EHMA 2021 Annual Conference | Health management: managing the present and shaping the future

15-17 September 2021 - Online through the lens of Lisbon, Portugal

Overview

The EHMA 2021 Annual Conference ‘Health management: managing the present and shaping the future’ took place on 15-17 September 2021 digitally through the lens of Lisbon, Portugal. EHMA in collaboration with the Associação Portuguesa de Administradores Hospitalares (APAH) and its academic partners, the Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública and the Universidade Nova: Nova School of Business and Economics co-organised the event. 

The conference brought together experts worldwide to discuss solutions to managing services in the post-COVID future. With a rich and diverse programme, the conference offered a unique opportunity to share experiences and find answers to some of the most difficult problems in leading and managing the health services of tomorrow.

Topics and sessions included:

  • Governance and leadership
  • Person-centredness and care integration
  • Managing the digital transformation 
  • Improving healthcare access and outcomes 
  • Environmental sustainability of health services
  • Health workforce

… and much more.

Materials

EHMA 2021 Abstract book

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EHMA 2021 PIE book

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EHMA 2021 Conference Report

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Plenary speakers

Dr Hans Kluge, Regional Director for Europe, WHO Europe

Dr Hans Kluge, Regional Director for Europe, WHO Europe

Dr Melitta Jakab, Head of Office, WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care

Dr Melitta Jakab, Head of Office, WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care

Ms Annamaria Müller, President of the Board of Directors, HFR hôpital fribourgeois

Ms Annamaria Müller, President of the Board of Directors, HFR hôpital fribourgeois

Dr Marius Ungureanu, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Health of Romania

Dr Marius Ungureanu, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Health of Romania

Dr Björn Zoëga, CEO, Karolinska University Hospital

Dr Björn Zoëga, CEO, Karolinska University Hospital

Dr Ceri Thompson, Deputy Head of Unit ‘eHealth, Well-being, and Ageing’ in the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) of the European Commission

Dr Ceri Thompson, Deputy Head of Unit ‘eHealth, Well-being, and Ageing’ in the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) of the European Commission

Useful Resources

EHMA 2021 Awards

EHMA is proud to support awards for academic excellence including the Karolinska Medical Management Centre & EHMA Research Award, and awards for Best Poster, Best European Paper, and Best non-European paper.

The Karolinska MMC & EHMA Research Award went to Dr Lisa Rogers (University College Dublin Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Innovation in Health Systems, University College Dublin School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, Ireland) for her research on ‘Implementing change within healthcare teams: a qualitative study exploring the influence of context on implementation success’. The EHMA Award for Best European Paper went to Ms Jessica Lubin, (Good Governance Institute, United Kingdom), Ms Abigail Menke (Heartland Centre for Population Health and Community Systems Development, Department of Health Management and Policy, United States), and Ms Sofie Van Steendam (KU Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, Belgium) for their abstract on ‘Partnership-working in health and social care: a multi-national, regional analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on health and social care integration’. Prof Damian Greaves (St. George’s University, Grenada) was presented with the EHMA Award for the Best Non-European Paper for his abstract on ‘Managing health systems better: lessons learned from COVID-19 in the Anglo-phone Caribbean’. The DISH – Digital & Innovation Skills Helix in Health project poster presented by Ms Sabine Paasch Olsen received the EHMA Award for Best Poster.

What our Members say

I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.

Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy

Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.

Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria

I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.

Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta

EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.

Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK

Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.

Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary

As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.

Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal

Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.

Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK

Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.

Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain