Dr. Andrew Weil to Keynote 2010 Planetree Annual Conference October 5-8 in Denver

Patient-Centered Care Leaders to Share Innovations

DERBY, Conn., May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Planetree, the well-known pioneers in patient-centered care, will convene health care practitioners, long term care specialists, academics, patient advocates, nurses, executives, Veterans Affairs administrators and architects committed to the implementation of patient-centered care at the 2010 Planetree Annual Conference, October 5-8, in Denver. For 32 years, Planetree has been providing education and information in a collaborative global community of health care organizations, facilitating efforts to create patient-centered care in healing environments.

The annual conference is the non-profit organization's signature event, convening affiliates as well as internationally recognized health care leaders to not only inspire innovation, but share practical tactics for the implementation of patient-centered approaches to care. Several companies and alliance organizations devoted to patient-centered practices participate in the conference, including Nurture by Steelcase and the Picker Institute, the official 2010 Planetree Annual Conference partners. On the first day of the conference, Tuesday, October 5, Planetree affiliates and conference hosts Longmont United Hospital, Valley View Hospital, Azura of Lakewood and Platte Valley Medical Center will showcase their facilities during site tours giving attendees a first-hand experience of Planetree healing environments.

The four-day event will feature several distinguished keynote speakers, including;

• Dr. Andrew Weil, renowned integrative medicine physician, author and columnist
• Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster.com and CEO of Eons.com
• Amy Silverstein, author of the acclaimed memoir, "Sick Girl"
• Drum Cafe, talented Djembe drummers, master facilitators and musicians
• John J. Nance, Air Force pilot and nationally known author of "Why Hospitals Should Fly"

In addition to these speakers, the conference will feature more than 65 workshops providing a forum to discuss practical strategies for implementing and fostering a patient-centered care culture. Session topics include: patient communication measured by HCAHPS, healing design, mobile electronic documentation at the bedside, measuring the impact of patient-centered care, bringing the patient and family voice into health care, transitions of care, integrative therapies as well as Veterans Affairs implementation strategies.

For more information, registration information, keynote biographies and a detailed schedule, call Planetree at 203-732-1365 or visit www.planetree.org. To register, go to www.regonline.com/2010planetreeconference.

About Planetree:

Founded in 1978 by a San Francisco patient who endured a traumatic hospitalization, Planetree has been at the forefront of the effort to personalize, humanize and demystify the healthcare system for more than three decades. Today, the Planetree membership network is a global community of more than 250 acute care hospitals, continuing care facilities, and outpatient clinics, each at various phases of the journey to transform their health care by considering every aspect of the health care experience from the perspective of their patients, and reconnecting staff to their passion for caring for others.

SOURCE Planetree