Keynotes, Awards, and Networking Events
The meeting kicked off with an energetic welcome address from John Sganga, Premier’s Senior Vice President of Alternate Site Programs. In his remarks, John discussed how changes to the broader healthcare landscape – value-based care, reimbursement, new technology, and consumerism – are changing the way healthcare is delivered. Specifically, they are driving healthcare delivery out of the acute care setting and into alternate sites, presenting both a challenge and a big opportunity for non-acute providers. John concluded his remarks by announcing that 2019 will be the last Innovatix + Essensa National Meeting, to be replaced in 2020 by a Premier Alternate Site Meeting that will bigger and more inclusive.
After John concluded his remarks, we honored the winners of this year’s Innovatix and Essensa member awards. Presented in five categories, these awards recognize members who make use of all available resources to lower their supply chain costs through extensive participation the Innovatix and Essensa purchasing programs. This year’s winners are:
At the awards ceremony’s conclusion, our special guest keynote speaker, Barbara Corcoran, Founder of The Corcoran Group & ‘Shark’ on Shark Tank, took center stage. Barbara inspired attendees by sharing events from her life, including the adversity she overcame to become a successful entrepreneur. She also offered practical business advice about identifying talent and drawing on strengths. Barbara’s no-nonsense yet warm style had the audience captivated.
The meeting’s two evening networking events, held the first day onsite at the Hilton Atlanta and the next day at the Georgia Aquarium, were both enjoyable and productive for all in attendance. The events offered participants the opportunity to get to know each other while exploring the aquarium and its exhibits. Suppliers used the events to make connections with members and gain valuable insight into their specific needs, while members were also able to network with each other and Premier Alternate Site staff.
Both Tuesday and Wednesday kicked off with engaging keynote speakers in the morning. At Tuesday’s government affairs keynote breakfast, Blair Childs, Premier’s Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, discussed “Healthcare in the Age of Disruption.” A true beltway insider, Blair shared his perspective on everything from healthcare reform to the 2020 elections to privacy concerns in healthcare. John Sganga joined Blair on stage for a Q&A session that underscored Premier’s government affairs activities on behalf of Alternate Site members.
Wednesday morning’s breakfast was highlighted by business keynote speaker Aaron Tucker, Navy SEAL Combat Veteran & Business Consultant. Aaron’s engaging style and personal reflections about his military and business careers forged a connection with members, while his lessons about developing high-performing teams visibly resonated with the corporate leaders in the audience.
