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The Canadian College of Health Leaders and the Canadian Healthcare Association are pleased to co-host the National Health Leadership Conference (NHLC). Themed From rhetoric to action: Achieving person and family-centered health systems, the conference will be held in Niagara Falls, Ontario on June 10-11, 2013.

This year we are pleased to introduce a nursing leadership stream. This new stream will provide an opportunity to showcase nursing leadership initiatives as well as proving the opportunity to dialogue with healthcare leaders in other disciplines.

The NHLC aims to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing today’s health leadership in Canada, and strives to provide an environment which will nurture movement from knowledge to action.

Objectives:

• Provide a forum to enrich health leadership practices and innovations
• Showcase best leading practices and their success
• Share issues of common interest in the areas of accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the health system
• Address the challenges facing both policy-makers and health leaders in the implementation and delivery of patient and family-centered health services
• Discuss types of digital communication tools and their effective application in transforming health services
• Identify effective ways for health leaders to be catalysts for change

Abstracts should address one or more of the following leadership domains:

1. Lead Self
2. Engage Others
3. Achieve Results
4. Develop Coalitions
5. System Transformation

The LEADS in a Caring Environment Framework is a pan-Canadian leadership capabilities framework adopted by several provinces and organizations including the Canadian Health Leadership Network (CHLNet), a network of national and provincial health organizations of which both CHA and the College are network partners.

For more information on the LEADS Framework, please visit the conference web site at www.nhlc-cnls.ca.

Expected Outcomes:

Conference participants will

• Come away with practical ideas to bring to their work settings;
• Build strong networks and engage in challenging conversations;
• Gain insight on what it takes to be an effective leader;
• Be better equipped to address system transformation challenges.

From rhetoric to action: Achieving person and family-centered health systems 

Despite much talk and some action, we are far from achieving a health system in Canada that is fundamentally designed to focus explicitly on people by being respectful and responsive to their preferences, needs and values. Person and family-centered care has been linked to increased quality and safety, reduced costs, enhanced provider satisfaction and an improved patient experience. How can health leaders implement an integrated person and family-centered approach across the entire health system, including primary care, public health, acute and chronic care, mental health, and home and continuing care?

The values and principles embodied in a person and family-centered approach can be applied at all levels.They encompass the immediacy of encounters between professionals and patients and extend to the ways in which health systems themselves are organized to maximize ease of navigation, responsiveness, convenience, continuity, and comprehensiveness.

The 2013 National Health Leadership Conference will move beyond the rhetoric of person and family-centered health systems. With an action-oriented emphasis on practical examples, the conference will explore questions such as:

Leadership

• What role do leaders need to play to bring about the cultural shift required for genuinely person and family-centered health systems?
• How can policy-makers at different levels advance a person and family-centered agenda?
• How can a person and family-centered perspective be achieved through governance and community involvement?

Innovation

• What system design features and delivery models most effectively promote person and family-centered health care?
• How can person and family-centered approaches lead to improvements in quality and safety while being cost-efficient to the system?
• What practical lessons can be learned from examples of success and excellence in person and family-centered health in Canada and elsewhere?
• What financial and other incentives can be put in place to encourage innovation?

Implementation

• What funding models and mechanisms provide the most effective incentives for person and family-centered systems?
• What contributions can be made by new technologies?
• How can we most effectively measure success in person and family-centered care at all levels and across health systems?
• What is the role of accreditation and regulatory mechanisms in the promotion of person and family-centered systems?
• How can health services create conditions that facilitate active and informed participation of patients and families in caring for their health?
• What are the implications for health human resource planning and training? 

The conference will challenge governments, health leaders, trustees, providers and the public to take concrete steps to move person and family-centered health systems from rhetoric to reality.

LEADS capabilities domains for abstract submissions:

Lead self
Are self aware
They are aware of their own assumptions, values, principles, strengths and limitations.

Manage themselves
They take responsibility for their own performance and health.

Develops themselves
They actively seek opportunities and challenges for personal learning, character building and growth.

Demonstrate character
They model qualities such as honesty, integrity, resilience, and confidence.

Engage others
Foster development of others
They support and challenge others to achieve professional and personal goals.

Contribute to the creation of healthy organizations
They create engaging environments where others have meaningful opportunities to contribute and ensure that resources are available to fulfill their expected responsibilities.

Communicate effectively
They listen well and encourage open exchange of information and ideas using appropriate communication media.

Build teams
They facilitate environments of collaboration and cooperation to achieve results.

Achieve results
Set direction
They inspire vision by identifying, establishing and communicating clear and meaningful expectations and outcomes.

Strategically align decisions with vision, values, and evidence
They integrate organizational missions, values and reliable, valid evidence to make decisions.

Take action to implement decisions
They act in a manner consistent with the organizational values to yield effective, efficient public-centered service.

Assess and evaluate
They measure and evaluate outcomes. They hold themselves and others accountable for results achieved against benchmarks and correct the course as appropriate.

Develop coalitions
Purposefully build partnerships and networks to create results
They create connections, trust and shared meaning with individuals and groups.

Demonstrate a commitment to customers and service
They facilitate collaboration, cooperation and coalitions among diverse groups and perspectives aimed at learning to improve service.

Mobilize knowledge
They employ methods to gather intelligence, encourage open exchange of information, and use quality evidence to influence action across the system.

Navigate socio-political environments
They are politically astute. They negotiate through conflict and mobilize support.

System transformation
Demonstrate systems / Critical thinking
They think analytically and conceptually, questioning and challenging the status quo, to identify issues, solve problems and design and implement effective processes across systems and stakeholders.

Encourage and support isnnovation
They create a climate of continuous improvement and creativity aimed at systemic change.

Orient themselves strategically to the future
They scan the environment for ideas, best practices, and emerging trends that will shape the system.

Champion and orchestrate change
They actively contribute to change processes that improve health service delivery. 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Abstracts accepted may be presented in one of the following formats:

Oral Presentations

Each oral presentation will be 20 minutes in length followed by ten (10) minutes for discussion. Accepted oral presentations will be grouped by LEADS capabilities domain and theme. Oral presentations should have a coherent structure, a clearly stated purpose;provide descriptive information, including necessary contextual detail, and report on research findings, evaluation results, lessons learned, or other evaluative assessments. The room will be equipped with a data projector, screen and computer. A special registration fee of $595 + HST is extended to a maximum of two (2) presenters per oral presentation.

Panel Presentations

Panels should include a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of three (3) presentations addressing a common issue or topic from different perspectives followed by an interactive discussion. Each panel must provide a moderator. These sessions are 90 minutes and must include a minimum of 30 minutes for interactive discussion. The panel should be submitted as a single presentation and should include the word “panel” in the title. Panelists and the moderator should be listed as co-presenters. The room will be equipped with a data projector, screen and computer. A special registration fee of $595 + HST is extended to a maximum of three (3) presenters and one (1) moderator per panel presentation.

Posters

Workshops

Workshops are topic-specific training opportunities for professionals to enhance their skills, conceptual knowledge, or practical ideas for future implementation in their own practice. A workshop should provide participants the opportunity to take part in a ‘hands on’ activity, share ideas, learn from others, solve problems in the context of their own organization and/or develop personal skills. As such, workshops should have clear learning outcomes and must emphasize significant audience participation. Please note that a presentation plus a discussion does not constitute a workshop; didactic and lecture style presentation should be kept to a minimum. These are 90 minute or 2.5 hour sessions. The room will be equipped with a data projector, screen and computer. A special registration fee of $595 + HST is extended to workshop presenters.

Guidelines for Corporate Submissions

We welcome submissions from private sector partners, provided that they address (a) cooperative venture(s) with a non-profit sector partner and include the latter as a co-presenter.

The paper should present an unbiased description of a certain method or service, discussing both pros and cons. Both subtle and blatant advertisement of any products or services is in direct conflict with the spirit of the conference. Examples of the former include repeated references to products or trade names and excessive use of corporate logos and trademarks in graphic illustrations. Photographs of commercial equipment are not permitted unless they add educational value. The Planning Committee insists that all authors and presenters understand without exception, that commercialism is inappropriate and will not be tolerated; authors are asked to abide by these constraints when preparing their abstracts, papers, and presentations.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Before starting the online submission process, please prepare your abstract in MS Word format including the title, abstract, authors and organizations. Once your abstract is finalized, please proceed to www.nhlc-cnls.ca to start completing the online submission form. The abstract should be prepared in paragraph format keeping in mind the word count for the type of abstract you are submitting. The word count excludes the title. You can cut and paste the text from your MS Word document to the abstract form excluding authors and organizations to ensure anonymous review.

You will require the following information to complete the abstract submission form:

• Target audience (i.e. Senior leaders, middle management, emerging leaders, nursing leadership stream);
• Presentation level: Introductory, Intermediate, or Advanced. This is reflective of the level of previous knowledge or experience about the topic the learner is expected to have before coming.
• LEADS Framework domain (i.e. Lead self, Engage others, Achieve results, Develop coalitions, or Systems transformation);
• List of authors including organizations;
• 50 word biography for each presenting author (for introductory purposes);
• Primary contact person (As the primary contact, only this person will receive correspondence);
• Presentation format (please select only one format);
• Four (4) keywords.

Oral, poster and panel submissions
Oral and poster abstracts should be prepared in paragraph format and structured as follows:

• Learning objectives
• Activities, methods, innovations
• Outcomes, results, lessons learned
• Conclusion

Oral and poster abstract submissions must not exceed 150 words (950 characters including spaces). Panel submissions must not exceed 500 words (3,200 characters including spaces).

Workshop submissions
Workshop submissions should include the following:

• Facilitator(s) including organizations
• Abstract should include:
  • Background
  • Overall goals and objective for workshop
  • Ideas to be explored, skills to be acquired, or problems to be addressed
  • Intended learning outcomes for participants
  • Timings that clarify the structure of the workshop and activities, including opportunities for reflection
  • Required equipment and/or room set-up
  • Originality and innovation
  • Relevance to the conference theme
  • Practical application of learning through such takeaways as tools, templates, checklists etc.

Workshop submissions must not exceed 500 words (3,200 characters including spaces). 

The following table represents a guide for outlining your workshop activities and learning outcomes. 

TIME	OBJECTIVE	METHOD/ ACTIVITY	OUTCOME	MATERIALS/ RESOURCES
15 Minutes	Awareness of 'X' issues	Table discussions	Ice Breaker List of challenges	PowerPoint
20 Minutes	Analyze root cause	Group case study	Learn/apply Fishbone Method	Case study Flip chart

Abstracts may be submitted in English or French and, if accepted, will be presented in the language of submission. Simultaneous interpretation will not be provided.

Please note that abstract presenters are responsible for their conference registration fee and all related expenses such as accommodations and travel.

Online submissions will be accepted until November 4, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. EST. All abstract submissions will receive an email confirmation receipt. If a confirmation is not received, please contact the NHLC Secretariat by e-mail at loman@cchl-ccls.ca or at 1-800-363-9056, ext. 37. Abstract submissions received via e-mail, fax or mail will not be accepted.

Abstracts must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST, November 4, 2012. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

All abstracts will be peer-reviewed and selected according to how well they meet the submission criteria
as well as the following:

• Statement of purpose
• Learning objectives and outcomes clearly articulated and relevant to the theme
• Evidence that the practice achieved its objectives
• Practical implications
• Originality and innovation
• Evaluation results (from previous presentations at NHLC if applicable)

Additionally the following apply for:

Each criterion will be scored on a scale of 1 to 5. All criteria are weighted equally.

The Planning Committee reserves the right to accept abstracts for a different presentation format than indicated in the submission.

IMPORTANT DATES

September 5, 2012	Online abstract submission opens
November 4, 2012	Abstract submission deadline
December 1, 2012	Conference registration opens
December 20, 2012	Notification of selected abstracts
February 15, 2013	Super early bird deadline
March 4, 2013	Conference preview available
April 26, 2013	Early bird deadline
June 10-11, 2013	National Health Leadership Conference

REGISTRATION

Registration fee includes admission to all conference sessions, two (2) continental breakfasts, four (4) refreshment breaks, two (2) luncheons and the Chairs’ Reception. The conference preview will be available in March 2013. All presenters are required to pay the special rate of $595 + HST.

Conference Registration Fees

*       Applicable to the first 150 registrations received (first-come, first-served). Registration fees must be received no later than February 15, 2013 to qualify for the super early bird rate.

**     Registration fees must be received no later than April 26, 2013 to qualify for the early bird rate.

***   Proof of full-time student status required upon registration. 

For further information, please contact:

Laurie Oman
Coordinator, Conference Services
NHLC Secretariat
c/o Canadian College of Health Leaders
Tel: 613-235-7218 or 1-800-363-9056 ext. 237
E-mail: loman@cchl-ccls.ca