2026 Impact - PP106 - Performance Improvement Leaders Peer to Peer Education Meeting

Las Vegas, NV US
September 23, 2026
This session will explore how health systems are improving end‑of‑life care through strategies such as artificial intelligence, clinician training and optimized electronic health record use. Presentations will highlight scalable models that integrate AI, clinician education, and embedded care resources to better align care with what matters most to patients. Speakers will also examine enterprise‑wide approaches that use multidisciplinary teams, rapid review processes and strong accountability structures to drive measurable improvements in mortality and care quality. In addition, insights from the Vizient Mortality Breakthrough Survey will identify high‑impact practices and benchmarking data that help organizations move from assumptions to evidence‑based action in their mortality‑reduction efforts.

Target Audience

  • Dietitians
  • Nurses
  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy Technicians
  • Physicians
  • Physician Associates
  • Healthcare Quality Professionals
  • Other Healthcare Professionals

Learning Objectives

 
By participating in the Vizient Connections Summit, learners should be able to:
 
  • Discuss innovative strategies that effectively reduce mortality and improve patient outcomes.
  • Describe how multidisciplinary collaboration, technology and performance data can improve care coordination, reduce mortality and drive better patient outcomes.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 2.00 AAPA CME
    Vizient Inc. has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria.
  • 2.00 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 2.00 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 2.00 ANCC
  • 2.00 CDR
  • 2.00 CPHQ – Certified Professional Healthcare Quality
  • 2.00 General CE - Attendance
  • 0.20 IACET
Course opens: 
09/23/2026
Course expires: 
12/19/2026
Event starts: 
09/23/2026 - 8:00am CDT
Event ends: 
09/23/2026 - 10:00am CDT
Add to calendar: 
The Venetian Las Vegas
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
United States
+1 (702) 414-1000
FACULTY & PLANNERS
Faculty
Ganesh Asaithambi, MD, MBA, Market Physician Executive Allina Health Regional Hospitals and Emergency Medical Services, Allina Health
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ, Senior PI Program Director, Vizient
Katherine Hentges, NP, Clinical & Operations Director for Palliative Care, System End of Life Care and System APP services, Allina Health
Jennifer Kroschel, MSN, RN, PHN, Patient Safety and Quality Advisor, Allina Health
Eric Lam, BS, Principal, Intelligence, Vizient
Lindsay Mayer, RN, MSN, CPHQ, Senior Director, Programs, Vizient
Nathan Moore, MD, CMO, BJC Healthcare ACO, Internist, BJC Healthcare
Jessica L. Saleska, PhD, MPH, Lead AI Implementation Researcher, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, BJC Healthcare
Laural Whitmore, MSE, Senior Vice President, Networks: Performance Improvement Programs, Vizient
 
Planners
Juli Hermanson, MPH, RDN, CPHQ 
Course Director
AVP, Client Education 
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Adrianne Ainsworth, MBA
VP, Member Networks
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Julie Cerese
SVP, Performance Management & National Networks
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Donna Colby, RN, BSN, CMRP, CVAHP, FAHRMM, LHRM
Consulting Director
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Sydnee Cruz, MBA
Sr. Education Program Manger
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Katie Davis, DNP, MS-HSM, RN
Senior Intelligence Director, Member Networks
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Mital Desai, PharmD
Member Networks Director
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Cheryl Jachna, BS 
Education Programs Director
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Marilu Kelly, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CHCP 
Director, Continuing Education 
Vizient, Inc. 
 
David Levine, MD 
SVP & Chief Medical Officer 
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Lindsay Mayer, RN, MSN, CPHQ
Sr Dir, Programs
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Barbara Seymour, DNP, RN, NE-BC
VP, Member Networks
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Kristen Sinke
VP, Implementation Services
Vizient, Inc. 
 
Laural Whitmore, MSE
SVP, Networks: Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient Inc.
 
DISCLOSURE
As an accredited provider of continuing education, Vizient, Inc. is dedicated to ensuring this activity presents learners with only accurate, balanced, scientifically justified recommendations, and is free from promotion, marketing, and commercial bias. In accordance with The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all planners, faculty, and others in control of the educational content have disclosed the absence or existence of all financial relationships (of any dollar amount) with ineligible companies within the past 24 months.
 
Ineligible companies – those companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
 
It is Vizient’s policy that owners and employees of ineligible companies, and any individuals who refuse to disclose the absence or existence of financial relationships with any ineligible companies are disqualified from participating as planners or faculty.
 
Statement of Content Validity
 
Vizient, Inc. educational activities are intended to assist healthcare teams advance their professional responsibilities in accordance with the definition of continuing education. It is the policy of Vizient, Inc. to review and ensure that all content and recommendations for patient care within accredited CE is evidenced-based, based on current science and clinical reasoning while ensuring the content is fair and balanced. All recommendations must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Vizient, Inc. does not permit accredited continuing education if it advocates for unscientific approaches to diagnosis or therapy, or if the education promotes recommendations, treatment, or manners of practicing healthcare that are determined to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients.
 
FDA Off-Label Use
 
Faculty presenters are also expected to disclose any discussion of (1) off-label or investigational uses of FDA approved commercial products or devices or (2) products or devices not yet approved in the United States.
 
Disclaimer
The education provided through this activity is for continuing education purposes only. The views and opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty/presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vizient, Inc.
 
Disclosure Statements
 
Absence of Relevant Financial Relationships
 
None of the planners, faculty, or others in a position to control content for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Vizient, Inc. is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
 
 
 
Designation Statement(s)
Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)
This activity was planned by, and for, the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
 
Registered Dietitians/Dietetic Technicians (CDR)
The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) accepts nutrition-and-dietetics-related continuing education credits from Jointly Accredited Providers. After completing this activity, CDR-credentialed practitioners may claim CPEUS under Activity Type 102; 1 contact hour (60 minutes) = 1 CPEU. 
 
International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
As a Jointly Accredited provider approved to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Vizient awards CEUs for learning events that align with the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training.
 
This learning event is eligible for 2.00 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). 
 
Nurses (CNE)
This activity is designated for 2.00 contact hours.
 
Pharmacists (CPE)
Vizient, Inc. designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.00 contact hours for pharmacists.
 
Universal Activity Number: JA0006103-0000-26-137-L04-P
 
Pharmacy Technicians (CPE)
Vizient, Inc. designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.00 contact hours for pharmacy technicians.
 
Universal Activity Number: JA0006103-0000-26-137-L04-T
 
Physicians (CME)
Vizient, Inc. designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
Physician Associates (AAPA)
Vizient Inc. has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
 
Healthcare Quality Professionals (CPHQ)
This activity is approved by NAHQ® for 2.00 CPHQ CE credits.

 

Available Credit

  • 2.00 AAPA CME
    Vizient Inc. has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria.
  • 2.00 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 2.00 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 2.00 ANCC
  • 2.00 CDR
  • 2.00 CPHQ – Certified Professional Healthcare Quality
  • 2.00 General CE - Attendance
  • 0.20 IACET
Please login or register to take this course.
 
Select the Obtain Credit button to access the activity evaluation and to claim CE Credit.
 
Please Note: 
 
  • If the Register/Take Course tab is displayed instead of the Obtain Credit tab, you must first login to proceed with the credit claim process.
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  • Please click here to enter the code you received at the end of the activity to verify your attendance if you have not already done so: https://continuingeducation.vizientinc.com/code

 

 

Required Hardware/software

 

The Vizient CE Learner Portal is compatible with most modern web browsers (such as Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari) and can also be accessed with mobile devices.