise in diagramming and anticipating future health care workforce needs as hospitals and health care providers increasingly focus on population health efforts, serving patients in settings outside hospital walls, and when patient demand for treatment and services is expected to significantly increase. Each of these factors has implications for recruiting and retaining a vibrant workforce. Other program highlights from the robust conference schedule include an award presentation by VHHA’s Advocacy Team to the Bristol Chamber of Commerce for the important role it has played in support of improved health care access in the Commonwealth, an awards presentation from VHHA’s hospital political action committee (HosPAC), a certificate presentation by Donate Life Virginia to recognize dozens of Virginia hospitals for participating in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Workplace Partnership for Life campaign, a “Behind the Scenes” luncheon about the successful 2018 advocacy campaign that helped achieve coverage expansion, a VHHA member panel on redefinition of the health care workforce, and a hospital Trustee Workshop.

“Virginia’s hospital community continues to work together to help make the Commonwealth the healthiest state in the nation,” said Valley Health System President and CEO Mark H. Merrill, the Chairman of VHHA’s Board of Directors. “We do that by supporting health care access, quality and safety improvement, innovation, value, and much more. Effectively serving patients means providing local access to care, as well as having qualified, trained staff available and on duty to meet the health care needs of the communities we serve now and in the future. Accomplishing that goal requires intentional thought and collaboration to anticipate emergent public health care needs and to marshal the resources to meet that demand.”

The Fall Conference is one of four statewide meetings the VHHA Foundation holds each year. Attendees include VHHA member hospital and health system senior executives, physician leaders, trustees, and other health care professionals and stakeholders. The meeting presents an opportunity for members of the health care community to come together, communicate, and share ideas to enhance Virginia’s health care delivery system in support of the Commonwealth and its citizens. The VHHA Foundation, formerly the Virginia Hospital Research & Education Foundation, is the charitable non-profit affiliate of VHHA. Its focus is on improving the health of Virginians through collaboration, research, and education for Virginia’s hospitals and health systems. The Foundation provides continuing education programs for Virginia’s health care professionals through conferences, seminars, and webinars. The VHHA Foundation also supports research and patient safety and quality programs. Learn more at VHHA.com/programs.

“For decades, hospital leaders in Virginia have gathered at VHHA educational events to focus on opportunities for improvement and collaboration,” said VHHA Foundation CEO Tracey A. van Marcke. “This year, the hospital community is looking forward toward the future health care workforce to identify strategies and best practices to prepare for the needs of growing and aging patient populations in the years ahead.”

The more than 200 attendees at this year’s Fall Conference will hear keen insight from these keynote speakers:

• Britt Berrett, PhD, a best-selling author and Director of the BS Healthcare Management Program at the University of Texas at Dallas. His presentation theme is “Patients Come Second: Leading Change by Changing How You Lead.”
• Jocelyn Caldwell, MPA, EdDc, Senior Director for Enterprise Workforce Planning and Analytics at TIAA. Her presentation theme is “The Datafication of Workforce Culture.”
• Kandi Wiens, MBA, EdD, a national speaker, executive coach, and organization change consultant with the Studer Group. Her presentation theme is “The Agility Advantage: How to Create a Nimble Change-Ready Workforce.”

During the “Behind the Scenes” advocacy luncheon, Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Dr. Daniel Carey is scheduled to deliver remarks, followed by a panel discussion featuring the Honorable Emmett W. Hanger Jr., a member of the Virginia Senate and Co-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; the Honorable Mark D. Sickles, the House of Delegates’ Deputy Democratic Leader; and Bristol Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Beth Rhinehart.

Conference guests will also hear a panel discussion on redefining the health care workforce. Panel participants include Anthony Keck, Executive Vice President for System Innovation and Chief Population Health Officer of Ballad Health; Dr. Michael P. McDermott, MD, President and CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare; and Pamela M. Sutton-Wallace, CEO of UVA Medical Center. All three hospital leaders serve on VHHA’ s Board of Directors; McDermott is the Board Vice Chair and a member of the VHHA Executive Committee, as is Sutton-Wallace. Ellen Vance, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Centers, will moderate the panel discussion. Conference breakout sessions will cover a range of topics including how health care is changing and what that means for the future of the workforce, applying data-driven analytics to enhance organizational performance and employee experience, and the important role of effective leadership strategy in preparing for the workforce needs of the future.

In addition to conference attendees and program participants, VHHA is grateful to the sponsors whose generous support helps in making this Fall Conference a successful event. They include:

• VHHA Foundation Corporate Partners: VHHA Shared Services and US Acute Care Solutions (USACS).
• Member Sponsor: Bath Community Hospital.
• Advocacy Luncheon Title Sponsor: Whiting-Turner.
• Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors: Barton Malow; Donate Life Virginia; Hancock Daniel; Healthcare Systems Federal Credit Union; Kahler Slater; LHC Group; MassMutual; MEDNAX; MobileSmith; RCM&D; SageView Advisory Group; Sound Physicians; and W.M. Jordan Company.
• VHHA Shared Services Endorsed Partners: Care Logistics; Commerce Bank; Cordant Health Solutions; Merritt Hawkins; Qualivis; and Vizient.
• Friend of the Foundation: Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.

About VHHA: The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is an alliance of 110 hospitals and 27 health delivery systems that develops and advocates for sound health care policy in the Commonwealth. Its vision is to achieve excellence in both health care and health. Its vision is through the power of collaboration to be recognized as a driving force behind making Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Connect with VHHA through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and ISupportVirginiaHospitals.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Walker
Vice President of Communications
(804) 297-3193 office
(804) 304-7402 mobile
jtwalker@vhha.com