September 2, 2026
9:30 a.m. Preconference Registration
10:30 a.m. Preconference: Navigating Regulatory Change—Compliance, Patient Safety, and Hospital Operations
Welcome and Introduction
Kate McCale, Vice President, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania hospitals continue to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment while balancing operational demands, workforce challenges, and patient safety priorities. This opening session will provide an overview of the day's discussions, highlight key regulatory trends affecting hospitals and health systems, and frame the opportunities for collaboration.
10:50 a.m. Regulatory Readiness: Navigating Survey Trends, Compliance Expectations, and Interdepartmental Collaboration
This session will provide an integrated update on regulatory priorities impacting Pennsylvania hospitals, including recent Department of Health survey trends, common compliance findings, and evolving oversight expectations. The session will also explore key life safety and facility compliance requirements, highlighting practical strategies to address recurring challenges, improve survey preparedness, and promote a culture of continuous regulatory readiness.
11:25 a.m. Strengthening Patient Safety Through Standardized Reporting and Obstetrical Risk Reduction
Michelle Bell, RN, BSN, FISMP, CPPS, Director of Outreach and Education, Patient Safety Authority
Join the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority for an update on two key patient safety initiatives. Learn about the newly released Reporting Standardization Guidance, developed jointly with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which clarifies expectations for reporting serious events, incidents, and infrastructure failures under the MCARE Act, as well as upcoming PA-PSRS changes taking effect January 1, 2027. The session will also highlight the Authority’s advisory on shoulder dystocia, including strategies to strengthen obstetrical safety through consistent risk assessment, team preparedness, and patient counseling.
12:00 noon Lunch (on your own)
1:15 p.m. Patient Safety, Quality, and Equity Symposium Begins
Welcome and Introduction
Robert Shipp, III, PhD, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President, Workforce and Clinical Affairs, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
1:20 p.m. When Seconds Change Lives: Patient Safety and System Breakdowns
RaDonda Vaught, Keynote Speaker, Patient Safety Advocate
A single medication error can have life-changing consequences for patients, families, caregivers, and health care organizations. In this powerful and thought-provoking session, RaDonda Vaught shares her personal experience and reflects on the events that led to one of the most widely discussed patient safety cases in recent history. Through her story, participants will examine the complex system factors that contribute to medical errors, the impact of organizational culture on reporting and learning, and the challenges of balancing accountability with a just culture. Attendees will leave with practical insights to strengthen medication safety, foster psychological safety, and build systems that reduce the risk of preventable harm.
2:20 p.m. Federal Policy, Funding, and Patient Safety: Understanding the Operational Impact
Federal policy and funding decisions have significant implications for hospitals' ability to deliver safe, high-quality, and equitable care. This session will examine recent and proposed changes to Medicaid, Medicare, and federal funding programs and explore their impact on workforce stability, quality improvement efforts, patient access, and health equity. Participants will gain insight into the operational challenges facing hospitals and strategies for navigating an evolving policy landscape.
3:05 p.m. Networking Break
3:20 p.m. Patient Safety, Accreditation, and Regulatory Alignment
Hospitals are increasingly challenged to align patient safety efforts with evolving regulatory and accreditation requirements. This session will examine current patient safety priorities, emerging risks, and opportunities to leverage accreditation activities to strengthen organizational performance. Speakers will discuss how hospitals can integrate safety, quality, and compliance initiatives to foster continuous improvement and reduce preventable harm.
4:05 p.m. Elevating the Patient Voice: Experience, Trust, and Healing
Moderator: Vaneeza Santiago, MSN, APRN, RNP-C, Systems Director of Patient Experience, Tower Health
Patient experience is increasingly recognized as a critical component of quality and safety. This session will explore how health systems are partnering with patients and families to improve care delivery through Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs), trauma-informed care practices, and patient-centered design. Speakers will discuss strategies for building trust, strengthening engagement, and creating environments where patients feel heard, respected, and safe.
5:00 p.m. Welcome Reception, Networking, and Sponsor Exhibit
6:30 p.m. Dinner On Your Own
Return to top
September 3, 2026
7:30 a.m. Breakfast, Networking, and Sponsor Exhibit
8:30 a.m. Leadership Panel: What Will Define Patient Safety Success Over the Next Decade?
Moderator:
Jason Mitchell, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Geisinger, Member, Board of Directors, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
Panelists:
Oren Guttman, MD, MBA, Vice President, High Reliability & Patient Safety
Edward Asplundh, Chief Patient Safety & Quality Officer, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Abington Hospital
Health care leaders will examine the forces most likely to shape patient safety over the next ten years. Topics include workforce transformation, financial sustainability, rural access challenges, emerging technologies, health equity, trust in health care institutions, and evolving regulatory expectations. This forward-looking discussion will identify priorities and strategies for creating safer, more resilient health systems.
9:20 a.m. AI and Patient Safety: Using Technology to Improve Outcomes
Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform patient care, but its adoption must be guided by strong governance, transparency, and safety principles. This session will explore how health care organizations are leveraging AI to improve patient outcomes while addressing liability concerns, maintaining trust, and preventing unapproved "shadow AI" use. Panelists will share practical lessons on implementing AI responsibly and measuring its impact on quality and safety.
10:05 a.m. Networking Break/Move to Breakout Session
10:20 a.m. Breakout Sessions
A. From Event to Excellence: Using Simulation, Root Cause Analysis, and Debriefing to Drive Safer Care
Stephanie Bailey, Simulation Education Manager, Allegheny Health Network
Laura Daniel, Director of Research, Allegheny Health Network
Donamarie Wilfong, Vice President Simulation Education, Allegheny Health Network
B. Access for All: From Crisis to Care—Reimagining Access to Behavioral Health in Our Community Hospital
Renee Stewart, Chief Nursing Officer, Lower Bucks Hospital
Leeann Morsa, Program Director, Lower Bucks Hospital
Reginald Cooper, Program Community Liaison, Lower Bucks Hospital
C. An Interdisciplinary Effort to Address Food Insecurity and Drive Community Change
Helena Pittman, MSN, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC, Nurse Manager, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Zamia Diaz, MSN, RN, CRNP, Manager, Advanced Practice Provider Hospitalist Service, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
10:50 a.m. Break and Move to Breakout Sessions
11:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions
A. Clean Mouths, Healthy Lungs: Oral Care's Impact on VAE Prevention
Christine Bingman, DNP, RN, CIC, System Director, Infection Prevention, Penn Highlands Health System
Kerri Lingle, LPN, CIC, Infection Prevention Specialist II, Penn Highlands Dubois
Nicholas Seidel, Infection Prevention Specialist, Penn Highlands Dubois
B. A Systemwide Framework to Improve Life Expectancy and “Care for All” Through Data-Driven Interventions
Stephanie Voight, System Director, Community Health WellSpan Health
Elizabeth Younger, Director, Quality Improvement, WellSpan Health
Yeimi Bautista, Manager, CLAS Programs, WellSpan Health
C. Advancing Hypertension Equity Through Nurse-Led, Team-Based Remote Monitoring in Underserved Populations
Torey Felton, Director of Quality & Population Health, Organization, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic
11:10 a.m. Break and Move to Breakout Sessions
11:40 a.m. Breakout Sessions
A. Two Check or Not Two Check: De-Implementing Low-Value Double-Checks with Safety in Mind
Molly McDonough, Medication Safety Program Manager, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Megan Jennings, Safety Quality Portfolio Manager Organization, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
B. Beyond The Wait: Engaging Patients Through ED Ambassador Model
Suzanne Smith, System Director, Patient Experience, Main Line Health System
12:10 p.m. Move to Plenary Session and Lunc
12:15 p.m. Group Luncheon and Closing Session
Workforce Well-Being and Patient Safety
Andrea Coyle, DNP, MHA, NE-BC, Chief Clinical and Innovation Officer, Joy Metrics
A resilient workforce is essential to delivering safe, high-quality care. This session will examine the connection between caregiver well-being, workforce engagement, and patient outcomes. Speakers will discuss approaches to reducing burnout, supporting psychological safety, strengthening team communication, and creating environments where caregivers can thrive while providing exceptional care.
2:00 p.m. Adjourn