June 5, 2008 - Cardinal Health said this week it will host the inaugural Chasing Zero Summit Sept. 8-10 at the Hilton Washington in Washington D.C., an event focused on the leadership and operational issues facing healthcare as it pushes for a zero-tolerance approach for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
The event features an intimate, in-depth and candid question-and-answer session with influential economic leader and chairman of the Federal Reserve System (1987-2006), Dr. Alan Greenspan.
The summit will also feature a series of HAI-focused topical sessions and presentations led by the country's foremost health authorities, including the chief executive officers of the National Quality Forum (NQF), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Leapfrog Group; chief patient safety officer of the Joint Commission and director of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), among others.
Attendees will also be among the first to hear Dr. Thomas Valuck, medical officer and senior advisor for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Center for Medicare Management, address the August 2008 CMS policy release, which will identify the final HAIs that will have new, lower reimbursements starting Oct. 1.
It has been estimated that in the U.S. HAIs occur in 1.7 million patients annually and account for 50 percent of all major hospital complications. Nearly 100,000 patients with HAIs die each year, approximately 270 patients per day. Hospital infections are associated with nearly $20 billion in avoidable costs and foregone revenues every year.
Summit attendees will leave armed with the information they need to lead effective HAI management programs and to be better prepared for pending HAI reimbursement changes from CMS.
The event will bring healthcare industry leaders together to share information, engage in strategic discussions and stimulate thought regarding the future management of HAIs.
For more information: www.chasingzero.com/HAI