Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to welcome you to the 3rd International Quality Symposium ‘Improving Patient Experience: challenges and new trends' hosted by UPMC and ISMETT in Palermo on 27 January 2023.
An updated, exciting program, and a fresh line-up of international experts will lead us through new strategies, trends, and mindsets suited to meet the evolving healthcare industry. Drawing from actual experiences, we will have the opportunity to dive deep into new approaches to patient experience aimed at improving the quality of life of the patients and their families, of healthcare workers, and of the communities.
After the global COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are faced with new and unprecedented challenges to meet patient’s needs and keep them, and their staff, safe; the pressure to manage resources efficiently and effectively is mounting. Acquiring new skills and competencies had never been this crucial.
International healthcare leaders from several organizations including the University of Pittsburgh, Planetree, Press Ganey and Huron together with Italian quality experts, will analyze up to date field research findings and strategies implemented by some of the most advanced healthcare systems worldwide, and share new the perspectives and approaches.
Target audiences are all healthcare professionals, including those who have a coordinating and managing role. The event will be CME accredited.
We look forward to welcoming you in Palermo.
Angelo Luca, MD
Vice President, Health Services, UPMC Italy
Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, UPMC Italy
CEO, IRCCS ISMETT
Vice President, Ri.MED Foundation
Barbara Ragonese
Chief Quality Officer, UPMC Italy
Dr. Luca completed his Medical Degree, Residency in Gastrointestinal Diseases and Residency in Radiology at the University of Palermo. Then he moved on to the SDA Bocconi, School of Management in Milan completing a course in Management of Health and Social-Assistance Companies. Also, an Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Social Care Organization. With that he has worked for 25 years in ISMETT – UPMC serving as Vice Director. Director, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services (Radiology, Endoscopy, Pathology, Laboratory, Infections, Diabetology, Pathology). Director, Education Unit. Director of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology.
Dr. Luca has clinical experience in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, two-year Clinical Research Fellowship in Interventional Radiology, UPMC Presbyterian, and Fellowship in Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona. His teaching experience and appointment is as Adjunct Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Pittsburgh. As well as Medical Council for Radiology Practice, Certificate of Registration in Ireland, and Institutional License for Radiology Practice, State Board of Medicine in Harrisburg.
Dr Luca is an author of 325 publications: 135-referred articles, 181 published abstracts, 9 invited reviews and book chapters. Over 60 presentations at international meetings. H-index 31. With his research areas in End Stage Organ Failure with special interest in Chronic Liver Diseases, Portal Hypertension, HCC, Liver Regeneration and Organ Transplantation.
Barbara Ragonese is Chief Quality Officer for the Italian Division of UPMC. She oversees the Quality and Patient Safety Program and leads the JCI Accreditation Readiness Plan in all UPMC Italian centers. Barbara has +22 years of experience in healthcare during which she underwent extensive training in healthcare quality management systems and JCI Accreditation both in Hospital and Ambulatory settings. Barbara has a deep knowledge of the Toyota Methodology and is Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Executive in Healthcare and Lean Practitioner Certified. Passionate about leading improvement projects, she has led successful improvement projects in the fields of patient experience, infection reduction and processes efficiency and has authored and co-authored several scientific articles.
Barbara graduated in Humanities at the University of Palermo, completed a Healthcare Risk Manager Intensive Training Program and is currently attending a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology.
In 2021 she passed the CPHQ exam by NAHQ and is one of the few Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality in Italy. She is also Certified Specialist in Principles of Patient Centered Care by ISQuA.