Join us for the 2025 Emergency Services Forum, returning to beautiful Newport Beach! This conference is dedicated to the uniqueness of hospital ED management and its intersection with emergency services and the community. We’re finalizing an exceptional lineup of speakers and engaging topics. The 2024 Emergency Services Forum sold out – this is an event you and your colleagues don’t want to miss!
Here’s what some of the 2024 attendees had to say:
- “Excellent conference that I will be attending again. Great content that was pertinent to ED and EMS. Thank you!”
- “Great and informative conference. Thank you!”
- “The content was extremely relevant and beneficial for everyday hospital operations.”
- “I thought all the speakers gave great insight. I particularly enjoyed the talk from RaDonda; it was thought evoking and heartfelt. Thank you for a great forum.”
- “Every session was relevant and worthwhile with real time issues. All speakers with excellent information and the last speaker was powerful, moving, and eye opening.”
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
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?
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.
Kirsten Barlow, MSW
Vice President, Policy
California Hospital Association
Kirsten Barlow joined the California Hospital Association as Vice President, Policy in December 2021, where she manages behavioral health policy issues. Prior roles during her career have included serving as lead lobbyist and then Executive Director for the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, Executive Officer at the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, and policy and communications positions at the California Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and the California Assembly Human Services Committee in the State Legislature.
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.
Katrina (Kat) Ascencio-Holmes, RN, BSN, MHA
System Chief Nurse Officer
Sutter Health
Katrina (Kat) Ascencio-Holmes, Chief Nurse Officer at Sutter Health, leads strategic nursing initiatives, education, research, and workforce development. She works in dyad partnership Dr. William Isenberg to guide high-quality, safe and equitable care across the system. Since joining Sutter in 2009, she played a key role in developing Central Valley surgery centers, later serving as CEO of Stanislaus Surgical Hospital and taking on leadership roles at Sutter Roseville. In 2023, she was interim CEO of Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital and chief administrative officer/nurse executive at Sutter North Surgical Hospital. She is active in several health care and nursing organizations.
Edna De Leon, RN, BSN, MSN
Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President Quality
MLK Community Healthcare
Edna De Leon is the Chief Nursing Officer for MLK Community Healthcare and has over 30 years of experience in acute care hospital operations. At MLK Community Hospital (MLKCH) where she has served as VP of Quality since 2017, Edna led the facility expansion to accommodate growth in inpatient and Emergency Department volume, adding twenty-one additional licensed beds and thirty-five treatment spaces through program flexibility applications. In her expanded role as CNO and VP of Quality, Edna is contributing to financial objectives, reducing liability insurance premiums, and improving the delivery and reliability of nursing services. Prior to MLKCH, Edna served as Director of Quality and Clinical Director of Critical Care Services at Huntington Hospital and has held many leadership roles in various health care organizations.
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, JD, MPH
Partner
Hooper Lundy & Bookman P.C.
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).
Marlena Montgomery, MSN, MBA, RN, FACHE
Chief Nursing Officer and Experience Champion
Sharp Coronado
Marlena Montgomery is a dynamic and accomplished health care executive, currently providing leadership and oversight as the Vice President of Patient Care Services at Sharp Coronado. With a career spanning over two decades in the health care industry, Marlena has consistently exhibited an unwavering commitment to elevating the nursing profession and improving patient care. She is a dedicated and accomplished executive nurse leader, known for her passion for health policy and advocacy, expertise in emergency care, her leadership in professional organizations, and her commitment to advancing nursing practice and patient care throughout California. She serves as the President for the Association of California Nurse Leaders.
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 Resseger, DNP, RN, CNL, CPHQ, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President, Chief Hospital Operations Officer and Chief Nursing Officer
NorthBay Health in Northern California
Heather Resseger is the Senior Vice President, Chief Hospital Operations Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer for NorthBay Health in Northern California. With over 20 years of nursing experience, she has held various leadership roles in clinical and operational health care, spanning community and academic health centers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-authored an article with colleagues from the CDC, Solano County Public Health, and CDPH and has spoken at health care conferences and contributed to local and national publications. A member of the Association of California Nurse Leaders and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, she is dedicated to developing other leaders in healthcare leadership skills and competencies.
Savannah Tapia
Policy Associate
California Hospital Association
Savannah Tapia is policy associate at the California Hospital Association. She advises CHA staff on proposed legislation and regulations that impact hospitals, develops public policy positions and strategy, and advocates for hospitals before legislative and regulatory bodies. Savannah supports CHA’s work on several topics such as seismic compliance, emergency departments, health equity, and environmental hazards.
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.
Loyalty: $295*
Exclusive loyalty pricing for this year’s conference is available only to CHA members who attended last year’s event. Enjoy a $75 savings. But hurry – this special offer is limited to the first 15 registrants!
*This unique offer ends February 9, 2025.
Member Early Bird: $370*
Government Early Bird: $370*
Nonmember Early Bird: $1000*
*Early Bird pricing has been extended through April 15, 2025.
Member: $470
Government: $470
Nonmember: $1100
Members are CHA member hospitals. Nonmembers are non-hospital health care providers, clinics, and post-acute facilities that serve hospitals. Education programs and publications are a membership benefit and are not available to eligible non-member California hospitals.
Cancellation Policy
A $75 non-refundable processing fee will be retained for each cancellation. Cancellations must be made in writing 7 or more days prior to the scheduled event and emailed to CHA Education. No refunds will be made after these dates. Substitutions are encouraged. In the unlikely event that the program is cancelled, refunds will be issued to paid registrants within 30 days.
Confirmations
A confirmation will be sent to all registrants. On-site registrations and any unpaid registrations may be subject to an additional 10% fee.
Special Accommodations
If you require special accommodations pursuant to the American’s with Disabilities Act please call (916) 552-7637.
Photography
CHA will photograph this event. If you prefer not to be photographed, please email CHA.
Quality Assurance/Grievance
The CHA education quality assurance/grievance policy is available upon request by emailing Robyn Thomason, Vice President, Education. If you have any concerns or dissatisfaction with the quality of a CHA education program, please email Robyn or contact her at (916) 552-7514.
Questions?
Contact CHA Education.
Full attendance at the educational session is a prerequisite for receiving professional continuing education (CE) credit. Attendees must sign in at the forum, complete post-event survey and, when required, include state bar or professional license number. CE certificates will be emailed approximately three weeks after the forum. Lunch and breaks are not included for continuing education credit. (Amount of CE offered is subject to change.)
Behavioral/Social Work — Emergency Services Forum course meets the qualifications for up to 4.75 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CHA is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs and LCSWs. Provider approval number 128427. CHA maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
At the conclusion of the forum, participants will be able to:
- State three regulatory updates and operational changes within the California Emergency Medical Services Authority that will help them effectively engage with Local EMS Authorities to support patient-centered system improvements.
- Apply two strategies for improving coordination with county behavioral health departments to enhance patient flow and reduce unnecessary ED utilization.
- Improve case management, patient engagement, and connection to county and community behavioral health resources.
- Identify three strategies for partnering with county behavioral health departments and community organizations to improve emergency department (ED) care coordination.
- State two leadership-driven strategies for creating a safe and supportive environment for emergency department staff.
- Determine the core requirements of EMTALA and its application to emergency medical service providers.
Compliance — The Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® has approved this event for up to 6.9 live CCB CEUs. Continuing Education Units are awarded based on individual attendance records. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by CCB of this event content or of the event sponsor.
Health Care Executives — CHA is authorized to award 5.75 hour of pre-approved ACHE Qualified Education credit for this program toward advancement, or recertification, in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Participants in this program who wish to have the continuing education hours applied toward ACHE Qualified Education credit must self-report their participation. To self-report, participants must log into their MyACHE account and select ACHE Qualified Education Credit.
Nursing — Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider CEP #11924, for up to 5.75 conference contact hours.
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
1107 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 729-1234
The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach has rooms available at a discounted rate of $229 based on hotel availability. A $10 resort fee will also be added to your reservation. For reservations, call (949) 729-1234 and mention the “Emergency Services Forum.” To book a room online, click here.
For sponsorship opportunities at the Emergency Services Forum, contact Lisa Hartzell.
We would like to thank our corporate sponsors for their support of the 2025 Emergency Services Forum.
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
Exhibitor:
