Published:

URAC Quality Summit Keeps Consumer in Focus With Emphasis on Health Care Management Improvement, Innovation

Internet entrepreneur Jeff Taylor, futurist and Kaiser Institute co-founder Leanne Kaiser Carlson are keynote speakers

WASHINGTON, July 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- URAC is focusing on cost, quality and the consumer as the framework for improvement and innovation in health care management. Influential thought leaders, medical professionals and executives from across the health care management spectrum will convene to explore that framework at URAC's 9th Annual Quality Summit Oct. 14-16 at the La Costa Resort and Spa inSan Diego.

The annual Summit brings innovative ideas and proven practices from the nation's foremost leaders in health care management for education presentations and high-level networking opportunities. This year the Summit will draw on the expertise of winners of URAC's Best Practices in Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards in many of the educational sessions, shedding light on innovative practices in health plan operations and health care management.

"URAC's Quality Summit brings together subject matter experts from across the health care management continuum to a single conference with a distinct emphasis on quality improvement," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC's president and chief executive officer. "In the current environment, improving health care quality and efficiency and the steps that organizations are taking to empower the consumer are vital subjects to explore."

Summit keynote speakers bring professional insight to the focus on innovation. Leanne Kaiser Carlson, futurist and co-founder of the Kaiser Institute Program in Philanthropy will speak about the intentional nurture of new ideas and how it benefits organizations during her presentation, "Creating an Organizational Culture of Innovation." Carlson works with organizations seeking to attract entrepreneurially-oriented philanthropists, and is keenly focused on ways to more intentionally nurture innovators.

Jeff Taylor, founder and former CEO of Monster.com and Eons.com, will bring the second keynote, "You Are the CEO of Your Own Life." Taylor is recognized as an innovator and visionary in use of the Internet to broaden the reach of business through social networking. Taylor, an expert at technology, advertising and maximizing human capital, works with businesses to adopt the essentials of social networking as a fundamental building block for improving the bottom line. His ideas connect with URAC's leadership in the health information technology arena. URAC offers a suite of accreditation programs designed to protect and empower the consumer in the online environment.

"Exceptional content and unique networking opportunities make URAC's Quality Summit a can't-miss opportunity for health care management leaders," Spielman said. "The concrete takeaways are innovative best practices that are already working on the ground, plus inspiration for a renewed consumer focus on quality improvement."

For a complete Summit agenda, registration, hotel, and travel information visit the URAC Web site at http://www.urac.org/accreditationEducation/9thAnnualSummit.asp or call (202) 216-9010.

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and education programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

Contact: Karla Hurter

Phone: (703)319-0957

khurter@health2resources.com

SOURCE URAC

Tags: ,HEA,MTC,POL,NPT,TDS,URAC-summit-CA

_ _