The health care industry has undergone its fair share of challenges in the past, but 2011 has proven to be an exceptionally tough year. The difficult climate has set the stage for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association’s (AzHHA) Annual Membership Conference, which will tackle the challenges head-on with the all-too appropriate theme, Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

“This year’s conference theme is applicable to many of the challenges facing the health care community today … including the implementation of health care reform, shrinking revenue streams, and the state and national budget woes,” says LeAnn Swanson, vice president of education services for AzHHA. The conference also will cover relevant topics such as advocacy, patient safety and quality, and governance.

The goal of the event, which will take place Oct. 20-21 at the Buttes Resort in Tempe, is to engage AzHHA’s members and keep them educated about pertinent issues affecting the industry. This year’s timely message is sure to make an impact on the audience of chief executive officers, hospital administrators, physician and nurse leaders, hospital trustees, operational leaders and all other members of the hospital family.

“Arizona hospitals and health systems find themselves in a time of both challenge and change,” Swanson says, “and the 2011 annual membership conference is designed to help your organization meet these challenges and changes head-on with instructive knowledge and a hopeful spirit.

“The conference is brimming with energizing and stimulating speakers providing the latest information and insights on the issues you care most about, to ensure your time away from the office is time well spent,” Swanson adds.

The event will begin with a keynote session titled, “From Success to Significance,” presented by Nido Qubein, president of High Point University and chairman of a national retail company. Qubein brings with him a rags-to-riches story of perseverance and business triumph, and will share a powerful message about the fundamentals that contribute to success.

“We are in difficult times and the future is challenging on many levels,” Qubein says. “Today’s health care professional is faced with a myriad of hard decisions that demand tenacity and experience.”

Following Qubein’s keynote will be the conference’s general session titled, “Healthcare Reform: Where are We Now, Where are we Going?” presented by Len Nichols, PhD., the director of the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics and a professor of health policy at George Mason University.

Joe Tye, CEO and head coach of Values Coach, a consulting, training and leadership coaching company, will lead the informative session “The Florence Prescription (for hospitals and health care)” that will challenge audience members to reignite the spirit of the electrifying Florence Nightingale and her health care pioneers. Tye promises to bring his audience back to basics by reminding them of the importance of focusing on things such as employee engagement and patient satisfaction.

“They will learn specific strategies for building a culture of ownership, which is ultimately the only sustainable source of competitive advantage,” Tye says. He adds that attendees “will be challenged to think as deeply about the cultural blueprints of their hospitals as they do about blueprints for new buildings.”

John Foley, founder and president of CenterPoint Companies, which provides business performance training to Fortune 500 corporations, professional associations and educational organizations around the world, will close out the conference with a presentation on maximizing performance excellence.

There are also a few changes in store for the 2011 event. The conference no longer will feature an awards luncheon and instead will introduce the Honoring Our Professionals of Excellence (HOPE) Award. Deserving members of the health care community will receive recognition for their work, including a Caregiver Award, presented to an individual or care-giving team that has shown commitment to the delivery of quality care; and the Healthcare Leader Award, given to a deserving hospital executive or trustee who has demonstrated a history of noteworthy leadership at the state and/or national level.
The highly informative conference has been a benchmark event for AzHHA, helping to keep members educated and ready to face the challenges ahead.

“Times are difficult and budgets are tight, but your team still needs continuing education to stay current on the latest regulations and trends in the health care industry,” Swanson says.

Fortunately, AzHHA’s educational outreach efforts don’t end with the annual conference. The organization also hosts a multitude of webinars and other events throughout the year to keep their members informed and prepared in the dynamic health care industry.

“I have a depth of admiration for AzHHA and its members and I am most grateful for the continuing valuable work that they do to contribute to a better tomorrow for us all,” Qubein notes.

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AzHHA’s 2011 Annual Membership Conference

Oct. 20-21
The Buttes Resort
2000 Westcourt Way
Tempe, AZ 85282
azhha.org

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Arizona Business Magazine July/August 2011