Misericordia Faculty Member Presents at International Conference

John R. Ash, Ph.D., FACHE, assistant professor and program director for the Healthcare Management program at Misericordia University, recently presented at the International Hospital Federation’s 44^th World Hospital Congress in Barcelona, Spain. 

The hybrid conference brought together more than 1,500 participants from more than 70 countries and territories under the theme, “People on Board: Transforming Healthcare by Blending Agility, Responsiveness, and Resilience."  Guest speakers and presenters included scholars from across the globe.

“This conference showed how it is possible to use technology to improve healthcare delivery while transforming the system to deliver improved patient experiences,” Ash said. “This hybrid event allowed far more people to participate than would have been able to at a typical in-person conference.  The hybrid event permitted a virtual and in-person experience.”

Dr. Ash’s presentation, titled “Reducing Hospital Readmissions Using Mobile Integrated Healthcare-Community Paramedicine” examined how hospital readmissions for chronic illnesses can be reduced 86 percent by leveraging community-based emergency medical services (EMS) resources.  Ash suggested that the delivery model is home-based and can be delivered by EMS providers, nurses, and physician assistants.

Dr. Ash’s research is indicative of the faculty expertise at Misericordia University in the University’s College of Business. The Health Care Management curriculum at Misericordia University is designed to respond to the specific needs of health care organizations in today's dynamic environment. Management skills, leadership development, strategic planning, marketing, health care finance, and law are examined, including a comprehensive understanding of financing, insurance and payment mechanisms