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CAHSAH's
Annual Conference was a Great Success!
Thank
you to everyone who attended CAHSAH's Annual Conference in Palm
Springs, CA. The conference was a great success!
If you were not able to join us, we
hope you will consider coming next year as we head to
San Diego, California from May 6-8, 2009. To purchase
handouts and recordings from this year's annual conference -
contact CAHSAH at (916) 641-5795 ext. 113.
CAHSAH's
Annual Conference Links:
• Conference
Handouts (materials and audio recordings)
• Conference
Photos (Now Available)
2009
Sponsor Opportunities available. For more information,
click here.
CAHSAH
Annual Conference - Highlights
The
California Association for Health Services at Home held its
annual conference and home care expo on May 6-9 at the convention
center and Wyndham Hotel in Palm Springs, California. With seven
educational tracks and over 45 educational sessions, the conference
attracted more than 390 attendees and 80 exhibitors this year.
The
conference kicked off with a welcome reception attended by over
100 people on Tuesday evening from 4-6pm. This hosted event
gave attendees a chance to check in, get their registration
packets and network with new and old colleagues.
On
Wednesday morning, the conference opened up with a keynote session
presented by Donna Cutting who shared insider secrets to delivering
red carpet customer service. The presentation highlighted various
ways to give customers the celebrity experience and creative
ways to recognize staff. After learning how to roll out the
red carpet for customers and staff, attendees broke out into
seven different tracks which featured some of the best known
industry leaders in the country covering topics on hospice,
private duty and Medicare certified. After attending the breakout
sessions, the crowd reconvened in the general session for CAHSAH’s
annual business luncheon where CAHSAH’s president, Joe Hafkenschiel
and Board of Directors chair, Sharon Niederhaus reviewed CAHSAH’s
annual report and recognized incoming and outgoing board of
directors. After the last round of break out sessions, attendees
gathered in the exhibit hall to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and hosted
drinks while networking with various vendors and viewing first
hand new products.
On
Thursday morning, a keynote session was presented by Stephen
Tweed, CEO of Leading Home Care...A Tweed Jeffries Company.
Stephen led home care executives through a proactive thought
process on forces and trends shaping the future of home care.
He also reviewed six critical components needed in order to
become an AOTF – “Agency Of The Future”. Upon leaving the keynote
session, conference attendees participated in break out ses¬sions
mid morning then gathered for lunch to honor award recipients
who were recognized for their contribution to the home care
industry. The award categories consisted of the Home Care Service
Award, Lillian O’Brien Home Care Supervisor Award, Physician
of the Year Award, Lois C. Lillick Award, Home Care Nursing
Scholarship, and the Aide to RN Nursing Scholarship. Following
the awards ceremony, many gathered back into the exhibit hall
to enjoy their afternoon dessert and some one-on-one time with
vendors. Once everyone got their fair share of the sweets, they
broke out into seven concurrent sessions before ending the day
with the home care expo finale where dozens of prizes were given
away. Although it was the last chance for attendees to gather
information on the latest goods and services available to them,
it surely wasn’t the last chance to have a good time. Many rushed
back to their rooms to change into their favorite old Hollywood
costumes and attend the annual PAC event where they enjoyed
a lavish dinner and lots of dancing.
On
the last day of the conference, Allen Klein was able to help
people find their funny bone in not so funny times. The presentation
demonstrated how a sense of humor can help anyone deal with
changes and challenges in the home care business. It was an
uplifting presentation that had the attendees laughing all the
way to the last group of break out sessions. Closing the conference
was keynote speaker, Kathleen Barton who shared her views on
how to get a roadmap to a purpose-driven life. Her presentation
helped attendees identify their own unique purpose by reviewing
and determining values and priorities, discovering each person’s
passion, identifying what legacy one wants to leave behind and
focusing on what is most important to becoming the person they’ve
always wanted to be.
Although
CAHSAH continued to offer old traditions, it also created buzz
by adding new traditions. Old traditions included online handouts,
audio recordings and various conference tracks. New traditions
included games for conference attendees and scholarship funds
honoring individuals who contributed to the home care industry.
Last
year, CAHSAH created a “Wanted Game”. This year, attendees participated
in the infamous “Hollywood Walk of Fame Game” where they got
to explore their inner paparazzi skills by identifying 21 anonymous
old Hollywood stars. The first person who identified all 21
stars and solved the final puzzle was Cindy Kincade with John
C. Fremont Home Health & Hospice. Congratulations Cindy
on winning a Louis Vuitton bag! Another new tradition started
on Thursday, May 8 – the official “Pink day” which honored Ms.
Joan Baier Garland, a long time CAHSAH member and contributor
to the home care industry, who passed away earlier this year.
CAHSAH started this new tradition to accept do¬nations for
the home care nursing scholarship award and collect monies to
increase the award amount for next year’s annual conference
recipient. If you would like more information or donate money,
go to http://www.cahsah.org/BaierDonateScreen.asp.
While
this year’s conference was a great success, many attendees said
they are looking forward to next year’s annual conference being
held in San Diego, California from May
6-8, 2009.
See
you all next year!
SAVE
THE DATE:
May
6-8, 2009
Manchester
Grand Hyatt
San
Diego, CA
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