Location:
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
1107 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660, CA 92501
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. | Registration Check-in and Continental Breakfast
8:00 – 8:15 a.m. | Opening Comments
8:15 – 9:15 a.m. | Opening Session | EMSA – Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Heading
Elizabeth (Liz) Basnett, Director, California Emergency Medical Services Authority
Join Director Basnett from the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) as she kicks off the event with an inside look at the evolution of EMSA’s role in shaping emergency medical services across the state. This session will provide valuable transparency into EMSA’s current priorities, recent operational changes, and the agency’s ongoing efforts to modernize regulations in response to growing system demands.
9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | General Session | Behavioral Health Transformation – Opportunities and Challenges
Stephanie Welch, Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, California Health and Human Services Agency
Emergency departments continue to face significant challenges in navigating the evolving behavioral health landscape. With 26% of inpatient stays now including a behavioral health diagnosis — and chemical dependency cases nearly tripling — EDs are increasingly tasked with managing complex patient needs and longer lengths of stay. This session will provide a high-level overview of statewide initiatives aimed at addressing these issues, including the 988-crisis system implementation plan and the expansion of mobile crisis services designed to divert patients from the ED.
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. | Break & Exhibitor Viewing
10:45 – 11:15 a.m. | General Session | Behavioral Health – They Still Have to be Kids
Heather Theaux, RN, MS, CEN, TCRN, Director, Emergency Services/Trauma Program
NorthBay Healthcare
Join us for a powerful and personal session as an ED director and mother shares the evolving story of her daughter’s behavioral health journey through multiple emergency department (ED) visits. From the first visit to the fourth, hear how each experience unfolded. This session will explore the importance of proactive, rather than reactionary, care, the need to rethink how we manage and support young patients beyond the confines of their ED rooms, and the critical role of case management, follow-up, and linkage to county resources.
11:15 – 11: 45 a.m. | General Session | Improving Behavioral Health in the ED – An Open Q&A Forum (Presentation not available.)
Kirsten Barlow, Vice President, Policy, California Hospital Association
Mike Phillips, JD, Senior Director of Patient Advocacy and Housing Services, Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Heather Theaux, RN, MS, CEN, TCRN, Director, Emergency Services/Trauma Program
NorthBay Healthcare
This interactive session, designed as an open Q&A forum, will feature a dynamic panel of experts that includes a policymaker, a parent who also serves as an emergency department director, and a patient rights advocate. Together, they will explore strategies for navigating partnerships with county behavioral health departments and community organizations, while sharing practical ideas to build a more connected and responsive system of care for ED patients.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Hosted Luncheon
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. | General Session | CNO Panel: What Emergency Department Challenges Keep You Up at Night? (Presentation not available.)
Katrina Ascencio-Holmes, RN, CNOR, BSN, MHA, Chief Nursing Officer, Sutter Health
Edna De Leon, RN, BSN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President Quality, MLK Community Health
Marlena Montgomery, MSN, MBA, RN, FACHE, Chief Nursing Officer, Sharp Coronado Hospital
Heather Resseger, DNP, RN, CNL, CPHQ, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President, Chief Hospital Operations Officer & Chief Nursing Officer, NorthBay Health
This session will feature a panel of exceptional nurse leaders from across California who bring a wealth of experience and expertise in health care. These leaders will share valuable insights into how they are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing emergency departments today, including strategies for managing capacity constraints, navigating the complexities of behavioral health care, and fostering safe, supportive, and resilient work environments for frontline staff.
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Break & Exhibitor Raffle
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. | Closing Session | Updates and Implications for EMTALA and EMS
Alicia Macklin, JD, MPH, Partner, Hooper Lundy & Bookman P.C. and Mike Phillips, JD, Senior Director of Patient Advocacy and Housing Services, Jewish Family Service of San Diego
This session will offer a comprehensive overview of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), focusing on its requirements, enforcement, and implications for hospitals and their emergency departments. The session will also explore common compliance challenges and misconceptions. In addition, presenters will examine recent legislative developments — SB 43, AB 929, and AB 2275 — discussing how these state-level laws intersect with EMTALA requirements and influence emergency care protocols.
Elizabeth Basnett
Director
California Emergency Medical Services Authority
Elizabeth “Liz” Basnett, of Sacramento, was appointed Director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority in August 2023, where she has been Acting Director since 2021. Basnett was Chief Resilience Officer at the California Health and Human Services Agency from 2020 to 2021, and a Senior Managing Associate at Hagerty Consulting from 2018 to 2020. Liz’s previous positions include Chief of Planning and Preparedness at the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Preparedness Program Representative for the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and Deputy Director for the Callaway County Emergency Management Agency.
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).
Mike Phillips, JD
Senior Director of Patient Advocacy and Housing Services
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
In his role at the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Mike Phillips provides instruction and training for the behavioral health community, including providing information on due process rights for individuals receiving behavioral health treatment throughout the County of San Diego. He also oversees permanent supportive housing programs throughout the Coachella Valley, and safe parking programs throughout San Diego County. He is currently consulting at the state level on behavioral health reform, including participation in the statewide Behavioral Health Action Coalition, and provides both local and statewide law enforcement training on behavioral health issues.
Heather Theaux, RN, MS, CEN, TCRN
Director, Emergency Services/Trauma Program
NorthBay Healthcare
Heather Theaux, RN, MS, CEN, TCRN, is an accomplished health care leader with over 21 years of clinical experience specializing in nursing, emergency services, trauma programs, behavioral health management, and hospital leadership. Currently, she is the Director of Emergency Services/Trauma/Stroke/Behavioral Health at NorthBay Medical Center and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Solano County in California. Heather is also a published author and active contributor to professional organizations.
Stephanie Welch, MSW
Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health
California Health and Human Services Agency
Ms. Welch has been the Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health for the California Health and Human Services (CalHHS) Agency since 2020. She serves as the senior advisor to the Secretary of CalHHS and other state departments on behavioral health policy and builds bridges across diverse government sectors and stakeholders. She has twenty-five years of experience in behavioral health policy, program administration, and advocacy at both the state and county level.
We would like to thank our sponsors and exhibitors for their support of the 2025 Emergency Services Forum.
Air Methods – SkyLife & Mercy Air
We provide critical care air transport by helicopter and fixed wing. Our critical care teams carry blood and bring advanced levels of care and equipment to the scene or hospital emergent patients. We can continue all treatments in progress and reduce the out of hospital times for your patient. We are in network with the majority of payers, minimizing out of pocket costs to your patient. We maintain the highest clinical care GAMUT scores and are CAMTS Accredited.
California Emergency Nurses Association
The California ENA’s mission is to advance excellence in emergency nursing and to be the premier organization for the emergency nursing community in California through leadership, research, education, and advocacy.
CX&B
CX&B provides branded promotional merchandise and apparel to help clients recognition and thank the people who drive their success. We are unique in that our clients enjoy free warehousing, inventory management, and customized online order solutions designed for their specific needs. CX&B delivers a turn-key program with every order.
Please see CXBunited.com for more information.
Mood Health
Mental Health referrals, made easy.
Our team of therapists and psychiatrists accept all health plans, including Medi-Cal, and have with availability in two weeks or less, guaranteed.
Health systems, hospitals, and group practices work with us to improve HEDIS measures, reduce cost with at risk patients, and ensure their patient populations get the care they need.
Transform the way you approach mental health referrals – choose simplicity, guaranteed accessibility and quality care.
Pair Team
Pair Team connects underserved communities to high quality care through tech-enabled care teams. Pair Team partner with safety-net primary care providers and act as extension of the clinical staff to provide comprehensive clinical and mental health care while addressing the many social barriers to achieving a high quality of life such as access to housing, food, or transportation. Pair Team’s community-led, virtual care model is powered by their intelligent care delivery platform.
Stryker is a global leader in medical technologies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology and Orthopaedics that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes.
Silentia, Inc.
Privacy solutions as direct replacement for hospital curtains pertaining to patient privacy and infection prevention.
VectorCare
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.
XFERALL
XFERALL is a healthcare technology platform that streamlines patient transfers—especially for behavioral health—by connecting hospitals with receiving facilities in real time. By automating the transfer process, XFERALL reduces ER wait times, eases overcrowding, and ensures patients quickly receive the right level of care. Its intelligent matching system improves access, speeds up coordination, and supports better outcomes across the healthcare network.
For additional assistance contact CHA’s Education Department at education@calhospital.org.