Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center

9.15.22

New Program Added to MEDx Talks Agenda Hot Off the Presses: Pennsylvania Venue Rule Amendment and Potential Impacts At White and Williams, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys understand that the recent repeal of the Pennsylvania venue rule applicable to medical malpractice cases could not be more relevant and impactful to Pennsylvania healthcare providers and institutions. As such, we have added a presentation to our upcoming MEDx Talks event to address the issue. We will discuss the rule change and, more importantly, what it means for healthcare providers in Pennsylvania. Space is limited and time is running out, but there is still time to register. We look forward to seeing you on September 15!

White and Williams presents MEDx Talks, a series of high-level presentations on cutting-edge topics impacting the healthcare industry. Designed to provide insights into some of today’s biggest issues and innovations, MEDx Talks will present thought-provoking presentations during this half-day program. Whether you are a risk manager, in-house counsel, a human resources professional, C-Suite executive or other administrator, medical professional, investor or someone who wants to stay in the know, you don’t want to miss this program!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Thursday, September 15, 2022 | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Breakfast and lunch will be served (with outdoor seating available overlooking Independence Hall).
Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center | 599 Market Street | Philadelphia, PA 19106

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Agenda/Topics:

To Accommodate or Not – A Dilemma in Healthcare

Nancy Conrad, Partner

A resident physician with attention deficit disorder wants to see less complex patients to accommodate his communication limitations … a hearing-impaired nurse requests a full-time sign language interpreter … and an anxiety-ridden hospital administrator seeks a less stressful work environment — to accommodate or not, that is the question. This session will consider the duty to reasonably accommodate disabilities of healthcare workers and an employer’s requirement for qualified employees to perform the essential function of their job without risk of harm to the safety of others and undue burden.

There is No Silver Bullet: Complex Solutions for Complex Staffing Issues

Shannon Davila, MSN, RN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC

The impact of staffing shortages continues to plague healthcare organizations causing financial strain and risk of harm to patients. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to fix this problem, but there are strategies that can ease the pain. Organizations that have begun to turn the tide on this problem have two things in common, leadership support for change and flexibility in employment options. This presentation will feature examples of strategies that organizations can consider in order to work to improve retention and recruitment of healthcare staff.

Peer Review and Patient Safety Confidentiality –  A Roadmap to Preserving (and Waiving) the Protections

Dan Ferhat, Partner

Peer Review and Patient Safety Confidentiality Protections in Pennsylvania are weakening. Over the last several years, Pennsylvania appellate courts have consistently chipped away at the protections healthcare providers had enjoyed for decades. In order to successfully maintain the protections, hospitals and other healthcare institutions now have an increased burden to affirmatively establish that internal committee structures and practices strictly conform to the relevant statutory scheme. In this presentation, Dan will discuss: (1) how to maximize and preserve peer review and patient safety protections; (2) the comparable confidentiality protections available under New Jersey and Delaware law; and (3) peer review and patient safety protections in the context of healthcare consolidation, out-of-state expansion, and “choice-of-law” concerns when care is provided outside of the institution’s “home” state.

Hot Off the Presses: Pennsylvania Venue Rule Amendment and Potential Impacts

Joshua Gajer, Partner

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania very recently repealed the medical malpractice venue rule which required that all malpractice cases be brought in the county where the medical care at issue was rendered. Now, beginning in January 2023, health systems and their providers are subject to suit in any county where the system “does business.” How trial courts will interpret the new rule and apply it to health systems is uncertain. The only thing that we know for sure is that a raft of litigation is on the horizon as savvy plaintiffs’ lawyers will undoubtedly endeavor to bring as many cases as possible in “plaintiff-friendly” venues like Philadelphia. Healthcare partner Josh Gajer will discuss the new venue rule, how it is likely to be applied in 2023, and the potential impacts on all healthcare providers who practice in Pennsylvania.

Providing Some PEACE to Homeless Mental Health Patients

Sandra Gomberg, DNP, MSN, RN

Drawing upon her career as a practicing nurse, manager, hospital CEO and medical tech entrepreneur, Sandra Gomberg, DNP, will discuss a novel initiative she created in the Philadelphia to provide housing and both behavioral and physical healthcare to some of the city’s most vulnerable older adults. The PEACE Program — Partners Establishing Accessible, Affordable Housing and Care for Older Adults Empathetically — is a public-private partnership between the city and long-term care and independent living organizations. Through this pilot, the city works with older Philadelphians with histories of homelessness and disabilities who are currently living in city-supported temporary housing, helping them move into sustainable housing with the support they need to age safely and improve their quality of life.

To Err is Human, But When Is It Criminal?

Christy Green

A registered nurse accidentally administered the wrong medication to a patient who subsequently died. The nurse immediately admitted her mistake. Shockingly, the Nashville Tennessee District Attorney brought criminal charges against the nurse and she was ultimately convicted of criminally negligent homicide and gross abuse of an impaired adult. Providers and assorted national healthcare groups and organizations strongly criticized the decision to pursue criminal charges and the resulting conviction. Ms. Green will discuss this case and thoughts concerning whether it will have a chilling effect on healthcare providers admitting future mistakes. Is the “just culture” so many institutions have sought, and worked so hard, to instill, significantly threatened, especially when medical errors continue to be the third leading cause of death in the United States?

What Has COVID-19 Done to Youth Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities

Sharon Y. Irving, PhD, CRNP, FCCM, FAAN, FASPEN

While some of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are readily apparent, the covert effects of COVID-19 are continually being uncovered. Particularly, the impact imposed on socialization. For youth, school closures, social isolation, virtual communication, and increased use of electronic devices continue to leave an imprint. In this presentation, Dr. Irving will address what impact the pandemic has on youth mental health, and how we address these challenges. Our youth are calling out – we must answer the call.

The Future of Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Jeff Levy, MD, FACOG

Dr. Jeff Levy will discuss the future of robot-assisted surgery in the US and around the world. Dr. Levy co-founded the Institute for Surgical Excellence, the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving surgical care and patient outcomes for emerging technologies. Dr. Levy will explain how surgeons, healthcare systems, government regulators, and manufacturers collaborate through projects, consensus conferences, and peer reviewed publications to raise the bar on surgical efficiency and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Levy will discuss how robotic-assisted surgery has gotten to where it is now, as well as what the future holds.

AI in Medicine – Is it Living up to the Hype?

Aalpen Patel, MD

Much has been written about the coming age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this discussion, Dr. Patel will address: What is AI? How can it help in medicine to better care for our patients? What are the potential problems with AI? When we answer these questions, it will be clear that AI is safe and essential in medicine, although there are still unknowns.

Not Your Parent’s Healthcare: Hospital at Home is Today’s Reality

Sarah Schenck, MD, FACP

The healthcare landscape is changing, and the home is the new venue of care. Dr. Schenck will discuss how the Hospital at Home program leverages a new virtualistic workforce, technology and new payment model to bring hospital-level care to patients in their home.

Meet Our Featured Guest Speakers:

Shannon Davila, MSN, RN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC Associate Director of Safety Solutions, ECRI Christy Green Deputy General Counsel, SpecialtyCare Sharon Y. Irving, PhD, CRNP, FCCM, FAAN, FASPEN Associate Professor & Vice Chair Department of Family and Community Health Senior Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Clinical Nurse Scientist - Critical Care Center for Evidence and Outcomes NP, Critical Care Nursing/Medicine Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Sandra Gomberg, DNP, MSN, RN Former CEO, Philadelphia COVID-19 Surge Initiative Creator, Philadelphia PEACE Program Former Temple University Hospital CEO Former Aria Health COO Jeff Levy, MD, FACOG International Medical Educator Co-founder, Institute for Surgical Excellence Aalpen Patel, MD Medical Director of Artificial Intelligence, Geisinger Medical Center Sarah Schenck, MD, FACP Medical Director, Virtualist Medicine, ChristianaCare Center for Virtual Health

*MEDx Talks has been approved for CLE credit in DE, NJ, NY and PA; Nursing CEUs; and SHRM for HR professionals. There is no cost to attend MEDx Talks.