AHE Announces Speaker Line-up for EXCHANGE 2013 Conference

The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) of the American Hospital Association announces its line-up of keynote speakers and general sessions at EXCHANGE 2013 being held September 15-18 in Indianapolis.

The line-up of speakers includes:

- Simon T. Bailey, founder of the Brilliance Institute, a world-renowned speaker, thought leader, and best-selling author believes that it is the responsibility of each person to unlock the true brilliance that is buried deep within. Experience gleaned in leadership roles with organizations like the Walt Disney Company helped him foster an in-depth understanding of the formidable challenges, pressures and risks that organizations face. Bailey has addressed globally-recognized organizations such as CNN, Microsoft, McDonalds, Nationwide, University of Phoenix and the Society for Human Resource Management. Bailey has been recognized by Speaker magazine as one of the Top 25 Hot Speakers and was named Speaker of the Year by Meeting Professionals International.
Bailey will deliver the keynote address Own the Moment How to Become a Brilliant Leader on Monday, Sept. 16.

- Stephen M. Brecher, PhD, director of microbiology at VA Boston Health Care System, holds academic appointments at the Boston University School of Medicine, Northeastern University and at University of Massachusetts/Darthmouth. Brecher is a highly acclaimed international speaker who covers many topics, but his preferred topics are C. difficile infections and antibiotic resistance. Brecher is well known and appreciated for his ability to make audiences laugh while explaining that bacteria are the dominant species on the earth. Brecher will speak on Monday, Sept. 16; his session is titled, From Tragedy to Triumph to Trepidation: Antibiotics at Age 70.

- Colleen Sweeney, RN, founder and owner of Sweeney Healthcare Enterprises, conceived and conducted the Patient Empathy ProjectSM, which resulted in the development of the Patient Experience PyramidSM, a tool for healthcare teams to uncover and respond to patient fears. Sweeneys most recent position was as director of Ambassador and Customer Services at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. A member of the National Speakers Association and a certified facilitator with the Tom Peters Company, Sweeney holds degrees in nursing and business, and a masters certificate in project management. Sweeney will present What Patients Fear and Why We Have to Know on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

New this year to EXCHANGE are presentations by Patti Costello, executive director of AHE; Greg May, CHESP, director of environmental services, linen and sustainability initiatives at UC San Diego Health System; and Christopher Ridenhour, director of core competency training at Liberty Lutheran, Ambler, Pa. The three talks, titled Manage-Up, An Open Letter to the CEO and Advanced Empathy for the Tired, Grizzled, Bitter and Everyone Else Headed in that Direction, will be presented Tuesday, Sept. 17.

AHE will close the 2013 conference on Wednesday afternoon with the panel discussion titled, Earth, Wind and Fire: Can you ever really be prepared? Panelists include: Larry Garrone, CHESP, director of services response/environmental services/patient transport and linen, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston; James Paturas, LP, CEM, CBCP, FACCP, director of emergency preparedness at the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response at Yale New Haven Health Center, Conn.; and Wes Thiss, CHESP, administrative director of support services at Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital in Richmond, Va.

EXCHANGE is an annual educational event attended by approximately 900 professionals with an interest in caring for healthcare environments. The conference brings together environmental services, infection prevention, facilities, textile, design and many other healthcare professionals to learn from and share with each other, make valuable business connections and lead change in the field of environmental services, which includes surface disinfection, environmental hygiene and infection prevention.

For more information about the speakers, educational sessions, or to register for the conference, visit: www.ahe.org/exchange.

Source: Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE)