Announcing the first speakers on the program for the 42nd World Hospital Congress, taking place in Brisbane 10 to 12 October 2018, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) Chief Executive Alison Verhoeven says delegates will have the opportunity to hear and network with an outstanding group of international health leaders.

‘Patients are at the centre and value is the goal in the health system our first four speakers aspire to’, says Ms Verhoeven.

#hellomynameis movement co-founder Chris Pointon has inspired health leaders, patients and the community across the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand with his story of the creation of a social movement towards a more compassionate health system that grew out of sadness and adversity when his late wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Chris will be joined by patient and carer representatives who will challenge health leaders to see and experience hospitals and health services from their perspective.

With a deep understanding of the UK's National Health Service and the challenges it faces to deliver universal health care in an environment of austerity, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Nigel Edwards will share his views on sustainability, new models of service delivery, and the transformation required to ensure high performing health systems can support universal health care. Nigel is one of many outstanding international health leaders from around 40 countries who will participate in the October 2018 World Hospital Congress.

Achieving value and better health outcomes depends on a strong primary health system and a focus on integration—topics on which University of Queensland's Professor Claire Jackson is an international expert, and which will shape a World Hospital Congress conversation on how we can move from the traditional concept of bricks and mortar hospitals to a healthcare neighbourhood. Alongside other eminent Australian health leaders, Claire will share her experience and commitment to a better health system with the 2,000 delegates participating in the October 2018 World Hospital Congress.

Dr Robert Pearl, author of Mistreated: Why we Think We’re Getting Good Health Care and Why We’re Usually Wrong, chief executive of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group until 2017 and recently named as one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 most influential physician leaders, will join us for an in-depth discussion on the road map required to transform healthcare delivery. Dr Pearl acknowledges that chronic disease has replaced acute problems. Costs have become unaffordable for nations and individuals. And medical procedures and pharmaceuticals are more complex, expensive and dangerous. Dr Pearl argues the need to raise quality, increase convenience and lower cost, and notes that integration is an essential first step.

‘Just as the Mom and Pop store morphed into the large mall and most recently to on-line, so healthcare will need to evolve. Done right, health care can be both high tech, and high touch’, says Dr Pearl.

'Each of these speakers exemplifies our program themes Innovate, Integrate, Inspire; and our commitment to a health system where patients are at the centre, and value is the goal,' says Ms Verhoeven.

Visit www.hospitalcongress2018.com to watch as we announce more speakers throughout March and to find out how you can be a part of the conversations during the 42nd World Hospital Congress, 10 to 12 October 2018 in Brisbane.

The 42nd World Hospital Congress takes place in Brisbane 10 to 12 October 2018, presented by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association in partnership with the International Hospital Federation and Queensland Health's Clinical Excellence Division.

For more information on the AHHA, visit http://ahha.asn.au. 

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association is the national peak body for public and not-for-profit hospitals, and community and primary healthcare services.

Media enquiries: Alison Verhoeven, Chief Executive, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, 0403 282 501