Free public event to discuss impact of health care reform on industry

Pennsylvania Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Onorato, along with physicians, nurses, patients, political leaders and those interested in health care reform will participate in a free public event on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, to discuss the impact health care reform will have on the health care industry, cardiovascular care and the patient experience.  The event, titled "What Healthcare Reform Means for You," will take place at the Magovern Conference Center of Allegheny General Hospital from 7 a.m. to noon and is being offered by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

Mr. Onorato will deliver the program's keynote speech, titled, "The Impact of Health Reform on PA Residents, Business and Health Care Providers," and attendees will hear patient testimonials and presentations from physicians, nurses, hospital executives and health care industry leaders.  

Media may register for the event by contacting Kathy Boyd David at [email protected] or Dan Laurent at [email protected].  Members of the public interested in more information or in attending the free event may register at www.SCAI.org/KWC or call 800-992-7224. A complimentary breakfast will be served prior to the program. Policymakers, insurance providers, the general public, patients and their caregivers, health care providers, hospital administrators and all those interested in hearing more about health care reform are encouraged to attend.

The effects of health care reform on the average person may seem subtle now, but the passage of the health care reform bill is expected to impact the health care industry greatly in the coming years. Some of these changes include the number of Americans who will qualify for and be covered by health insurance, the kind of procedures that will be covered by insurance, and an industry-wide shift toward a more technology-based patient tracking system using electronic health records and online databases.

Many Americans remain confused, conflicted and uninformed about what health care reform means and how it will affect their care experience. A Kaiser Family Foundation Poll released in September 2010 shows 53 percent of Americans are confused about what the health care reform law really means.

"Our goal for this educational session is to have a robust discussion among health care professionals, health care executives and the general public, and help to clarify some of the basic changes that will occur with health care reform," said Program Director Tony G. Farah, M.D., FSCAI, FACC, chief medical officer, Allegheny General Hospital. "Everyone – from patients and the public to physicians and nurses – must continue to take an active role in knowing and understanding how health reform will impact care. This program will be an excellent opportunity to learn more and engage with health care leaders across the health care spectrum."  

"What Healthcare Reform Means for You" will feature a variety of engaging speakers from various sectors of the health care industry, including:

• Dan Onorato, 2010 Pennsylvania Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate, Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, PA Attorney General Tom Corbett was also invited to participate)
• Deborah Rice, Executive Vice President of Health Services, Highmark Inc.
• Patient representative
• Barbara Johnston Fletcher, RN, MSN, FAAN, FPCNA, Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, University of North Florida
• Christopher Olivia, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, West Penn Allegheny Health System
• Tony Farah, M.D., FSCAI, Chief Medical Officer, Allegheny General Hospital

"We are excited to bring together such a well-rounded group of speakers to discuss the impact that health care reform will have on the people of Pennsylvania as well as the health care industry as a whole," said Program Co-director Barbara Johnston Fletcher, RN, MSN, FAAN, FPCNA, Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, University of North Florida. "The speakers and attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the impact health reform will have on their lives, and this will make for a very informative and interesting event."

SOURCE SCAI