WARRENVILLE, Ill., March 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Urgent Care Association (UCA) and College of Urgent Care Medicine (CUCM) will bring the on-demand healthcare industry together for Oceans of Opportunity, the 2019 Urgent Care Convention & Expo from April 7-10 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
At Oceans of Opportunity, top urgent care and healthcare thought leaders will engage participants in sessions about the latest industry trends – including developments in antibiotic stewardship, occupational medicine, pediatrics, telemedicine, payer trends, and the future of on-demand medicine – as the on-demand industry continues to grow and evolve in response to consumer needs and preferences. Attendees will participate in lectures and workshops designed to advance both the clinical and practice management aspects of delivering high-quality, on-demand care.
Several keynote speakers from all corners of the industry will share their insights on a variety of topics, including:
- Alike van der Velden, PhD, Assistant Professor, University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands, to discuss a global perspective of antibiotic stewardship
- Mitch Perry, SVP, Chief Financial Officer, Blue Cross NC, Jeff Alter, President, Arcturus One Consulting and former CEO of UnitedHealthcare's Commercial Business, and Juan Vallarino, Strategic Advisor, CityMD, to discuss financial strategy and payer negotiations
- Chester Robson, DO, MHCDS, FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Programs and Quality, Walgreens, and Paul Smolke, Senior Director, Modern Workplace, Worldwide Health Microsoft Corporation, to discuss key trends and takeaways from the event
On Monday during the convention, UCA CEO Laurel Stoimenoff will officially launch the Gateway2Better Network, a disruptive new member benefit which seeks to provide direct-to-consumer and direct-to-employer strategies as an alternative to the commercial payer. Also taking place on Monday is the annual Foundation Celebration, an opportunity for the industry to celebrate its laureates and a major fundraising event benefiting the research and education programs offered by the Urgent Care Foundation.
"The UCA Convention will aim to enhance the educational and networking opportunities for participants by connecting experts in the industry with clinicians and facility decision makers," said Dr. Sean McNeeley, UCA board president, medical director at University Hospital Urgent Care in Cleveland. "As our industry expands and diversifies to meet patient demands, it is increasingly important to educate our leaders and providers on the latest advancements and showcase opportunities for growth."
Certified Urgent Care Management Professional (CUCMP) Program
Last year, UCA launched the Certified Urgent Care Management Professional (CUCMP) Program, building off its Urgent Care Management Certification (UCMC), for urgent care managers looking to demonstrate their expertise in running an on-demand care facility. At this year's convention, participants can attend sessions that help meet the 62 credit hours required to achieve CUCMP certification, including:
- Mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and co-branding
- Cost of care transparency
- Payer contracting
- Mastering MACRA
- Facility-wide quality improvement
"The CUCMP program introduces coursework and practical management scenarios, many unique to the industry, designed to prepare participants for the ever-evolving, on-demand landscape," said Stoimenoff. "The CUCMP program is a perfect opportunity for urgent care managers to advance their knowledge and distinguish themselves throughout the industry."
Pediatrics in Urgent Care
Attendees of the event will also enjoy a wider selection of pediatrics-focused sessions addressing common clinical and practice management issues seen in urgent care centers, including:
- Chest pain in children and adolescents
- Neonatal issues
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Recognizing and treating child abuse
- Fevers in infants
"Pediatric care is one area where urgent care centers are seeing immense growth, as more families seek immediate services for non-emergent situations," said Dr. McNeeley. "This year's pediatrics sessions offer fresh ideas and new perspectives on how best to treat infants and children while ensuring cost-effective delivery models."
Throughout the event, Oceans of Opportunity participants will be exposed to a myriad of advanced strategic approaches for enhancing their practices, including a new Skills2Scale track to provide managers with the skills they need to grow their business and advance professionally. Telemedicine, mobile marketing, antibiotic stewardship, concussions and artificial intelligence are just some of the many topics to be presented at the convention.
For more information about the 2019 Oceans of Opportunity Urgent Care Convention & Expo and to register for the event, please visit http://www.ucaoa.org/Convention.
About the Urgent Care Association
The Urgent Care Association (UCA) is a membership association of leaders, providers and suppliers in the field of on-demand, consumer-focused health care. UCA advances the industry and supports member success through advocacy, research, education, collaboration and high standards of care. The association maintains an active online presence and member community for daily exchange of best practices. For more information, visit http://www.ucaoa.org.
SOURCE Urgent Care Association
Share this article