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If you know anyone that might be interested in the following please forward
it to them or let me know. Thanks.
Mark Pickup  [[log in to unmask]]

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

HEALTHY PEOPLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES:

A Canada - United States Dialogue on Best Practices in Public Health

May 8 and 9, 1999

Royal York Hotel,
Toronto, Canada

        The rapidly evolving nature of health care delivery and health
policy in both Canada and the United States has opened the door for a
positive dialogue on best practices in public health. To this point,
commentary has tended to focus on national differences in access and
funding. In turn, this focus has limited the public policy debate, and
obscured the identification of best practices which might transcend
national borders. This conference is designed to promote a sharing of
successful contemporary Canadian and American experiences.

        The conference is intended for health practitioners, public policy
analysts, policy makers and health administrators who deliver healthcare
services and/or develop health policies. The emphasis is on dialogue between
American and Canadian participants. Formal
presentations by experts from both sides of the border will be complemented
by group discussions and extensive participant involvement.

        Four themes will be addressed at the conference:

1. INTEGRATING PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

This section of the conference will explore programs and policies designed
to achieve a greater degree of integration between preventive
measures and conventional medical care. Topics might include but are not
limited to :

How can the concept of healthy public policy affect the delivery of
healthcare services? Does it add value to the service individuals receive?
How do organizational changes, such as regionalization in Canada and managed
care in the United States, affect the ability to
integrate preventive measures? What models or frameworks might assist a
practitioner or administrator in such integration?

2. PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

This theme will examine innovations in conventional medical practice, and
explore the impact of complementary and alternative medicine on healthcare
delivery. It may also address the utilization of unconventional
practitioners, such as midwives and dental therapists, in the healthcare
system. Topics could include but are not limited to:

What examples exist of unconventional medical therapies that are
successfully integrated in a 'conventional' healthcare system? What are the
barriers to and incentives for integration? What models and frameworks of
midwifery utilization can be brought to bear on the discussion? What are the
legitimate public health concerns with these new forms of delivery and
services ?

3. OUTCOMES

This theme will address evaluation frameworks and methods in public health,
with a focus on best practices in outcome measurement.  topics could include
but are not limited to:

What examples of successful outcome measures in public health can be
provided?  How can different organizations adapt these? What are the unique
problems for community health organizations in addressing health outcomes?
How have these organizations successfully managed and delivered outcomes?

4. ETHICS OF HEALTHCARE

This section will explore the organizational context within which healthcare
decisions are made. The intent is to examine trade-offs and determine
effective models for ethically-sound decision-making. Topics could include
but are not limited to:

How do we decide what to trade-off on a daily basis or in a particular
context? What  are the best practices in ethical decision-making
considering the complex interplay of economic, political, professional and
moral concerns within healthcare organizations ? How can we modify our
healthcare organization to enable more effective ethical decision-making
structures ?

The conference will examine topics across these four themes with a focus on
public health and best practices. The papers should  stimulate discussion
and promote sharing, but need not themselves be comparative. The comparative
dimension of the conference will be
addressed through the dialogue of American and Canadian participants, and
through the bi-national structure of the conference.

The conference will span two full days and take place at the Royal York
Hotel in Toronto, Canada. The conference is hosted by the  Canada West
Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit research organization based in
Calgary, Alberta, and with a mandate to serve as a catalyst for informed
public policy debate. Funding for the conference has been provided by the
Donner Canadian Foundation.

Individuals interested in presenting papers at the conference should send a
one-page abstract detailing their intended presentation by December 1, 1998.
Please include an e-mail address. Individuals will be notified as to the
status of their paper by December 10, 1998.
Individuals interested in acting as expert discussion leaders should send a
short note by December 1, 1998, outlining their qualifications.
Conference travel and accommodations will be paid for discussion leaders.

Please address all correspondence, including requests for information and
registration materials to :
        Carey Hill, Conference Organizer
        Healthy People and Healthy Communities
        The Canada West Foundation
        550, 630 3rd Avenue SW
        Calgary, Alberta
        T2N 1N4

        Phone (403)264-9535
        Fax : (403) 269-4776
        E-mail : [log in to unmask]
        Or [log in to unmask]