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

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

<0> CXO CommunicationSandy George, 617-413-6126 </0>

The (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 nation’s foremost quality improvement and policy experts.

In the wake of both the United States presidential election and the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, IHI’s 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 IHI’s 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 , as well as The Conversation Project and IHI’s initiative.

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:

Sunday, December 9 – Wednesday, December 12, 2012Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention CenterThe plenary events and keynote addresses take place on December 11th and 12th.(For additional information, please visit .)

Journalists are invited to participate in a Media Availability session with Maureen Bisognano from 1:00-2:00 pm ET on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Maureen will be joined by Anila Hussaini, Project Manager, IHI’s Project JOINTS; James Moses, Director of Quality & Patient Safety, Dept. of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and Academic Advisor, IHI Open School; and Lakshman Swamy, Medical Student at Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University.

The session will take place in the St. Louis Room at the Orlando World Center, and remote journalists may dial-in to participate. For press credentials or dial-in details, contact Sandy George at CXO Communication,

IHI is a leading innovator in health and health care improvement worldwide. For more than 25 years, we have partnered with an ever-growing community of visionaries, leaders, and front-line practitioners around the globe to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. Together, we build the will for change, seek out innovative models of care, and spread proven best practices. When it comes to raising the quality of health for all, IHI sees boundless possibilities and while we see the walls in front of us, we will not rest until we reach the other side. Learn more at ihi.org.