Canada's premier health care show HealthAchieve2009 provides a forum for
discussion on today's most important health care issues

TORONTO , Nov. 13 /CNW/ - Economic leaders, best-selling authors, and world class commentators from across North America will join thousands of delegates at HealthAchieve2009 - Canada's premier health care conference and exhibition. As a leading destination for information and discussion on Canadian health care issues that will be held from November 16th - 18th, HealthAchieve2009 will inspire new ideas, provide high calibre networking, and serve as an opportunity to discover the latest cutting edge technology set to transform the delivery of health care.

"Our goal for HealthAchieve2009 is to showcase the big-picture ideas in health care," says Tom Closson , President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, the organization that puts on HealthAchieve. "From Newt Gingrich's theory and book entitled, Paper Kills: Transforming Health & Healthcare with Information Technology to ideas on how to improve the global issue of access to care or introduce green solutions, we want to open the dialogue and facilitate discussion."

Over the years HealthAchieve has become a must attend event for professionals in the health care industry. The key themes that will be explored include topics from leadership in the health care sector, the future of eHealth, exploring options for alternate levels of care, to a panel discussion on the hospital-physician relationship.

"I've been attending HealthAchieve for 18 years, and it always proves to be a chance to inspire new ideas and continually improve the way you do your job," says Mary Clare Egberts, Chief Operating Officer at North York General Hospital. "It's also one of the few opportunities that I have to network and engage with my peers at other hospitals - this is really valuable to sharing best practices within the system."

HealthAchieve is a must-attend event for anyone who has a professional interest in health care.

    
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    WHAT         HealthAchieve2009
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    WHEN         November 16, 17 and 18th
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    WHERE        The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
                 55, Front Street, Toronto, Ontario
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    MEDIA RSVP   Sarah Hall, BlueSky Communications,
                 [email protected], 416-929-7740, or Amy
                 Ouellette, OHA, [email protected], 416-205-1433.
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To learn more about interview availability for HealthAchieve spokespeople and keynote speakers contact Sarah Hall at 416-929-7740, or [email protected] or Amy Ouellette , [email protected], 416-205-1433. Requests will be handled on a case by case basis.

Selected Highlights:

Monday, November 16th

Dr. Sanjay Gupta ( 9:30 am )

Most widely recognized as the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN and host of the weekend program House Call, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is also an assistant professor of neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta . Dr. Gupta will bring his knowledge to HealthAchieve while discussing how media, global influences and everyday lifestyle affect the health care system.

Rob Devitt - ( 3:30 pm )

Created in September 2008 , eHealth Ontario published the province's ehealth strategy six months later, setting out timelines and milestones for progress towards three key clinical priorities: diabetes management, medication management and wait times. eHealth Ontario plays a leading role in harnessing IT and innovation to improve patient care, safety and access. Rob Devitt , the agency's Interim President & CEO, will present and take questions about the progress achieved to date and the new challenges and opportunities for the future.

Dr. Kristy Duncan ( 2:00 pm )

Pandemic Influenza and Environmental and Human Health Expert

In 1918-19, the Spanish flu pandemic swept the world in three great waves and killed an estimated 20-40 million people in just one year, more than the number that died during the four years of the First World War. Today, while Spanish flu has faded in the public's memory, the Pandemic Influenza H1N1 virus is a significant concern among health care professionals and the general public at large. Dr. Duncan 's address will connect the lessons learned from the 1918 Spanish Flu with today's pandemic planning needs, examine corporate social responsibility and its relevance to health care professionals.

Silken Laumann ( 1:35 pm )

Inspiring HealthAchieve delegates to move from good to great, Laumann will draw upon her remarkable sporting experiences to share the lessons she has learned about life, showing how even in a relentlessly competitive and demanding environment, great leaders love what they do and care passionately about the people they lead.

Tuesday, November 17th

Michael Moore - ( 10:15 am )

Documentarian

Michael Moore is an award winning documentarian, best-selling author and Oscar and Emmy winning director of ground breaking, record selling films Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. His 2007 documentary Sicko is self described as 'a comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on earth." Moore will speak about what's possible in health care, and will touch on both the best and the worst case scenarios.

Chef Michael Smith - ( 1:30 pm )

Most widely recognized for his cooking shows Chef Abroad, Chef at Home, and Chef at Large, Chef Michael Smith has travelled the globe observing food trends and their impact on society. At HealthAchieve, Chef Smith will share his tips, talent and advice with delegates at the nutrition and food services session, focusing on food trends and how local and sustainable cooking drives positive organizational and societal outcomes.

Newt Gingrich - ( 1:30 pm )

Conservative political visionary and thought leader

Gingrich vision of a 21st century health system is centered on the individual, prevention focused, knowledge intense and innovation rich. At HealthAchieve, he will speak about how implementing health information technology, as well as the potential of health IT to promote the adoption of best practices to enhance prevention, wellness and early detection.

Richard Florida - (2:00)

Richard Florida is one of the world's leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends and cultural and technological innovation. With insight on how creativity can revolutionize the global economy, Florida will discuss ways for HealthAchieve attendees to compete and thrive in today's business world.

Wednesday, November 18th

Debate: Hospital-Physician Relationships: What Does the Future Hold? ( 10:00 am )

As Ontario's health system continues to change and modernize, some experts suggest that the hospital-physician relationship should modernize too. At a time when health provider organizations are working hard to improve health system accountability and better integrate care, does it make sense to maintain what many believe is an archaic hospital-physician relationship model, ill suited to the delivery of quality patient care in the demanding health system of today? Should Ontario consider a fundamental change to the hospital-physician relationship? These will be the central themes of a thought-provoking and lively debate at HealthAchieve2009, featuring prominent health system thinkers and moderated by the CBC's Wendy Mesley.

The Honourable Deb Matthews , Minister of Health and Long-Term Care ( 11:00 am )

Presented by HealthAchieve in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Ontario government's annual Celebrating Innovations in Health Care Expo 2009 will showcase the substantial health care innovations happening in Ontario and will explore the future possibilities as well. Hear from Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care before visiting the Expo.

All media planning to attend HealthAchieve2009 must register by calling [phone] before the show or by visiting the media room (Room 203D) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre during November 16, 17 or 18, 2009.

For further information: Public Affairs at [phone]