In recent months, many organizations have come up with unique and innovative ways to address Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in both their own workforce, and the communities they serve. In this session, you’ll hear from leaders at UPMC who will share their three-pronged approach to addressing hesitancy within their staff and the greater Pittsburgh community they serve.
1.2 Panel | Redefining "Leadership" in a Global Pandemic
Attracting and retaining leaders is always a challenge, but especially so during a global pandemic. Traditional recruiting and hiring methods have had to be revised and revamped to reflect the ever-changing job market, staffing needs, and work configurations that have developed during this unprecedented time. This session will explore some alternative approaches to traditional staffing methods in healthcare, and offer some tips and tricks for finding the best candidates for your organizational needs.
1.3 Panel | How to Give Culturally Competent Healthcare to All
Issues with cultural competency gaps and equity issues in healthcare have been long recognized, but the Covid-19 pandemic has shed even more light on these issues over the past year. How can we ensure that every patient has access to culturally competent care and equitable treatment, regardless of their background? This session will offer steps both individuals and organizations can take to ensure they are providing a high level of care to their patients and clients.
2.1 Workshop | Wellness in the Workplace: Post-Pandemic Management of Mental Health Issues
During the June 24-30, 2020 time period, The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicated overall, 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder (30.9%), symptoms of a trauma-and stressor-related disorder (TSRD) related to the pandemic (26.3%), and having started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19 (13.3%). The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18–24 years (25.5%) (Alexander, Stroller, Haffajee, and Saloner, 2020). Grief, loss, and fear were the predominate feelings that for many are still unresolved.
Despite the nation’s efforts to reintroduce normalcy, the way we live and do business has forever been changed. As the nation rebuilds and recovers, the need for employers to develop mental health healing plans of actions for their employees will be imperative to the success of their wellness and productivity. This session will focus on post-pandemic management of mental health and substance abuse responses in employees who are returning to the workplace.
Objectives:
Understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on America’s mental health.
Learn how mental illness impacts one’s ability to function.
Learn to identify signs of mental illness and how to intervene.
2.2 Workshop | How to Prepare Healthcare Organizations for Future Pandemics - Emergency Response Teams
We’ve learned a lot over the past year about mobilizing quickly and the need for emergency response teams (ERTs) we can look to for guidance and leadership in a crisis. In this session you’ll hear ERT best practices and lessons learned from both the clinical and nonclinical perspective.
2.3 Workshop | Managing Your Workforce During a Crisis
It’s one thing to manage a team on a regular day-to-day basis; it’s another thing entirely to have to manage them during a global pandemic. For organizations in the medical device manufacturing space, and other similar areas, that challenge is amplified by multiple production sites, the necessity of keeping up production, and shift scheduling difficulties. In this session, you’ll hear best practices in workforce management from manufacturing leader B.Braun Medical Inc.
3.1 Workshop | Equity and Inclusion at Work: Moving from Awareness to Action
This session is open to everyone who wants to be a more effective ally. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn what it means to be an authentic ally and to grow as an ally. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on how they can use their privilege (the advantages, opportunities, resources, and power accorded to them as members of non-marginalized groups) to identify and speak out when they see racism and bigotry at either the individual or systemic levels. Finally, attendees will learn ways to advocate for people of color and women with the goal of bringing equity to meetings, departments, and the organization as a whole.)
3.2 Panel | Managing Your Workforce During a Crisis
It’s one thing to manage a team on a regular day-to-day basis; it’s another thing entirely to have to manage them during a global pandemic. While some organizations have settled into their pandemic “normal,” others are still struggling to adapt. This session will focus on best practices in workforce management from organizations who have developed unique and effective ways to lead and support their employees through this crisis.
3.3 Panel | Mental Health and Mental Illness
In 2019, 20.6% of U.S. adults - roughly 51.5 million people - experienced mental illness (National Alliance on Mental Illness). And with the onset of the pandemic, 4 in 10 adults reported experiencing anxiety and depression - a 300% increase from 2019 (Panchal et al 2021). Due to the pandemic, many organizations have begun to rethink the way they support their employees in terms of mental health and wellness. This panel will discuss ways organizations can support employees who are experiencing challenges with mental health and mental illness, as well as best practices in integrating these strategies into organizational culture.
Diversity professionals, employee resource group (ERG) leaders and other trusted colleagues play a vital role building vaccine confidence, improving access and contributing to a stronger, healthier COVID-19 recovery for everyone. During the session, you’ll receive tools and training to become a "Vaccine Champion" at your company – prepared to share facts, build trust and support colleagues who may have questions or need extra help accessing vaccinations. And, you’ll discover best practices from ERG leaders around the country to help you mobilize your own employee networks.
4.1 Workshop | Diversity in the Drug Development Process
New drug development has always been a key part of our healthcare system, but the Covid-19 pandemic has truly shined a spotlight on the industry. With all eyes on clinical research and pharmaceutical companies, it’s time to reevaluate diversity practices when it comes to drug development and clinical trials. This session will take a look at:
Provide a brief overview of how the drug development and clinical trial process works and why diversity is important in these areas.
Where the industry is and what shortcomings exist in in terms of focusing on diversity
Where the industry needs to be, and some best practices on how to get there
4.2 Workshop | Supporting Your Community During a Crisis
In addition to supporting employees through the Covid-19 crisis, many organizations have also been focusing on ways to support their local communities. From community vaccination clinics, to Covid-19 awareness campaigns, and beyond, organizations have developed innovative ways to ensure their communities feel safe and supported. This session will feature 3 leaders sharing their organizational strategies and initiatives surrounding community support during the Covid-19 pandemic.
4.3 Panel | Best Practices in Patient Provider Communication
Keeping open lines of communication between patients and their provider(s) is a pivotal ingredient in promoting patient health. From patient portals to Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) to telemedicine, there are lots of unique ways that can help patients connect with their providers about key health issues. In this session you will hear from 3 experts who will detail best practices for good communication strategies between patients and their providers.
4.4 Panel | Origins of Health Disparities: Learning from the Past to Protect the Future
The past 18 months has shined a light on many different health disparities. However, many of these issues have been around for decades, which leads to the question of why do they exist, and how can we address them? In this session, the panel will discuss some of the history of health disparities in the U.S., and how we can learn from what has been highlighted during the pandemic to ensure we address these disparities with more vigor than ever before going forward.
5.1 Panel | Recovering After the Pandemic - Diverse Populations and Its Effects
As we begin to see a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, our healthcare system is beginning to shift to the recovery phase. However, different communities - especially communities of color - have been impacted disproportionately by the pandemic, and will face extra challenges as we begin to return to normal life. This panel will discuss how different communities have been affected, and ways we can support them during the recovery process and beyond.
5.2 Panel | Racism Roundtable: How to Overcome Different Aspects of Racism in Healthcare
We know that racism in healthcare has been around for countless decades, but the Covid-19 pandemic has put a renewed focus on this issue as we continue to see unequal treatment for certain patient populations. Now is the time to refocus and pioneer new ways to tackle an issue that continues to affect patient care and health outcomes. This panel will talk about current challenges, and strategies for moving forward.
5.3 Panel | The Phoenix Effect: Building Resilient Teams
The last year threw out some unprecedented challenges; the Covid-19 pandemic, social justice issues, and increased acts of racism and violence against our Black and Asian colleagues and neighbors. Resilience is key during these critical times, and is a trait that many look to their organizations and leaders to model. This session will touch upon what organizations can do to support leaders and students of color, and how we can make our organizations a culturally safe space so everyone feels empowered to rise from the ashes.