Contact; Tara DiMilia, 908-369-7168

Hospital Executives Convene to Address
Concerns Over The Future of Women’s Health Care and Reform Efforts

– Government and Advocacy Partners Join Hospitals To Participate in Discussions About Preventative Medicine Efforts, Disease Management and Diversity

July 9, 2009, Washington DC – Today, more than 200 hospital CEOs, executives and medical professionals from more than 80 cities and communities across the country are coming together with advocacy partners and government representatives for the 2009 Spirit of Women National Executive Meeting to address concerns related to women’s health issues in light of reform efforts.

“As reform efforts change how Americans think about health care and projections note that at least 20% of annual household income will be necessary for average Americans to cover healthcare costs, a shift to managing consumer expectations, customer service, and patient outcomes satisfaction is imminent among health care providers,” said Tanya Abreu, President and National Program Director, Spirit of Women Health Network. “While Spirit hospitals are already responding to many of these needs with innovative clinical and educational programming that focuses on prevention and the importance of the patient experience, this meeting will offer the opportunity to reinforce these efforts, consider other solutions and help clinicians and executives better focus on long-lasting health rather than the episodic treatment of disease.”

The meeting, which runs from June 9 – 11 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC, offers the opportunity to share best practices and strategic concepts aimed at reaching and educating women healthcare consumers. The growing importance of preventative care and quality of life concerns, the inherent challenges of weighing the value of technology, and diversity’s impact on today’s healthcare, as well as high-level discussions surrounding the challenges in treating some of the countries leading conditions such as diabetes, will be of greatest focus. The fundamental principal surrounding Spirit of Women Health Network is that women make 85% of household decisions related to health care, and the intent of the meeting is to help better meet the health care needs of women as well as their extended families.  Speakers will include:

• RADM Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, Acting United States Surgeon General - American Quality of Life & Chronic Disease Management

• Wanda K. Jones, DrPH, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Director, Office on Women's Health  - Current and Future Directions of the Office on Women’s Health of the Department of Health & Human Services

• Phyllis George, Spirit of Women National Ambassador for Healthy Aging - Don’t Tell Me I Look Great for my Age, Just Tell Me I Look Great!

• Jane Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Holy Name Hospital - Building Your Community’s Constituencies by Utilizing Government and Political Partners

• Cheryl Edwards, JD, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Health Policy, The George Washington University; Jacobs’ Women’s Health Institute - The Colorization of the U.S. Population: The Effect of Diversity on the Practice of Healthcare

• Tanya Abreu, President & National Program Director, Spirit of Women - The Marketing of Health to the Tie Dye Generation

• Michelle Segar, PhD, MPH, Research Investigator, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan; Founder, www.essentialsteps.net The Marketing of Exercise as Self-Care to Midlife Women

• Icilma Fergus, MD, Chief of Cardiology, Harlem Hospital; Secretary, Board of Directors, Association of Black Cardiologists - The Psychosocial Dimension of Women's Health: A Cardiologist’s Perspective on Quality over Technology

• Missy Lavender, Executive Director, Women’s Health Foundation - Sex, Chocolate & Your Pelvic Floor: The Future of Women’s Health Programming

Spirit of Women
Spirit of Women is a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women's lives with innovative health and community programs. Spirit of Women Hospitals touch the lives of millions of women each year through the presentation of educational events, consumer membership programs, annual conferences, marketing communications and grassroots efforts to improve the health and well-being of women everywhere. Spirit of Women enables participating hospitals to focus on community needs while providing the strength of national support.