May 12, 2025
11:00 a.m. Registration
12:00 p.m. Preconference
Emergency Department Overcrowding: Innovative Approaches to a Complex Challenge
Setting the Stage: Statewide Insights and Collaborative Action on ED Overcrowding
Jennifer Jordan, Vice President, Equity & Behavioral Health, HAP
Kick off the pre-conference with an overview of HAP’s work to address emergency department overcrowding across Pennsylvania. We’ll share findings from a recent statewide survey on ED utilization, key challenges identified by hospitals, and how survey insights are shaping HAP’s policy agenda. You’ll also get updates on HAP’s collaboration with the Department of Health and Pennsylvania Medical Society, including targeted workgroups focused on EMS, primary and pediatric care, behavioral health transfers, social determinants, in-hospital barriers, and workforce.
12:30 p.m. Networking and Learning Lunch
1:10 p.m. Confronting Emergency Department Overcrowding – Strategies for Efficiency, Communication, and Patient-Centered Care
Hamad Husainy, DO, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, Point Click Care
Join expert faculty for a solutions-focused session on tackling ED overcrowding. This session will explore the critical balance between efficiency, financial sustainability, and patient-centered care, offering practical strategies to optimize ED performance. Learn how to identify bottlenecks, mitigate risks, and implement data-driven improvements while recognizing the competing priorities within the health care ecosystem. Discover how communication—both interpersonal and technology-driven—can enhance coordination, streamline processes, and improve outcomes. With patients at the center of every decision, gain actionable insights to drive operational excellence and deliver high-quality, timely care.
1:50 p.m. Overcrowding Ignite Talks
Short mini sessions on best practices/solutions to ED overcrowding from member hospitals, health systems, and their partners.
Optimizing Throughput for Safer, More Efficient ED Care
Jillian White, MD, FACOG, Vice President of Medical Affairs, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital
Gain insights into a multidisciplinary initiative that led to dramatic reductions in emergency department boarding times, patient wait times, and safety incidents—while enhancing patient satisfaction and overall hospital performance. Uncover the targeted strategies that improved discharge efficiency and streamlined ED operations.
2:20 p.m. Reducing ED Discharge Delays for Behavioral Health Patients
Shana Palmieri, LCSW, CCO & Co-Founder, Xferall, LLC and Annette Hampton, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, Nurse Manager- Emergency Department, The George Washington University Hospital
Learn how George Washington University Hospital leveraged real-time digital transfer technology to reduce patient transfer response times by 92 percent and patient acceptance times by 52 percent, decreasing ED boarding and improving outcomes for behavioral health patients. This session will explore how shifting from manual, fragmented methods like faxing and phone calls to a streamlined, team-based digital platform improved care coordination, increased staff efficiency, and reduced ED boarding by accelerating access to the right care at the right time.
3:05 p.m. Reducing ED Use & Enhancing Care for Behavioral Health High Utilizers
Cindi Reade, Network Director Behavioral Health Inpatient and Crisis Services, St. Luke's University Health Network
Delve into the complex issue of behavioral health patient boarding in emergency departments, including the contributing factors, challenges for staff and patients, and system-wide impacts. Hear about effective multidisciplinary strategies that led to a 55 percent reduction in prolonged boarding times, improving both patient outcomes and ED efficiency.
3:30 p.m. Strategies to Connect Hospital Capacity and Demand to Improve Patient Flow
Robin M. Wood PhD, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, Vice President for System Capacity Management & Patient Flow, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Capacity Management Center
Emergency department overcrowding is a growing challenge, but innovative hospital design and operational strategies can significantly improve patient flow. This session will explore lessons from a hospital redesign that reduced ED wait times through smarter layouts and workflow improvements. We’ll examine how cohorting—grouping patients with similar needs—and smoothing—reducing artificial peaks in admissions—can optimize capacity, enhance efficiency, and improve patient outcomes.
4:00 p.m. Preconference Adjourns
4:10 p.m. Welcome and Introduction
Roxanna Gapstur, PhD, RN, President and Chief Executive Officer, WellSpan Health; Chair, Board of Directors, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
4:15 p.m. Opening Keynote
Social Connection to Personalized Care: The Power of Social Capital in Healthcare
Dr. Thomas H. Lee, Chief Medical Officer, Press Ganey
In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, the ability to build strong social connections is more important than ever. In this session, Dr. Thomas H. Lee explores the transformative role of social capital in health care and how fostering meaningful relationships among patients, providers, and health care organizations can lead to better outcomes and a more compassionate system. Dr. Lee will share insights into how social bonds contribute to personalized care, enhance patient trust, and drive operational excellence. Through real-world examples and evidence-based strategies, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how healthcare leaders can cultivate environments that prioritize connection, teamwork, and empathy.
5:30 p.m. Networking Reception, Sponsor Exhibits, and Award Presentations
8:30 p.m. Networking Lounge
May 13, 2025
7:30 a.m. Focused Networking, Continental Breakfast, and Sponsor Exhibits
8:30 a.m. President’s Remarks and Introduction
Nicole Stallings, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
8:35 a.m. Navigating Federal Policy Shifts: Impacts on Funding, Operations, and Innovation
Michael Park, Partner, Alston and Bird; and Baligh Yehia, MD, President, Jefferson Health, Member, Board of Directors, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
During this session, we’ll unpack the latest Executive Orders and federal policy changes. The presenters will cover a broad range of topics that are top of mind for hospital leaders including: state funding, supply chain challenges, waiver extensions, 340B, telehealth, NIH research funding for academic medical centers, and the future of HOPD. Gain a clear understanding of how these changes impact hospitals and health systems, and what leaders need to know to adapt and prepare effectively.
9:35 a.m. From National Trends to Local Impact: Financial and Strategic Insights for Executive Leaders
Dawn Samaris, Managing Partner, Kaufman Hall
Explore the current state and outlook of the hospital industry through a financial and strategic lens. This session will cover national and Pennsylvania-specific trends, including capital markets, mergers and acquisition activity, and shifts in financial performance and volume fluctuations. Gain insights into the growing wave of policy changes coming out of Washington, and potential challenges to nonprofit tax-exempt status, equipping executives with the knowledge to navigate an evolving landscape.
10:35 a.m. Enhancing Safety and Security Measures in Health Care: Strategies for Protecting Health Care Professionals
Jason Grellner, Vice President, Healthcare, Evolv Technologies
In recent years, there has been a notable escalation in incidents of workplace violence within health care facilities across the United States. It is imperative to strategize on safeguarding the work environment of our health care professionals. During this session, we learn how to elevate security measures and enhance emergency response protocols, leverage effective situational awareness, harness the potential of artificial intelligence in preparing and responding to active threats, and evaluate the substantial impact of comprehensive safety training for your hospitals.
11:15 a.m. The AI Advantage: Innovating for Financial Health, Workforce Stability, and Quality
Barry Chaiken, MD, MPH, Author, Navigating the Code and Future Healthcare 2035
While artificial intelligence (AI) offers amazing tools to enhance patient safety, improve quality, develop new therapies, and better manage costs, how AI is implemented will determine its level of success as it offers both great promise and peril. Dr. Chaiken will incorporate his 25 years of experience in health care information technology, clinical transformation, and business intelligence during this keynote presentation to help you learn the steps needed to leverage AI effectively with best practices and an understanding of the risk and benefits of technology in a clinical setting.
12:20 p.m. Networking Lunch
1:30 p.m. Adjourn