An emphasis on leadership is a natural fit for the URAC 6th Annual Summit & Exhibit October 26-28

This yearís conference theme, ìCelebrating Our Past, Focusing on the Future,î emphasizes URACís 15th anniversary celebration and its ongoing leadership in the market to enhance the delivery of quality health care through its 17 accreditation programs. The Summit attracts recognized industry experts, thought leaders and professionals across the health care delivery spectrum. The Summit will also be the first national appearance for URACís new leader, Alan Spielman, who joins URAC as president and CEO Oct. 17.

ìThe Summit provides an open environment for professionals to meet and interact with colleagues, to understand key industry trends and to share best practices. In addition, the Summit provides an important opportunity for URAC to listen to its customers and other key stakeholders,î said Spielman, who will deliver opening remarks to kick off the national meeting. He will also give the closing address.

îOver the next several years we will face significant challengesóhow to engage consumers to be active in their health care; how to meet the chronic care needs of an aging population; and how to leverage best practices in health care management,,î Spielman said. ìURAC as an organization is poised to lead the market in the advancement of quality, safety and efficiency as these challenges arise.î

This year, URAC introduces the next generation of its clinical accreditation standards, which represent the first comprehensive revisions after implementation of the modular accreditation system several years ago. In revising the standards across several accreditation programs simultaneously, URAC has improved consistency and efficiency between the Core Standards (required for any URAC accreditation) and the specific clinical modules. These changes affect accreditation for Health Utilization Management, Workersí Compensation Utilization Management, Case Management, Disease Management, Health Call Center, Independent Review Organization, Credentials Verification Organization, Provider Credentialing, Health Plan, and Health Network. URAC also revised its Health Web Site Standards this year.

ìEstablishing viable standards in todayís environment requires both an understanding and a balancing of the strategic and business trends in the market, and todayís operational and contractual realities,î Spielman said. ìURAC is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, but our priorities are attuned to the trends we see taking us into the future. There is an explosion of innovation efforts in the marketplace, and alongside them a host of pivotal policy issues and challenges. URAC accreditation gives organizations the ability to translate the immense complexity of health care operations and activities into a well-recognized seal of approval that embodies high standards and industry best practices for all.î

Taking leadership to the transformational level will be the focus of the keynote address by Steve Farber, president of Extreme Leadership, Incorporated, The noted author and former executive with the Tom Peters Company will open the Summit with his presentation, ìThe Radical LEAP: Extreme Leadership at Work and Beyond.î

During the Summit, URAC will release the final results of the 2005 Medical Management Research Project to include current trends in medical management from hundreds of accredited and non-accredited health care organizations. Summit breakout presentations will highlight URACís commitment to quality and its move toward consumer-focused accreditation programs such as the Health Web Site accreditation program and the newly launched Consumer Education and Support Program, which address aspects of the emerging consumer-driven health care market. Participants will also hear perspectives on quality, accreditation and value-based purchasing from employer representatives, industry experts and national thought leaders.

Distributed by HR Marketer.com