International Conference Series Promotes Health Care Research and Use to Improve Health Care Quality

9/18/2003

From: Kari Root of AcademyHealth, 202-292-6700

News Advisory:

Nearly 700 health services researchers and policy analysts from around the world will gather in Washington, D.C., September 21 - 23, for the 5th International Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Services, to share insights and experiences related to dissemination and uptake of research in policy and practice.

"Every country is struggling with issues concerning access to health care and the quality of that care. This conference encourages cross-national comparative research and collaborative thinking in an effort to work together toward a solution," says Karen Davis, president of The Commonwealth Fund. Dr. Davis is co-chairing the conference with Donald Berwick, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Nearly 200 international experts will speak at this meeting, which will focus on five major areas of research and policy, including national strategies for organizing health services research; and the use of evidence to improve policymaking, clinical practice, health services management, and to alleviate the burden of specific diseases. Topical areas include cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental health, cardiovascular, and maternal and child health-all issues that continue to challenge the world's health care community. There is also a full-day conference on September 20 focusing on international child health services research, which seeks to advance children's health care and health.

The conference is co-hosted by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and AcademyHealth.

WHERE: Capital Hilton 1001 16th Street, NW Washington, DC

WHEN: September 21 - 23, 2003

WHO: Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, USA

Josep Figureas, director of the European Observatory on Health Care Systems, Belgium

Joxel Garcia, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization, USA

Uwe Reinhardt, professor at Princeton University, USA

John Wyn Owen, secretary of The Nuffield Trust, UK

Bijan Sadrizadeh, senior advisor to Minister of health and medical education, Iran

Media are admitted free of charge and may register on-site. For more information or to register, please call Kari Root at 202.292.6700.

For up-to-date information on the 5th International Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Services, including a full meeting program, visit http://www.icsbhs.org.