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OBSERVATORY VENICE SUMMER SCHOOL 2018 “Quality of care: Improving effectiveness, safety, and responsiveness”
31 May 2018
San Servolo, Venice, 22-28 July 2018
The Observatory Venice Summer School is a short, intensive course. It is a week of learning, interacting, studying, debating, and sharing experiences with other policy makers, planners and professionals to understand, discuss and improve quality-of-care strategies and policies.
Objectives: To
Understand the underlying concept of ‘quality of care’ and its various dimensions as well as ways to measure and compare quality
Provide evidence-based country experiences of different approaches and innovative models of assuring and improving care
Systematize and interpret the effectiveness of quality of care approaches such as evidence-based pathways, accreditation, audit and feedback, patient safety measures, public reporting or pay-for-quality
Review how such approaches can be combined into national strategies to enable that health systems fulfil their roles and continuously improve their performance
The six-day course includes formal teaching, participants’ presentations, international panel discussions and group work and it is divided in 4 modules:
MODULE A: Definitions and dimensions of quality
What is ‘quality of care’?
What are the different dimensions of quality?
Does the understanding of quality differ across areas of care and counties?
MODULE B: Measuring quality
Concepts and data sources for international comparisons
Measuring quality at provider and service level
Validity, reliability and actionability of quality indicators
The data infrastructure
MODULE C: Effectiveness of quality strategies
What are the key approaches to assure and improve quality of care?
What do we know about the (comparative) effectiveness of these approaches?
What are possible unintended consequences?
What mix of strategies on clinical, service and system level works best?
MODULE D: Bringing it together and future trends
How can the various approaches be combined into a national quality strategy?
What are future trends, key challenges and policy options?
How will technology shape quality improvement in health care?
Organization: the Summer School is organised by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, the Veneto Region of Italy, the European Commission and World Health Organization with the participation of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The Summer School is primarily aimed at senior to mid-level policy-makers. Applications are welcome from all 53 WHO European Region Member States and, if places allow, applications from outside the Region will be considered.
EACCME credits: The Summer School has applied to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
APPLY NOW at www.theobservatorysummerschool.org
Early applications are encouraged as places are limited.
Please find attached the application form to be submitted together with your CV and a picture.
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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