Healthcare Industry and Higher Education Symposium

The registration for this event will close on Monday, October 6, at 5:00pm. If you are trying to register past this time, please instead contact Sandi.Vito@1199funds.org

The Healthcare Industry and Higher Education Bronx Symposium will be held on October 10, 2014. The Symposium is designed to build stronger partnerships for healthcare providers and 119SEIU with higher education to address changes related to healthcare reform, the education-practice gap, new skills for quality care, and healthcare delivery system transformation.

The Symposium will host discussions between healthcare, union, and higher education leaders on five important and timely topics. Once you select "REGISTER" above, you will be asked for your discussion group preferences.

Patient/Resident-Centered Care – Health Consumer Satisfaction Matters

Quality healthcare – whether in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or ambulatory setting - depends upon good communication, consumer focused preventive care and care management. Increasingly, reimbursements and regulatory reviews for healthcare providers are based on consumer satisfaction scores. This group will discuss efforts to focus on patient, resident and family needs throughout the continuum of care. What do existing healthcare workers and those entering the field need to understand about patient/resident-centered care? What are the necessary elements for system and culture change? How can higher education support the changing dynamics of person-centered care?

Health disparities, population health and cultural competency.

Many communities experience a disproportionate burden of preventable and treatable diseases, disability and mortality rates. According to the Office of Minority Health, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender and sexual orientation correlate with persistent health disparities. Eliminating the factors that lead to disparities is essential to improving the nation’s health. In this discussion group, participants will discuss what healthcare workers at all levels need to understand about population health. Participants will also strategize mechanisms to build a workforce of the future that is both diverse and focused on improving health outcomes.

Working in Teams

New models of healthcare delivery require healthcare workers to participate in teams – both formal and informal – in ways that are different from past practices. Teams within and across healthcare settings require strong communication skills, an understanding of patient needs, and grounding in continuous improvement strategies. Work in teams can improve health outcomes, prevent avoidable hospital readmissions, and increase patient/resident safety. Now, knowledge and expertise in content areas must be coupled with the ability to work effectively in teams. Participants will discuss strategies to promote teamwork and incorporate team-based skills into clinical and allied health education programs.

Technology Skills – What’s Next?

Hospitals, nursing homes and health centers have or are in the process of transitioning to electronic health records. This transition has required staff training and skill development. New forms of technology are on the horizon. Participants in this group will have an opportunity to discuss emerging technology that supports interoperability, telehealth and other technology enhanced forms of care. The group will discuss the challenges associated with the adoption of new technology and how education can get ahead of the curve by incorporating industry-based health technology use into health education programs.

Developing Higher Education and Healthcare Industry Partnerships

The healthcare sector is undergoing rapid transformation. Meaningful and ongoing partnerships between healthcare leaders and higher education are needed in order for colleges to keep pace with the changes. Public institutions of higher education are often overlooked sources of training and have the ability to customize programs to meet industry needs. Participants will discuss how to strengthen ongoing communication and dialogue to create reciprocal benefits to employers and colleges.

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