VHA's 2013 Navigating to Excellence Forum Brings Clinical and Leadership Conferences Together for Fresh Perspective in Health Care

IRVING, Texas, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- VHA Inc., the national health care network, announced details of the VHA 2013 Navigating to Excellence Forum, which will be held in Las Vegas, April 30 to May 3, 2013. The dynamic, high-impact event will bring together experts from multiple disciplines, including business, psychology and the military, in interactive learning sessions to help hospitals improve clinical performance and their bottom line. The VHA 2013 Navigating to Excellence Forum is designed to foster collaboration and stimulate creative thinking among hospital executives, pharmacists, supply chain and clinicians.

The 2013 conference is divided into multiple, audience-focused tracks through the week:

• The Novation Supplier Summit at The Wynn Las Vegas occurs April 29 to May 1
• Clinical leaders will gather at The Encore Las Vegas April 30 to May 2 for Executive, Clinical, Quality Improvement and Performance Improvement sessions (in lieu of the Clinical Conference traditionally held in February)
• Supply chain and pharmacy leaders will gather at The Wynn Las Vegas, May 1 to May 3 for Supply Chain, Perioperative and Supply Networks workshops, Pharmacy symposia        

Featured speakers include Daniel Pink, best-selling author and expert on innovation, competition and the changing world of work; Jane McGonigal, PhD, world-renowned creator of alternate reality games designed to improve real lives and solve real problems such as "SuperBetter;" Jeffrey Ma, recognized business strategist and leader of the famous MIT blackjack team; and Stanford University Professor Kelly McGonigal, PhD, an expert on the neuroscience of change and willpower.

"Collaborating and sharing best practices can accelerate change as hospitals adopt new initiatives and shift to value-based payment and delivery models," said, Colleen Risk, VHA executive vice president of Member Networks. "The new VHA 2013 Navigating to Excellence Forum aims to kick-start the creative process by creating an energizing learning environment where hospital executives can interact with VHA experts, share information and ideas, and ultimately, apply what they've learned to improve care."

In addition to VHA experts, leaders in health policy and clinical issues from research institutions such as the Harvard School of Public Health will discuss a broad range of subjects from improving safety outcomes and physician engagement to linking supply, pharmaceutical and operational data with clinical outcomes. As part of an effort to spur innovation, supply chain leaders, pharmacy executives, perioperative leaders and VHA SupplyNetworks® attendees can participate in concentrated, interactive workshops to develop innovative approaches that they can take back and apply immediately in their organizations.

Whether it's through expert-led continuing education sessions, networking with their peers, or participating in interactive workshops, the VHA 2013 Navigating to Excellence Forum will help attendees think differently about today's health care environment and present innovative approaches to help them improve clinical and financial outcomes.

About the Speakers

Vincent E. Boles, Major General, U.S. Army (Retired), is an expert on the subject of leadership and logistics. With 33 years of experience in the world's largest supply chain, Boles will discuss 10 tools that leaders and managers can use immediately to ensure that their "best gets better."

Jeffrey Ma, leading business strategist and social media mogul, calls on the power of statistics for insight towards success. The subject of the 2008 film "21," Ma wrote the book, "The House Advantage: Playing the Odds to Win Big in Business" about moving from the blackjack table to the corporate world.

Jane McGonigal, PhD, is author of the New York Times bestseller, "Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World." She is recognized for bringing gaming to the health care space with "SuperBetter," a mobile app and Web-based game that helps individuals conquer personal health challenges such as depression and chronic pain.

Kelly McGonigal, PhD, Stanford University lecturer and psychologist, is passionate about translating cutting-edge research from medicine and neuroscience into practical strategies for health, happiness and personal success. Her most recent book, "The Willpower Instinct," explores motivation, temptation and procrastination to help transform habits.

Daniel Pink offers a fresh look at the art and science of sales in his best-seller, "To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others." His articles on work, business and technology have appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review and Fast Company. Pink also was chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore from 1995 to 1997.

About VHA
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance, and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. Since 1977, VHA has leveraged its expertise in analytics, contracting, consulting and networks to help members achieve their operational, clinical and financial objectives. In 2011, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.9 billion to members. VHA serves more than 1,350 hospitals and more than 72,000 non-acute care providers nationwide, coordinating delivery of its programs and services through its 13 regional offices. VHA has been ranked as one of the best places to work in health care by Modern Healthcare since the publication introduced this list in 2008.

SOURCE VHA Inc.