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Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

Quality Improvement - Tools and Workshops

7-Night Alaska Glacier Cruise
Round-trip Seattle, Washington
June 21 - 28, 2024
Royal Caribbean's <em>Ovation of the Seas</em>
Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas
16 CE Credits for Psychologists
16 ASWB ACE Credits
16.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
16 ACPE Credits
16.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees
$995 for Physicians, Attorneys, Psychologists, Doctors of Pharmacy, & Dentists
$795 for Physician Assistants
$595 for Nurses, Residents, Students & Others

Target Audience
Psychologists, Social WorkersPhysicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists
Program Purpose / Objectives
  1. Icebreaker and introductions
  2. Quality Improvement overview and why we do what we do
    • Brief history of quality overall and in healthcare (didactic section)
    • Project selection – considerations, resources to consider, alignment with hospital priorities, etc. (didactic followed by roundtable discussion)
  3. What is the problem and how to state it!
    • Problem and aim statement – ensuring SMART problem and aim statements – key performance indicator considerations (working session)
  4. Developing a Key driver diagram (definition, examples, how to use to organize project and determine scope)
    • Project scope (scope considerations, examples of good and bad scope statements)
  5. How I make QI work successful:
    • Issues and risks (examples of issues and risks that might be encountered, approach to evaluating severity of risk, how to mitigate risk)
    • Stakeholder analysis (determining who is on the project team, ensuring sponsorship, identifying threats/resistance)
  6. How to make it work
    • Project execution overview – project management basics, PDSA cycles, tests of change, possible overview of MOC requirements (didactic section)
    • Communication plan – frequency, methods of communication, communication objectives, how to develop a communication plan, elevator speech and generating enthusiasm and buy-in (didactic followed by roundtable discussion and working session)
  7. Identifying Current conditions
    • Process mapping
    • Identifying waste
  8. Day 1 key points, homework review, and icebreakers
  9. A3 Basics and Charter development
  10. If you don’t measure it, it can’t be fixed
    • Metrics – outcomes and process metrics, defining your metrics and tying them to your smart aim
  11. Data collection - collecting baseline data, using baseline data to review and refine project scope and smart aim, determining what data to collect during project execution, creation of data collection templates (didactic and working session – 60 minutes)
  12. Data presentation and analysis – what to do with your collected data – run charts, control charts, etc. – use to determine success of interventions, keys for communication/sharing – how to construct and label charts, including annotation, common cause versus special cause variation (examples of good and bad data presentation)
  13. Project reviews – interim and at end of project – determining health of project, potential go-no go decisions, designing subsequent tests of change (with examples and roundtable discussion)
  14. Sustainment plan – sustainment overview – why it’s important, examples, roundtable discussion
  15. Project closure –
    • celebrating success, publication, possible report out venues
    • Summary, instructor feedback, possible next steps
Conference Sessions generally take place on days at sea (as itinerary allows), giving you plenty of time to enjoy your meals, evenings and ports of call with your companion, family and friends.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All conferees, their families, and guests must book their cruise within the University at Sea® meeting group through University at Sea® at 800-926-3775 or by registering online. This ensures our company can provide conference services and complimentary social amenities to all meeting participants and their guests. Thank you for your cooperation.
Faculty

Vera Hupertz, MD

Vera Hupertz, MD
Executive Vice Chair Pediatrics
Vice Chair of Pediatrics, Quality and Patient Safety
Medical Director Transplant Hepatology
Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Institute Dr. Hupertz was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY (1974-1978) and received her BS in Biology. She attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY and graduated in 1982 with MD. Internship and residency was completed at Rainbow Babies & Children's (RB&C) Hospital, Cleveland, OH by 1985 and Pediatric Gi and Hepatology fellowship by 1988. She maintains 3 board certifications which include: Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, and Pediatric Transplant Hepatology. 

Vera stayed on as Staff Physician at Rainbow Babies and Hospital and achieved the level of Associate Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. She was made Medical Director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Team, and was co-director of the Residency Training Program at RB&C. In addition to the above, I developed a residency curriculum for Chronic Care to be used at Health Hill Hospital (now Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation). 

She became a staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in July of 2000 and currently has a joint appointment with the Department of Transplant Surgery. She is Medical Director of Pediatric Liver Transplantation. She is Vice Chair of Quality Improvement for the Children's Hospital and Pediatric Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Current interests are liver disease (especially neonatal disease) and liver transplantation, as well as inflammatory bowel diseases

Allan L. Cohn, CPHQ

Allan L. Cohn, CPHQ
Quality Director - Cleveland Clinic Children's (2010 to 2021)
Responsible for overall quality improvement plan for Cleveland Clinic Children's Allan has a proven track record of developing and implementing processes designed to improve performance, increase efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce cost, and increase customer satisfaction in a wide range of industries and functional areas including: Healthcare, Call Center Operations, Information Technology, Research & Development, Purchasing, Manufacturing and Government Affairs.
At Cleveland Clinic Children's, Allan worked closely with Dr. Hupertz to establish overall governance for quality, patient experience, and safety efforts for all Cleveland Clinic pediatric locations.
During his time at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, employee reporting of safety risks increased by 60% with a corresponding 90% decrease in serious safety events, including over ten years without a serious harm medication safety event. They achieved a 40% reduction in central line associated blood stream infections, a 20% reduction in all cause readmissions and a 10-percentage point improvement in physician communication top box performance.
Allan established a Family Engagement team that ensured the voice of the parent and patient was involved in all Cleveland Clinic Children’s strategic initiatives including new facility design, partnering families with newly diagnosed conditions with other families, and creation of Speak Up for Safety – empowering parents and caregivers to “stop the line” any time they have a concern.
Allan received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1979. He is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt & Champion,

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.

Cruise Itinerary

DATE PORT OF CALL ARRIVE DEPART
Fri Jun 21 Seattle, Washington
- 4:00 pm
Sat Jun 22 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Sun Jun 23 Juneau, Alaska
11:59 am 10:00 pm
Mon Jun 24 Skagway, Alaska
7:00 am 7:00 pm
Tue Jun 25 Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier
7:00 am 11:59 am
Wed Jun 26 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Thu Jun 27 Victoria, British Columbia
8:00 am 6:00 pm
Fri Jun 28 Seattle, Washington
6:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.

Ports of Call

Seattle, Washington - Sailing out on a cruise from Seattle? Make sure you spend a few a days in the beautiful Emerald City. If you’re a nature lover, this jewel in the Pacific Northwest is the perfect place for you to explore ahead of your cruise vacation. Though it offers plenty of metropolitan delights — think great restaurants, bars, a ton of shopping and lots (and lots) of hip coffee shops — Seattle is a big city with a wild, great-outdoors soul. It’s surrounded by ancient forests, sprawling public parks and, of course, the misty Puget Sound, where you can slow-moving tugboats, sleek kayaks and the occasional pod of whales. Head to Discovery Park for beautiful views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges or visit the Olympic Sculpture Park near Elliott Bay. And if you’re craving a drink and a tasty bite to eat, head to one of Seattle’s many rooftop bars and take advantage of those extra-long northern summer days while you sip local brews and expertly crafted cocktails.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Juneau, Alaska - You can’t get to Juneau easily without a sprint by air or by sea. But once you arrive you’ll find majestic views and rich culture in every corner. With its snowcapped mountains, misty rainforests, massive glaciers and bounty of wildlife, Alaska’s remote state capital is the perfect place to dive into nature. Framed by Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, the city’s picturesque downtown area offers centuries-old bars, boutique shops and historic landmarks. For a taste of the local culture, visit the historic district and the Alaska State Museum. And for outdoor thrills, you can take your pick of activities ranging from whale watching in Auke Bay Harbor to tundra trekking over Mendenhall Glacier, and even try your hand at gold panning in Last Chance Basin.

Skagway, Alaska - The tiny town of Skagway still looks like it did during the Klondike Gold Rush over 100 years ago— and today it remains an outpost for thrilling Alaskan adventure. An old-time street car ride along bustling Broadway Street reveals well-preserved buildings, including the state’s oldest hotel. You can see engraved walrus tusks at the Corrington Museum, or get lost in riveting historical reenactments around town. If outdoor adventure is more your thing, there are plenty of ways to amp up the adrenaline, from sledding with Alaskan Huskies on Laughton Glacier to rafting Lynn Canal, the longest fjord in North America.

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier - One of Alaska's lesser-known gems, Endicott Arm Fjord marks the southern edge of Fords Terror Wilderness area. As you drift through its 30 -mile-long stretch, you can't help but be awed by the sorrounding granite cliffs, mountain valleys and dozens of gushing waterfalls. Drifting icebergs, deep blue waters and a spectacular tidewater glacier only add to this natural spectacle's appeal.

Victoria, British Columbia - Though Toronto and Vancouver are the more famous Canadian destinations, it’s high time for the sophisticated and beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia (BC) to have its big moment. The quaint charm and English manners of Victoria will take you back in time to the days of British occupation in the 19th century. Victoria is known as “the garden city” for its lushness and its commitment to keeping the city beautiful. Head to Butchart Garden or Beacon Hill Park to enjoy nature during your time in port.

Of course, a little history lesson is another must while on a cruise to Victoria, BC. Tour the expertly maintained Craigdarroch Castle and the Parliament Buildings, or stop in the Royal BC Museum, a natural history museum dedicated to the history of human settlement in the region. There’s also the Emily Carr House, a museum dedicated to the life and works of the famous painter, Emily Carr. Victoria exudes an intellectualism where art galleries and afternoon tea await you, but so do long bicycle rides along the seafront. Stylish cafes and restaurants are modernizing the city, all while maintaining its signature look: something straight out of a postcard.

Non-Americans/Canadians, please Click Here to determine if you'll need a visa to board this cruise, which visits Canada

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Please note that our shore excursions are operated separately and
independently of those offered by the cruise line.
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