HSR's technical assistance and policy services often involve bringing together policy experts, researchers and key stakeholders to explore the implications of new trends and technologies in health care. HSR staff have received critical acclaim for their design and professional facilitation of expert meetings, focus groups and "think tank" initiatives.

Our conference planning staff also have years of meetings management and logistical support experience, although we are not "just" meetings planners. Our approach seeks to seemlessly integrate the substance of the meeting with a structure and format designed to achieve the meeting's objectives. Our attention to detail in handling all logistical arrangements - from hotel meeting room space to participant travel - ensures that clients will be able to focus their attention on the meeting's substance.

A few examples of HSR's work in this area include:

President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry

HSR provided logistical support to this high-profile group, which was co-chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala and Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman. The Commission met ten times in 1997 and 1998 and drafted a Consumer Bill of Rights for presentation to President Clinton.

Developing a Health Statistics System for the 21st Century

HSR facilitated a series of activities designed to help the National Center for Health Statistics and the national Committee on Vital and Health Statistics to develop a 21st century vision for health statistics development. In addition to commissioned papers and focus groups, HSR convened an expert meeting of nationally-respected health researchers and industry specialists to develop specific recommendations for national health survey tools.

An Agenda for Research on Women's Health

HSR designed and facilitated a meeting of nationally known researchers, policy analysts and interest groups to develop recommendations for a research agenda for the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research of the Agency for Healthcare Research amd Quality.

Substance Abuse State Systems Development Conference

HSR planned "Meeting Client Needs: Customizing Services," a federally sponsored conference attended by more than 400 state alcohol and drug abuse agency directors, administrators and service providers. The agenda included plenary sessions and best practices workshops, as well as poster sessions and computer demonstrations.

Protecting Patient Confidentiality

For the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HSR managed a national conference of policymakers, health plan representatives, researchers, providers, and consumers. This was conducted in collaboration with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the National Commission on Quality Assurance, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Families USA.

For more information about HSR's experience and expertise in conference planning and meeting facilitation, please contact:

Jennifer McIntosh
Director, Conference and Project Management
Health Systems Research, Inc.
(202) 828-5100

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