CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
7:00 A.M. - 8:00 A.M.

FINDING YOUR LEADERSHIP FOCUS

JAY FITCH, Ph.D.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

Most agree that last year is well worth putting behind us: tough economy, challenging decisions and little industry improvement. It's time to stop, assess where we've been and thoughtfully chart the course ahead. Action follows where you put your attention, and there's a lot of action needed right now. Jay Fitch will draw a clear map of where emergency services need to focus in the years ahead—and identify the priorities that are essential to advancing your organization and achieving sustainable success.

BACK FROM THE BRINK: PRACTICAL LESSONS FROM MEDSTAR'S TURNAROUND

MATT ZAVADSKY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.

In 2007, the high-performance EMS system serving metropolitan Ft. Worth, Texas, was slipping into crisis. Its contract ambulance provider had been terminated for non-performance, response-time compliance was unreliable, employee morale was low, provider attrition was rising, costs where climbing—all while the media chronicled every issue. It was time for an intervention and a plan for change. Three years later, after an objective assessment, a nationwide search for EMS leadership talent to complement the existing team and an aggressive, cowboy-boots-on-the-ground strategy to transform the EMS system, MedStar is meeting goals and returning to being a word-class EMS system. Join Matt Zavadsky, associate director of operations, as he shares the inspiring story of how the leadership team and front-line colleagues buckled down to rebuild an EMS system could once again be proud of. You’ll come away with success strategies and important take-home learnings you can use to improve your service.

THE INTERSECTION OF QUALITY, OPERATIONS & PEOPLE: BLISSFUL MARRIAGE OR DISASTROUS RELATIONSHIP

ED RACHT, M.D.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27   |    9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.

Organizations are faced with competing priorities that put operational considerations, clinical care and the people in challenging choices. Learn how to meet patient needs, support frontline caregivers and control costs in a way that makes sense for your organization.

IS IT TIME TO DITCH THE 8:59 URBAN RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS?

TOM BLACKWELL, MD

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Response times have been a core measure of performance for 30 years. Yet there is no mutually agreed upon national standard. Eight minutes 59 seconds has become the most common benchmark for life-threatening emergencies in the urban environment and it has influenced EMS system design, operational decisions and contracting. But does it make a clinical difference? Dr. Blackwell, the researcher behind two major studies on response times, takes a critical—and revealing—look at the topic.

ICEBERG AHEAD:THE BOOMER SUCCESSION CRISIS

ROBERTA JACKSON

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Baby boomers, the largest generation in history, are retiring en masse. Their departure is highly disruptive, as they take institutional knowledge and hard–to–replace expertise with them. As positions are vacated, little is typically done to develop the next generation of leaders to fill the void. At top organizations, however, succession planning is both a priority and a strategic process—whether grooming people on the inside or keeping connected with sharp leaders outside the organization. Learn what you must do now to make sure your organization meets its needs for the best leaders.

SPONSORED BY WAKEFIELD & ASSOCIATES

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    12:00 P.M. - 1:15 P.M.

Enjoy a gourmet buffet lunch in a picturesque setting on San Diego's famous harbor, followed by dessert and coffee with Pinnacle Sponsors in the Exhibit Area.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    1:15 P.M. - 1:39 P.M.

A CONSULTANT GOES HANDS–ON: LESSONS FROM (GASP!) ACTUALLY DOING IT

MIKE TAIGMAN

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28    |    1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.

For years, Mike Taigman coached leaders, led workshops and supported others to transform their organizations for the better. Then something happened that nobody expected... he got a job actually running a major city ambulance operation. Hear a fascinating, highly personal case study of what it's like to make the switch from telling other people what they should be doing, to actually doing it yourself. Hear firsthand the frustrations, the rewards—and most of all—the surprises.

RETHINKING RESUSCITATION

BLAIR BIGHAM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of CPR, and for almost that long, resuscitation has been a key driver of EMS operations and system design. Some have criticized EMS for focusing on cardiac arrest because it represents only a tiny segment of the total patient population, while others passionately see it as a place where EMS makes a tangible difference, as well as an indicator of overall system performance. Highly regarded researcher and advanced care paramedic, Blair Bigham, will reveal what's working and what's not and share the challenges of providing evidence-based medicine to our sickest patients.

HIGH FREQUENCY USERS: IT'S TIME TO SERVE THEM

NIELS TANGHERLINI

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

A small number of patients are generating a large number of EMS calls and emergency department visits. Many systems have begun to refuse service to these patients and even press charges for 911 abuse. San Francisco took a different approach. What if you could intervene and help these patients? Could you improve their situation while reducing their use of EMS, potentially saving thousands or millions of dollars? Niels Tangherlini, a paramedic captain, created the Homeless Outreach for Medical Emergency (HOME) team as a collaboration between public health and the fire department. This successful program is now being modeled in several cities across North America.

ASKING POWERFUL QUESTIONS

DAVID NELSON, D.MIN.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    4:15 P.M. - 5:15 P.M.

Have you ever asked a question of someone and saw the person change in front of you as she shared information about herself? The art of asking powerful questions is a fantastic tool for increasing engagement, changing culture and learning high-value information about your organization. Dr. Nelson teaches leaders to use powerful questions to affect positive change. Join him for a one-of-a-kind experience that will literally transform the way you interact with others.

IMPROVING EMS IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL: A PROGRESS REPORT

RAFAEL SA'ADAH

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28   |    4:15 P.M. - 5:15 P.M.

With its high call volume, complex public health needs, unique target hazards and high-pressure political/media environment, DC is a challenging environment for EMS, to say the least. The 2006 death of a retired journalist after an assault was the catalyst for the formation of a Task Force on EMS by incoming Mayor Adrian Fenty in 2007. The group developed a road map for systemic reform that has led to sweeping changes. Rafael Sa'adah, the District's assistant fire chief of EMS, offers a frank discussion of the challenges and reasons for hope.

PINNACLE NIGHT AT PETCO PARK
SAN DIEGO PADRES VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

OPTIONAL EVENT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29   |    5:00 P.M. –10 P.M.

5:00 P.M. – Pinnacle VIP Tour, hosted by San Diego Medical Services Enterprise

7:05 P.M. – Game start time

Tickets are just $19.00 (25% discount)

Go to padres.com/promo and enter group code PINNACLE to purchase your ticket.

PETCO Park, located in downtown San Diego—and only a 10 minute cab ride from the Sheraton—is one of the premier ballparks in the U.S. The special VIP Tour is a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the park, including a review of how EMS is provided at the stadium. The tour integrates stadium staff with staff from San Diego Medical Services Enterprise. For more information about the park, go to
mlb.com/sd/ballpark.

(Note: While all are invited to attend the game, the Pinnacle VIP Tour is available on a first-come, first-served basis)