Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, M.D., to Address Nurses at the 2002 NJ Nurses Summit Convened by Horizon/Mercy Elders, Nursing Experts and Legislators to Discuss Key Issues Affecting Nurses and Health care Delivery Under Managed Care ~

TRENTON, N.J., April 22, 2002 —

Former U.S. Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D., will present the keynote address, "Fulfilling the Promise of Managed Care," at the 2002 NJ Nurses Summit, "Nurses and Managed Care: Making the Promise Real," May 9-10 at the Ocean Place Conference Resort in Long Branch, N.J.

"The health care delivery system continues to present many challenges that require new strategies and approaches to partnering and collaboration in order to ensure the promise of the managed care delivery system," says Velvet G. Miller, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, president and chief executive officer of Horizon/Mercy. "Nurses are an essential component to making the managed care system work well, and by sponsoring this important summit, we aim to inspire ideas and educate health care professionals about the important role nurses play."

Designed for nurses, nursing students, nurse educators, case managers, health care administrators, managed care professionals, and others who have an involvement and interest in the field of nursing, the summit will:

• Promote preventive health care;
• Acknowledge and address health care disparities;
• Explore barriers and solutions to equitable delivery of health care;
• Engage key stakeholders as resources, advocates and leaders;
• Explore the important role nurses play in ensuring the promise of managed care.

Three general session presentations will take place throughout the day on May 10. Session One, "The Growing Importance of Technology in Health Care Delivery," will review the current status of clinical information systems, decision support systems, handheld technologies, telehealth applications and next generation technology in robotics and genetics. Christine R. Curran, Ph.D., RN, CAN, assistant professor of nursing and director of the informatics program at Columbia University School of Nursing, will help attendees understand how current technology can assist in the prevention and reduction of medical errors and can assist clinicians in accessing data at the point of care.

Session Two, "The Economic Impact of the Nursing Shortage and Its Effect on the Delivery of Health Care," will review the long-term strategies state-level policymakers and health care providers are using to address this issue. Clifton R. Lacy, M.D., FACC, FACP, acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, will discuss the implications for various health and medical care programs and policies caused by the nursing shortage and its effect on the delivery of quality health care.

Session Three, "Breaking the Glass Ceiling," will focus on how nurses can break the glass ceiling that exists in the health care sector today. Organized as a panel discussion, panelists include: Andrea Aughenbaugh, RN, CS, CAE, chief executive officer of the New Jersey State Nurses Association and family nurse practitioner at the Well Baby Clinic in Hightstown, N.J.; Judith M. Persichilli, RN, MA, president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, N.J.; Velvet G. Miller; and moderator Steve Adubato, Ph.D., broadcaster, author, university professor and motivational speaker.

Summit attendees also may attend the following workshops to be held between the general sessions on May 10:

• "Monoclonal Antibodies: Targeted Cancer Treatment," Kristi V. Schmidt, RN, MN, AOCN, oncology clinical coordinator for Genentech BioOncology;
• "Targets & Techniques in Treating Type 2 Diabetes," Catherine L. Martin, RN, MSN, the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center at the University of Michigan Health System;
• "Care Management: The Integration of Inter-related Processes," Mary Jane McKendry, RN, MBA, CCM, director of education, research and materials development for McKesson Health Solutions;
• Cultural Competency: A Quality Indicator," Karen Clark, MBA, chief operating officer of Horizon/Mercy;
• "The Nurse as Practitioner in Managed Care: A Way to Make a Difference," Claire E. Lindberg, Ph.D., RN, APNC, associate professor and coordinator of nurse practitioner programs at The College of New Jersey?s School of Nursing;
• "Delivery of Quality Care," Hurdis M. Griffith, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

The summit will kick off the evening of May 9 with an introductory session, "Stressed Out & Loving It!" presented by health care educator and stand-up comedian Lori Radcliffe-Allen, RN, CPT/CFC, followed by a welcome reception. General sessions and workshops will take place throughout the day on May 10. Contact Hours have been applied through the New Jersey State Nurses Association, which is accredited as an approver of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center?s Commission on Accreditation, for six workshops or programs.

In addition, summit attendees will be able to visit a variety of exhibitor booths, including Bayada, The College of New Jersey, Monmouth Medical Center, Loving Care Pediatric Homecare, Nurse Midwifery Program, Horizon Healthcare Staffing and Acute Care Specialists.

Registration is $249 for the May 9 kick-off evening and the May 10 summit, including hotel room and three meals, $185 for the May 9 kick-off evening and May 10 summit, including breakfast and lunch, or $125 for the one-day summit on May 10, including breakfast and lunch. The deadline for registration is April 26, and space is limited to 300 attendees. For registration information please call World Event Management at 609-773-0000 or toll free at 888-331-1700.

Horizon/Mercy is New Jersey's largest managed healthcare organization serving the publicly insured, providing healthcare services to more than 270,000 people in all 21 New Jersey counties. With headquarters located in Trenton, N.J., the organization is a partnership of Horizon Healthcare of NJ, Inc., a subsidiary of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (HBCBS), and Mercy Health Plan, a subsidiary of Mercy Health System.