PATIENT CARE COALITION
TO HOLD STATEWIDE CONFERENCE
TO ADDRESS MEDICAL ERRORS

ABC NEWS’ JOHN NANCE TO SPEAK

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APRIL 17-18
Sheraton Richmond West

Virginians Improving Patient Care and Safety (VIPC&S) will bring together about 400 leaders from all areas of the health care sector on April 17-18 at the Sheraton Richmond West for a conference titled "Advancing Patient Safety in Virginia." These individuals will look at ways to improve safety and accountability as well as examine the role of technology in reducing patient injury caused by medical error.

National leaders in the patient care movement like John Nance, ABC News correspondent, and Martin J. Hatlie, president of Chicago-based Partnership for Patient Safety, will explore causes of medical errors and systems for accountability.

"The scope of this conference is unprecedented," said Carl Armstrong, M.D., vice president and senior medical advisor of the hospital association. "We have virtually every aspect of the health care industry from hospitals and pharmacies to doctors and nurses to insurers to medical schools working together to help make sure Virginians get the best care possible."

VIPC&S is a statewide not for profit organization created in response to the National Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report, To Err is Human. Founded last year by Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Society of Virginia, Virginia Association of Health Plans, Virginia Pharmacists Association and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, VIPC&S has worked with the Joint Commission on Healthcare to review the IOM report and address patient safety issues.