2024 Emergency Services Forum Resources

May 6 | Newport Beach

Location:

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
1107 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660, CA 92501


7:00 – 8:00 a.m. | Registration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibitor Viewing | Terrace Promenade

8:00 – 8:15 a.m. | Opening Comments | Terrace Ballroom
Sara May, Regional Vice President Orange County, Hospital Association of Southern California

8:15 – 9:15 a.m. | What Keeps You Up at Night? A Panel Discussion with Prehospital Leaders | Terrace Ballroom

Sean Burrows, EMT-P, Chair, California Emergency Medical Services Authority Commission; Nick Clay, President EMS Administrators’ Association of California (EMSAAC); Steve Grau, Vice President, California Ambulance Association; Alexander Hamilton, California Fire Chiefs Association; and Dr. Zita Konik, President-Elect, Emergency Medical Services Directors’ Association of California (EMDAC) 
You know the EMS challenges that keep you up at night, but have you ever wondered what challenges keep prehospital leaders up at night? This year’s opening session will get you thinking about the California EMS system of today, tomorrow, and the future. We all know there are plenty of challenges we can turn into opportunities, and leaders from emergency medical services associations will highlight their organization’s top priorities and identify where enhanced collaboration will be beneficial.

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Are You Ready to Submit Your APOT Reduction Protocol by September 1?  | Terrace Ballroom

Dr. Barbara Bond, Emergency Medicine, Sutter Health  
Assembly Bill 40 (2023) requires hospitals to develop ambulance patient offload time reduction protocols including direct operational changes designed to facilitate a rapid reduction in ambulance patient offload times, and systems to improve hospital coordination and operations. In this session, you will have an opportunity to see how Sutter Health is operationalizing this new protocol requirement. 

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Break & Exhibitor Viewing | Terrace Promenade

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | What’s Next for Behavioral Health in California | Terrace Ballroom
Dr. Aimee Moulin, UC Davis Health and Kirsten Barlow, CHA 

There are a lot of moving parts and opportunities when it comes to behavioral health and emergency departments in California. This session will delve into recent changes in the behavioral health system and its potential positive impact on EDs and the behavioral health patients they serve.  

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Hosted Lunch | Oasis Court

12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Hospital Violence | Terrace Ballroom
Robert Imhoff, President, Hospital Quality Institute (HQI)

12:45 – 1:45 p.m. | Creative Ways to Minimize Workplace Violence | Terrace Ballroom
Brandon Shelton, CommonSpirit Health 

California emergency departments continue to grapple with how to keep their hospitals safe. During this presentation, CommonSpirit will share sound organizational strategies and solutions that can help your hospital minimize stressors surrounding violence and threats in your emergency department and will offer creative ways to reduce violence toward patients, clinicians, and visitors.   

1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | EMTALA and EMS | Terrace Ballroom
Alicia Macklin, Partner, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman 

In this session, Alicia Macklin will provide a general overview of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Alicia will discuss EMTALAs intersection with emergency medical service providers as well as share national and state data on EMTALA complaints and findings. This session will provide the refresher you need to keep your hospital in compliance.

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. | Break & Exhibitor Raffle | Terrace Promenade

3:15 – 4:15 p.m. |Standards of Practice, Not Standards of Perfection | Terrace Ballroom
RaDonda Vaught 

Presentation not available.

RaDonda Vaught will share her profoundly personal story. Ms. Vaught’s case made headlines in March 2022 when a jury found her guilty of criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect of an impaired adult in the death of a patient to whom she accidentally gave the wrong medication. She will speak firsthand on the impact this sentinel event has had on her life and her profession, along with the implications of the legal actions that followed. A passionate advocate for safety and improvement, her story will be one that is not easily forgotten.

Kirsten Barlow 
Vice President, Policy 
California Hospital Association 
Kirsten joined the California Hospital Association as Vice President, Policy in December 2021, where she manages behavioral health policy issues. Over the three prior years, Kirsten established an independent consulting practice providing policy, finance, and strategic expertise to clients, including: Aurrera Health Group; the National Alliance of Mental Illness – California; California Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators Association; California Hospital Association; Hospital Association of Southern California; and Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. 

Barbara L. Bond, M.D. 
Emergency Medicine 
Sutter Health 
Dr. Barbara Bond is a board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician with more than 15 years of experience working in a variety of clinical settings. She has frontline experience with the complexities of hospital operations as well as those of health care systems. Dr. Bond helped develop a system-wide overcapacity scoring system and surge plan for Sutter system hospitals. She has served as Chair of Sutter’s Emergency Medicine Leadership group for the past nine years, supporting 21 emergency departments. She is also a subject matter expert for Sutter Health’s Emergency Management System (SHEMS). Dr. Bond currently practices at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, California.

Sean Burrows, EMT-P
Fire Captain and Paramedic
Alameda County Fire Department

Sean Burrows, EMT-P, is a working fire captain and paramedic for the Alameda County Fire Department. Sean has been a paramedic for 29 years and a firefighter for 28 years. Sean is the chair of the California Commission on Emergency Medical Services and represents the California Professional Firefighters.

Nick Clay 
President 
Emergency Medical Services Administrators’ Association of California  
Nick is a passionate leader in health care with over two decades of experience in EMS and global health care. He worked his way up through the ranks in the private ambulance industry, leaving to launch the industry’s first paramedic/EMS program in the large passenger cruise space. During his career, he has been recognized for his ability to simultaneously manage multiple initiatives and for his talent at cross-functional collaboration. Nick serves as the President for the Emergency Medical Services Administrators’ Association of California.

Steve Grau 
Vice President 
California Ambulance Association
Steve Grau is the CEO/Founder of Royal Ambulance and the Founder/Chairman of Onward Health. For the last twenty years, Steve has dedicated himself to EMS and solving transportation barriers to access to care. Royal Ambulance serves six Bay Area counties and over 25 hospitals, focusing on patient flow and data-driven transportation solutions. Onward Health provides technology and door-through-door transportation, serving systems such as VA, UCSF, UCI, Stanford Children’s, and others. Steve serves as a CAA VP, Legislative Committee leader, and Chair of Education.

Alexander Hamilton 
Southern Branch, Assistant Branch Director 
California Fire Chiefs Association 
Alex Hamilton is the Fire Chief for the Oxnard Fire Department, where he started his career as a firefighter in 2005. Chief Hamilton has served in a variety of assignments, including Grant Writer and Grant Project Manager as well as a hazardous materials specialist, urban search and rescue team member, member of the Police/Fire Dive Team, Peer Support Team, and Honor Guard. Additionally, is a leader in the field of Firefighter behavioral health, teaching a variety of classes in suicide intervention and awareness, resiliency, peer support and sleep hygiene. Chief Hamilton has deployed on multiple occasions to assist Fire Departments after major disasters. 

Zita Konik, MD, FAEMS 
President-Elect 
Emergency Medical Services Directors’ Association of California 
Zita Konik currently serves as the Medical Director for Alameda County EMS Agency in California, which supports EMS care to 1.8 million people, and previously was the Napa County EMS Medical Director. She is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medicine services. She currently is the President-elect of the Emergency Medical Services Directors’ Association of California and Vice-President of the California chapter of the National Association of Emergency Physicians.

Sheree Lowe 
Vice President, Policy 
California Hospital Association
Sheree Lowe has been a vice president on CHA’s policy team since 2003. In 2022, she began providing leadership in developing, communicating, and implementing CHA policy related to nursing, emergency services, trauma, and medication safety. Previously she managed the policy interests of Acute Psychiatric Hospitals (APH), behavioral health units in medical/surgical hospitals, and Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospitals (CDRH), providing both in and outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services – commonly referred to as behavioral health.

Alicia Macklin 
Partner 
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman PC 
Ms. Macklin is a trusted advisor to a range of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care providers, along with hospitals and health systems.  She has counseled many of California’s hospitals on unsettled areas of law, with an emphasis on compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Her work with providers includes advising on licensing and accreditation, Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursement, federal and state privacy and confidentiality requirements, and operational issues. She also helps California providers navigate voluntary and involuntary treatment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS Act).

Aimee Moulin, M.D. 
Founder, Principal at CA Bridge 
Professor at UC Davis Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine 
Dr. Aimee Moulin is an Associate Professor at UC Davis Medical Center where she is the Behavioral Health Director for the Emergency Department. Dr. Moulin has a dual appointment in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry. She completed a fellowship in Quality Safety and Comparative Effectiveness with a focus on acute care for patients with behavioral health disorders. She is Co-Director of the California Bridge Project that provides a link for patients with opiate use disorder to recovery. Dr. Moulin is also Past President of the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and recipient of their Walter T. Edwards Service Award.

Brandon Shelton 
System Security Director
CommonSpirit Health

Brandon Shelton is the System Security Director for Common Spirit Health, a position he has held since 2013. With over 18 years of experience in health care security, Brandon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. His career in health care began in 2006 after retiring from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he served in the Investigative Services Unit as a Gang Investigator. Brandon’s extensive background in law enforcement and investigations has equipped him with valuable skills in threat assessment, risk management, and ensuring the safety and security of health care facilities and personnel. He is dedicated to implementing robust security strategies and protocols to safeguard patients, staff, and visitors within the health care environment.

RaDonda Vaught
RaDonda Vaught was the subject of one of the highest-profile healthcare criminal cases in recent years. She holds a BSN and a Certificate in Leadership from Western Kentucky University. While working as a BSN prepared registered nurse, Mrs. Vaught committed a medication error that ended the life of a patient in 2017. She was charged under administrative law by the Tennessee Department of Health, leading to the revocation of her nursing license by the Tennessee Board of Nursing in a July 2021 hearing. Additionally, she was charged under criminal law and found guilty by jury trial of two felony charges in March of 2022: Negligent Homicide, and Abuse of an Impaired Adult, with placement on an Elder Abuse registry in the state of Tennessee. Mrs. Vaught is uniquely qualified to speak firsthand on the impact this sentinel event has had on her life and her profession, along with the implications of the legal actions that followed. A passionate advocate for safety and improvement, her story will be one that is not easily forgotten.


We would like to thank our corporate sponsors for their support of the 2024 Emergency Services Forum.

Air Methods  
With over 40 Years of Air Medical Experience, Air Methods is the Preferred Partner for Hospitals Nationwide and Delivers Lifesaving Care to Over 100,000 People Yearly. 

In California, we have over 30 bases staffed with experts in their field - Flight Nurses, Flight Paramedics and EMS Pilots all ready to respond and make that Lifesaving Difference, 24/7.  

Our Clinical education platform, ASCEND, is growing and educating critical care providers across the nation. Give us a try! 

Ascom is a health care communications platform connecting patients and caregivers during their hospital stay. We contribute to enhanced workflow, outcomes, and engagement for both patients and caregivers.

California Ambulance Association (CAA) 
Founded in 1948, the California Ambulance Association (CAA) represents the interest of emergency and non-emergency ambulance service providers serving nearly every county of the state of California. As health care’s first responders, the Association is dedicated to assuring the delivery of excellent pre-hospital care to the people of California by promoting recognized industry best practices. 

Centegix
They Protect Us. Together, We Protect Them.

Discreet duress buttons for healthcare workers and safety solutions for your system empower your team to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality patient care.

eVisit is recognized as Best in KLAS for Virtual Care Platforms (non-EHR), is the leading virtual care platform for innovative health care organizations. Backed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, the platform supports seamless integration of virtual care initiatives across service lines to increase access, improve quality, & optimize clinical teams while improving financial resilience for the health system. 

Grand Canyon University is an affordable, private Christian university committed to delivering a transformative higher education. As of June 2023, GCU offers 330 academic programs, including 270+ online. Choose from our vibrant campus or online learning community. Find your purpose at GCU. Private. Christian. Affordable. Visit gcu.edu.   

Medely partners with hospitals and gives them the tools to lower labor costs, manage their workforce, and gain access to over 200 thousand vetted and credentialed nurses and allied professionals. Medely’s external workforce platform saves time by simplifying scheduling, reduces reliance on costly agencies, and helps improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. 

Pair Team connects underserved communities to high quality care by caring for the highest need Medicaid recipients through a community-led virtual care model. We’re transforming how patients interact with the health care system to improve outcomes and lower the cost of care. Pair Team is differentiated from other ECM providers through our clinically integrated services and our network of social support services.  

Royal Ambulance Inc. is the Bay Area’s leading provider of emergency medical services with a focus on developing customized solutions to health care system challenges. Royal’s dedicated team of 850+ EMT, Paramedics, Nurses, Dispatchers, and support professionals safely care for over 80,000 patients annually with a fleet of over 120 ambulances. Royal is the largest interfacility and critical care ambulance provider in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. 

Silentia, Inc. 
Privacy solutions as direct replacement for hospital curtains pertaining to patient privacy and infection prevention. 

VectorCare is the broker-less platform for Patient Logistics. Using Machine Learning and Automation to transform Patient Logistics across Medical Transportation, Home Health, DME, and Last-mile Logistics. 

For additional assistance contact CHA’s Education Department at education@calhospital.org.