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WCBF Event Details Page

 PAST EVENT: 6th Conference on Successfully Implementing Six Sigma and Lean in Healthcare
 The Seaport Boston, USA  (Conference: September 19-20, 2007, Workshops September 18, 2007)
Full Event Details Latest Event News Register Now! REGISTER NOWSend to a Colleague Download Brochure Print all Information 

[ Overview ] [ Key Speakers ] [ Agenda and Speakers ] [ Workshops & Special Events ] [ Networking Opportunities ]
[ Who Should Attend ] [ Prices, Discounts and Key Terms ] [ Travel and Accommodation ]
[ Frequently Asked Questions ] [ Documentation, Tapes and CDs ]



Overview

 Overview & Key Topics :
This is a past conference. To view the forthcoming conference in this series please visit Current Conference

Based on the enormous success of WCBF's Six Sigma event series to date, it is expected that this will be the largest senior-level conference to focus on Six Sigma in Healthcare. Nowhere else will you find such an exceptional array of speakers and organizations willing to share their experience with you.

Pick One. If you plan on attending just one Six Sigma in Healthcare conference in 2007, then this is the one to select.

Download Brochure

Here’s what the attendees said at our previous Six Sigma in Healthcare events:

“Excellent conference that provides information for beginners and those interested in six sigma along with information and best practices for those involved already.”
Glen Crotty, COO, Charleston Area Medical Center

“It was great to see others in the healthcare area embracing six sigma into their work processes and clinical areas.”
Maryam Behta, Director Quality Research and Technology Integration, New York-Presbyterian Hospital

“It was a great venue, where beyond the networking opportunity, I had the chance to learn what other hospitals are doing in their six sigma deployment. Highly recommendable!"
Mariano Garrido-Lopez, VP-Organizational Effectiveness, Truman Medical Centers

"CEO's must attend this conference, it is a great introduction to Six Sigma. How to improve patient care and save lives guaranteed. It is proven by 'data' evidence. #s don't lie!"
Vickie Rosburg, Nurse Informatics Coordinator, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

"Focusing on Six sigma in Healthcare is exciting; very easy to relate to experiences shared. Great learning opportunities and networking."
Connie Levingston, Black Belt, OSF Healthcare

"Very inspiring. Gave me some great ideas and tools to move our organization along in Six Sigma and Lean. I really enjoyed my time here. Very valuable."
Debra appleby, Black Belt, St John's Hospital

"Very good. Nice breadth of info and quality of speakers"
Craig Bonnema, Director Surgical Services, Naval Hospital Pensacola


WCBF understands that quality professionals within the Healthcare sector will have differing needs and demands for Six Sigma depending on the nature, size, resources and commitment of the organization.

For these very reasons we concentrate our efforts on researching and building agendas that aim to appeal to varying Healthcare organizations and enable our participants to successfully confront the diverse challenges associated with business process excellence.

The Global Six Sigma Awards Website

Apply for the Best Achievement in Six Sigma in Healthcare Award

WCBF’s Global Six Sigma Summit (www.gsssa.com) will host The Global Six Sigma Awards, given to the most outstanding organizational achievements through the application of Six Sigma methodologies. The focus of this awards program is to demonstrate to the global business community the real results and excellence which organizations achieve through the successful implementation of Six Sigma.

The Awards will be judged by a panel of esteemed judges in the Six Sigma arena, coming from industry and publishing backgrounds. The winning organizations will be presented with their awards at the Global Six Sigma Awards Gala Dinner on Wednesday October 24th, 2007 at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

For more details of the judges, categories and criteria, click on The Global Six Sigma Awards. or email flora.hamilton@wcbf.com

Key Speakers

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Dr Terry O’Rourke MD
Chief Medical Officer
CENTURA HEALTH

CHAIR

Deborah Smith
VP Process Improvement
CENTURA HEALTH

EXPERT SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Mason Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Mount St Francis Ministries,
SISTERS OF ST FRANCIS OF COLORADO SPRINGS, INC.

Baris Turgutoglu
Director of Management Operations
KENT HOSPITAL

Jim Bickel
Vice President Professional and Support Services
COLUMBUS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Dr. Michael Apkon
Vice President Performance Management
YALE NEW HAVEN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Mary Cramer
Master Black Belt, Director of Performance Excellence
NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL

Jody Thompson
Director of Six Sigma
OSF SAINT FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER

Alice Mayer
Corporate Director Standardization/Data Research
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SERVICES

Bill Casey
Managing Master Black Belt US Operations, East
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS

Dr Kai Yang
Professor, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

Walter Hayes
Director of Laboratory Services
POCONO MEDICAL CENTER

Dan Varnum
VP of Performance Improvement
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

Agenda and Speakers

Conference Day #1
  • 8:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
  • Deborah Smith
    VP Process Improvement
    CENTURA HEALTH
  • 8:40 Keynote Presentation: Six Sigma Change Management, Forest Gump & Evidence-Based Medicine
  • "Life is like a box of chocolates… you never what you're gonna get!"
    Healthcare cannot be a box of chocolates where you never know what you are going to get. Nearly two years ago, Centura Health embarked on a six sigma journey to create standardized, evidence-based physician order sets. We saw an opportunity to transform the way we deliver patient care. With strong Black Belt Project Management and utilizing Zynx Health (a web-based tool), we were able to infuse clinical best practice to increase patient safety & quality throughout the continuum of care. As we look to the future, these order sets will play a vital role in the implementation of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). Involvement of numerous physicians from twelve different hospitals and gaining consensus on the order set content was made successful by disciplined project management. In this presentation, attendees will learn about Centura's order set standardization, education & awareness process, how to engage physicians through the rigor of six sigma, change management and the success that has been achieved.

    Dr Terry O’Rourke MD
    Chief Medical Officer
    CENTURA HEALTH
  • 9:20 Measuring the impact of improvements in reliability and efficiency
  • Lean Six Sigma is a powerful tool to enhance reliability, reduce waste, and improve the quality of care delivery across organizations. However, improvement efforts require an investment of considerable resources in order to meet objectives. Given resource constraints, it is important to be able to evaluate and compare the relative impact of potential projects. Measurement allows leaders to build an effective portfolio of improvement efforts and to gauge the success of these efforts. This session will discuss methods for quantifying the impact of improvement and for selecting among competing improvement opportunities.

    Dr. Michael Apkon
    Vice President, Performance Management
    YALE NEW HAVEN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
  • 10:00 Refreshments, networking and storyboard viewing time
  • 10:40 Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare Goes Global: Improving Billing, Patient Discharge and Materials Management
  • As the first recipient of JCI accreditation in Turkey, three year-old Kent Hospital embarked on deploying Lean Six Sigma to support their initiative for continuous improvement in patient care delivery, quality and financial performance. This presentation will highlight the process improvement methodologies utilized to address the causes of problems identified in their selection and purchasing of medical supplies and medications, discharge practices and billing procedures for both in- and out-patients. The success of these efforts also will be discussed.

    In addition, the session will highlight the integration of Lean Six Sigma with Theory of Constraints (TOC) to augment process improvement efforts. TOC Time-Based Replenishment will be explored for its benefits in a variable demand environment to achieve fast, highly visible and reliable results in material and medication stocking levels.

    Baris Turgutoglu
    Director of Management Operations
    KENT HOSPITAL

    and

    Charles B. Mount
    Director of Healthcare Services
    NOVACES, LLC

  • 11:20 Building Lean Sigma Teams to Advance Organizational Objectives
  • We’re all in this together. Effective teams working together to advance an organization’s objectives are the only way that improvements will be sustained over time. This session describes how a very large complex hospital uses Lean Six Sigma teams, aligned closely with hospital leadership, to work toward achieving the hospital’s strategic initiatives. The session will outline the importance of engaging all areas of the organization to work toward a common cause and of assuring that all projects have a direct line of vision to organizational objectives. Specific examples will be provided of the organizational structure developed to support these teams as well as the attributes of the Lean Six Sigma team facilitators (Black Belts) and of team members critical to the success of these projects.

    Mary Cramer
    Master Black Belt, Director of Performance Improvement
    NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPTIAL
  • 12:00 Lunch and networking
  • 13:30 Discussion Session: Achieving Alignment between your Organization and your PI initiatives
  • Mason Smith
    Chief Executive Officer, Mount St Francis Ministries
    SISTERS OF ST FRANCIS OF COLORADO SPRINGS, INC.

    Jim Bickel
    Vice President, Professional Support Services
    COLUMBUS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

    Mary Cramer
    Master Black Belt, Director of Performance Improvement
    NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPTIAL
  • 14:10 Thinking like Management: Aligning Strategic Corporate Objectives with Six Sigma Sponsorship – A Model Based Operational Strategy
  • If you cannot align a strategy for garnering sponsorship within the corporate strategic plan, you may be “blowing in the wind”. Using a practical plan or model as a framework leading to the Lean Thinking Process must first make good business sense; and then, 6 Sigma becomes the implementation element in any corporate strategy. In the larger business context, management sponsorship (Champions) must be earned. It (they) can be earned by finding the alignment between the strategy of the organization and model based management (6 Sigma, CMM, TQM, etc). Without this alignment, long-term commitment cannot be sustained and 6 Sigma trained professionals will grow increasingly frustrated and disenfranchised. In parallel, management will get appropriately distracted with issues such as strategic business planning, finance and accounting, product lines development, adopting effective technologies, and managing human resources. Management must see logical frameworks into which they can fit a 6 Sigma effort. Healthcare is no exception. My case model is a Skilled Care Nursing Center. I will show at least one way to present that framework within a healthcare environment.

    Mason Smith
    Chief Executive Officer, Mount St Francis Ministries
    SISTERS OF ST FRANCIS OF COLORADO SPRINGS, INC.
  • 14:50 Refreshments and networking
  • 15:20 Integrating Lean and Six Sigma: A Diversified Approach to Process
  • Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines has been successful using a variety of improvement methodologies, including Lean and Six Sigma, to drive its process improvement efforts. With a team of Black Belts trained to use multiple tools and techniques, it is important to identify the right approach to solve business problems. In this presentation, which will include project examples, you will learn how Mercy has been successful using this integrated approach.

    Dan Varnum
    VP of Performance Improvement
    MERCY MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES
  • 16:00 Applying DFSS in healthcare
  • improve service offerings, based on the voice of customer and customer value, the second is the improvement and design of service offering process, which enables fast, effective service offerings. For health care industry, both aspects are very important.

    In this presentation, a case study is presented about VA hospital in Detroit, where we applied many effective tools to reduce the patient average waiting time in registration department from 44 minutes to lower than 5 minutes.

    Dr Kai Yang
    Professor, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
    WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

    Bryan C. Matthews
    Administrative Officer to the Associate Director
    JOHN D. DINGELL VA MEDICAL CENTER


  • 16:40 A Simple Ten Step Service Kaizen Method
  • • What is a Kaizen Event?
    • Quest Diagnostics service quality challenges
    • The ten step service Kaizen Event method
    • Defining the problem, the goal, the baseline and the process
    • Exploring possible sources of variation
    • Identifying corrective actions to eliminate waste

    Bill Casey
    Managing Master Black Belt US Operations, East
    QUEST DIAGNOSTICS

    Jesse Flippo
    MBB North & South Florida
    QUEST DIAGNOSTICS
  • 17:20 Chair's closing remarks and end of day one
  • Conference Day #2
  • 0:00 Master Black Belt Panel
  • 7:30 Breakfast for speakers and delegates
  • 8:40 Welcome to Day Two and Recap of Day One by the Chair
  • Deborah Smith
    VP of Process Improvement
    CENTURA HEALTH
  • 8:50 Involving Physicians and Resident Physicians in 6 Sigma Transformation
  • Involving Physicians and Resident Physicians in 6 Sigma Transformation

    Since the Institute of Medicine’s shocking conclusions in To Err is Human, healthcare quality and safety have been under public and regulatory agency scrutiny. The bar has continued to rise as hospital performance is made public through JCAHO indicators, CMS publicly reported measures, and a variety of quality awards such as the ANA’s Magnet hospital designation and the Joint Commission’s Centers of Excellence. There can be no doubt that safely and reliably providing evidence-based care is on every healthcare leader’s agenda.

    At OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, we have achieved dramatic and sustained improvement in core clinical processes through the use of 6 Sigma. To achieve these results, however, we had to learn how to effectively deploy the 6 Sigma methodology in the clinical arena, how to effectively engage resident and attending physicians, and how to integrate 6 Sigma with evidence-based medicine. At this session, we will describe our 6 Sigma journey and critical success factors while highlighting methodology application in one clinical outcomes improvement project.

    Jody Thompson
    Director of Six Sigma
    OSF SAINT FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER

    Tim Miller, MD
    Assistant Administrator Physician Affairs
    OSF SAINT FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER
  • 9:30 Deployment and Bottom-line Results in a Community Hospital
  • Find out how a 225-bed hospital community hospital established, deployed and integrated a lean sigma program as the primary method of process improvement to create a data-driven culture and achieve real bottom-line results. Learn about specific operational projects to improve processes in Patient Financial Services/Medical Records and patient throughput in the Radiology department.

    Jim Bickel
    Vice President, Professional Support Services
    COLUMBUS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

    Carolyn O’Neal, RN, MSN
    Black Belt
    COLUMBUS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

  • 10:10 Refreshments, networking and storyboard viewing time
  • 10:50 Lean and Six Sigma Dramatically Improve the Percentage of Lab Results Completed by 7 a.m
  • Pocono Medical Center intended to automate its chemistry laboratory in order to expedite reporting and to accommodate expected growth. However, this strategy neglected the upstream part of the process, the collection of specimens and the delivery of the specimens to the lab. Through careful analysis and the application of Lean and Six Sigma tools, performance improved from 68 of lap results completed by 7 a.m. to 98. The project was completed in two months. Automation would not have accomplished this, as the main problem was getting specimens to the lab.
    After attending this session, participants will be able to:
    • Understand how batching extends turn-around time
    • Understand the value of aiming for continuous flow in health care.
    • Understand the value of using data to diagnose a problem and to design the right solution.
    • Understand how focusing in one area could sub-optimize a process.
    • Understand how results can be achieved quickly.

    Walter Hayes
    Director of Laboratory Services
    POCONO MEDICAL CENTER
  • 11:30 Using DFSS to Create the “Pharmacist of the Future”
  • New technology often requires a change in work processes in order to maximize benefits and efficiency in healthcare environments. In 2006, new technology enabled Pharmacists at Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. (SSFHS) to transition from ‘distributive-focused’ to ‘clinical-focused’ pharmacy functions. The new technology presented significant challenges for SSFHS and its pharmacists.
    This presentation will highlight a Lean Six Sigma team who used Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) tools to optimize medication management and successfully expand clinical pharmacy services. The redesign resulted in reduced costs, greater pharmacist satisfaction and improved patient care.

    Alice Mayer
    Corporate Director Standardization/Data Research
    SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SERVICES

    Dr. Maria Papadakis
    Clinical Pharmacist
    SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SERVICES
  • 12:10 Lunch and networking
  • 13:30 Reducing Patient Wait Time by Increasing Capacity
  • At Boston Medical Center, the Six Sigma group concentrated on making improvements in the department of Radiology by working closely with stakeholders. Listening to voice of customer, a collection of projects were identified and implemented. In the MRI and Nuclear Stress Testing areas, patient wait time for appointments was reduced from 4 - 7 weeks down to several days. This was accomplished by increasing capacity without the addition of capital equipment. These projects uncovered the need to improve denials. The Six Sigma group next worked with a team of individuals to reduce the number of payer denials due to missing authorizations.

    Sholeh Razavi
    Director, Performance Improvement
    BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER
  • 14:10 Improving Revenue Cycle Case Study
  • Healthcare organizations are challenged with inefficient processes around revenue cycle issues~registration, charge capture, and maximizing reimbursement
    Through the use of Lean, WorkOut, Six Sigma & Design for Six Sigma, Virtua has been able to leverage their "tool box" to support operational leaders: in improving the consistency of the billing process; eliminated non-value added steps and increasing reliability and timeliness; overall enhanced accuracy in billing process that has contributed to an overall net return of $20M
    Key lessons learned

    Adrienne Elberfeld
    Master Black Belt, Six Sigma Champion
    Virtua Health
  • 14:50 Master Black Belt Panel
  • 15:30 Closing remarks by the Chair

  • Workshops & Special Events


    WORKSHOP A: Managing the Human Side of Lean Six Sigma

    WORKSHOP B: LEAN Implementation in Health Care

    WORKSHOP D: Lean, Six Sigma, Work Out, Design for Six Sigma

    08:30 - 11:15 (includes breakfast) : WORKSHOP A: Managing the Human Side of Lean Six Sigma
    Tips for selecting, aligning, developing, measuring and rewarding your most important asset…PEOPLE!

    The implementation of Lean Six Sigma in the hospital environment can be a costly and challenging endeavour. Inherent silos, multiple stakeholders and misaligned incentives make the hospital environment a complex setting in which to launch a structured improvement initiative. Many hospitals have managed to make it work, however, and this workshop will share some of the secrets to their success.

    Focusing specifically on the people aspects of Lean Six Sigma, attendees will gain valuable knowledge that can be used to either launch a new program or get a stalled program back on track. Through discussion and actual case study examples, the presenters will share information on designating Lean Six Sigma roles and responsibilities, ensuring individual competency and accountability and building a strong framework for sustainable results.

    Learning Objectives

    This workshop will enable participants to:

    - Understand critical success factors and common pitfalls associated with Lean Six Sigma implementation in healthcare
    - Acquire best practices in HR strategy to maintain program momentum and growth
    - Compare pros and cons of various organizational and pay structures
    - Explore innovative career progression models
    - Identify change management tools that can be used to navigate the political landscape.

    Todd Sperl
    Director of Operational Excellence, Master Black Belt
    ST JOHN HEALTH

    Charles DeBusk
    Senior Manager
    GE HEALTHCARE PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS


    About your workshop leaders
    Todd Sperl has led the strategic rollout of Lean Six Sigma at Michigan’s St. John Health (SJH) since January, 2004. In this role, Sperl has seen SJH significantly improve operational excellence. To date, 100 plus Lean Six Sigma projects have been completed across the organization. These dramatic process and performance improvement projects have a direct link to SJH strategic goals and have resulted in decreased throughput and cycle times, process standardization, increased customer/patient satisfaction and over $10 million in verifiable financial benefits.
    Since launching Lean Six Sigma as its process improvement methodology, SJH has certified 16 black belts, 120 plus green belts, 120 plus yellow belts, over 200 change agents and established its own in-house training program. Todd is a GE trained master black belt. He has presented at numerous regional and national Lean Six Sigma conferences. Todd has a M.S. in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. He lives in Huntington Woods, MI with his wife Andrea, daughter Allie and son Mac.

    Charles DeBusk has blended his 25 plus years of healthcare experience with technical expertise in Six Sigma, Lean, CAP and Work-Out to to teach and mentor customers. His customers include Sharp Healthcare, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, The Nebraska Medical Center, St. John Health, North Memorial Health Center, Valley Baptist Health System and others. Prior to joining the Performance Capabilities group, he served as a Master Black Belt in the Healthcare Services Division teaching DMAIC and Design for Six Sigma and supporting the areas of information processing, software design and customer support Charles is a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Registered Professional Engineer.
    His publications include: “Best Practice or Best Guess”, “Lean Discharge”, “Putting Express back in Hospital ED Express Care” and “Streamlining Diagnostic Testing at Northwestern Memorial”.





    11.30 - 14.15 (includes lunch) : WORKSHOP B: LEAN Implementation in Health Care
    LEAN implementation in health care improves quality, service, and safety using fewer FTE’s and capital dollars in less space. The disciplined application of LEAN principles uses data to redesign health care delivery by focusing on value added activities and eliminating waste.

    Learn how AveraOpEx uses principles from the Toyota Production System to analyze processes, set a standard of best practice, and implement continuous improvement.

    This workshop will present an interactive introduction to the LEAN principles:
    • standard work
    • single piece flow
    • visual management control
    • pull replenishment

    Examples of successful implementations in the Laboratory, Emergency Department, Surgery, Health Information Management, and Financial Services will be discussed.





    In addition, strategies for change management and adult learning will be demonstrated. How can managers navigate change by moving employees from critics, victims, and by-standers to change champions?


    Kathy Maass MT(ASCP)
    Director, Process Excellence
    AVERA MCKENNAN HOSPITAL AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER

    About your workshop leader:
    Kathy Maas is employed at Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center. In April 2004, Kathy led the Laboratory Team in its first Lean Project at Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center. The team redesigned work flow projects, then planned, co-ordinated and led the Laboratory through a move into a new workplace designed with Lean principles. Currently she is the Director of Process Excellence and has led projects in the Emergency Department, Central Supply, Operative Services, Pharmancy and in Nursing.

    14:30 - 17:15 (includes refreshments) : WORKSHOP D: Lean, Six Sigma, Work Out, Design for Six Sigma
    These are tools which are just a piece of the puzzle that, when solved, provides a pattern of sustainable results and ultimately, an organization that can differentiate itself from its competitors. The question is... where to start?

    When contemplating the use of some or all of the tools there is much to consider and evaluate. Do we have our implementation in the right order? With the right people? With the right intentions? With the right expectations and the right resources? Deployments must be well planned and communicated in order to avoid the ‘flavor of the month’ mentality .

    Join us for this interactive session and gain the quality information you have been searching for. You will leave this workshop with the ability to know, with confidence, how your organization might proceed in decision making and implementation.

    Susan McGann
    President and CEO
    PIVOTAL HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, LLC



    About your workshop leader:
    Susan McGann RN, BSN, MBA was among the nation’s first healthcare Six Sigma Master Black Belts. She has led comprehensive efforts to drive the methodologies of Six Sigma, DFSS (Design for Six Sigma), LEAN, CAP (Change Acceleration Process) and WorkOut. McGann has been responsible for deployments, curriculum development, education, project results, mentoring and fiscal accountability. McGann’s experience also spans Strategic Partnerships, new campus development and hospital design, systems and structures of accountability and recognition, patient satisfaction and leadership development. Currently she is the President and CEO of Pivotal Healthcare Solutions, LLC where she works with organizations in the planning and execution of Operational and Business Tools. She is an accomplished speaker and educator who’s passion is evident in everything she does.

    Networking Opportunities

    The Six Sigma in Healthcare conference will bring together senior-level quality and process improvement professionals from a broad range of organizations.

    One of the key benefits of attending this conference is the networking opportunities you will find.

    Organizations wishing to take further advantage of these opportunities should contact Louise Gosling of WCBF about taking an exhibition booth or sponsoring one of the lunches, breaks or evening receptions.


    Who Should Attend

    WCBF’s Six Sigma in Healthcare is being extensively researched and specifically tailored to meet the requirements and interests of professionals working within these industries.

    Specific job titles have been listed below.

    CEOs, CIOs, COOs and CFOs
    Directors of Performance/Process Improvement
    Directors of Quality / Continuous Improvement
    VPs/Directors of Operations
    Directors of Six Sigma
    Business Process Improvement Champions
    Productivity Managers
    Six Sigma Deployment Leaders / Champions
    Master Black Belts and Black Belts
    Green Belts

    Head/Director of Clinical Excellence
    Head of Patient Safety
    VP of Clinical Outcomes
    Clinical Department Head


    Prices, Discounts and Key Terms

    Prices
    FULL PRICE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT PRICE BEFORE 08/03/07 BONUS DISCOUNT PRICE BEFORE 06/22/07
    Conference & three Workshops (A, B, D) $3842 Save $400! $3442 Save $500! $3342
    Conference & two Workshops (A, B, D ) $3293 Save $300! $2993 Save $400! $2893
    Conference & one Workshop (A, B, D) $2744 Save $200! $2544 Save $300! $2444
    Conference Only $2195 Save $100! $2095 Save $200! $1995
    Workshop Only - price per workshop (A or B or D) $549 Save $100! $449

    Online Offer
    Save an additional $50 off when you book online with a credit card - applies to Full and Early Bird prices only.

    Bonus Discount
    Cut off date: 06/22/07 - This will entitle you to an additional $100 off the Early Bird Discount price as shown above.

    Early Bird Discount
    Cut off date: 08/03/07 - This will entitle you to a discount off the registration fee (see above). Only applicable to FULL PRICE delegates

    Bring Your Team
    Group Booking Discounts
    WCBF understands the value of team knowledge sharing. Take advantage of the following group discounts (Discounts apply to full price only when registering from the same company at the same time. Discounts cannot be applied retrospectively).

    Groups of 3+ receive a 15 percent discount
    Groups of 4+ receive a 20 percent discount
    Groups of 5+ receive a 25 percent discount
    Groups of 6+ receive a 30 percent discount
    Groups of 7+ receive a 35 percent discount
    Groups of 8+ receive a 40 percent discount

    Discounts Calculation

    When booking on-line both "Early Bird" and "Group Booking" discounts will be calculated once the Registration Form is received by WCBF. You will be telephoned to confirm the final pricing, before any monies are taken from your Credit Card

    IF YOU ARE BOOKING BY FAX OR POST, PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THE REGISTRATION FORM FOR ADDITIONAL DELEGATES.

    I have two discounts e.g. early bird and group. I would like to use for my conference registration; can I use both of them?

    No, we do not combine discounts but we will honour the discount that is better for you.

    What does payment include?

    Payment includes breakfast, breaks & refreshments, lunches and the gala reception on the first evening of the conference. Check the on-line agenda for timings.

    A detailed conference workbook and/or CD with presentations and all meeting materials.

    When is payment due? Important please read.

    To receive any early payment discounts, registration and payment MUST be received at the time of registration and before the respective cut-off date.

    Any discounts offered (including team discounts) also require payment at the time of registration.

    Payment must be received prior to the conference, and within 30 days of registering. If payment does not arrive less than 10 working days prior to the event, a credit card payment will be requested.



    Timely, Topical, Fresh, Credible, Clear and Concisely Worded Information for the Six Sigma and Process Improvement Community


    Cancellation
    If you have to cancel your registration you can either send a substitute colleague in your place or claim a credit within the following time frames before the conference. To send a substitute colleague, please send an email to register@wcbf.com with your full contact details of the current attendee and conference they are registered for, and then your full contact details, including your job title, and email address.

    WCBF does not provide refunds for cancellations.

    For cancellations received in writing more than ten (10) working days prior to the conference you will receive a 100% credit to be used at another WCBF conference for up to one year from the date of issue. For cancellations received less than ten (10) working days prior to the event no credits will be issued.

    In the event that WCBF cancels an event, delegate payments at the date of cancellation will be credited to a future WCBF event. This credit will be available for up to one year from the date of issue.

    In the event that WCBF postpones an event, delegate payments at the postponement date will be credited towards the rescheduled date. If the delegate is unable to attend the rescheduled event, the delegate will receive a 100% credit representing payments made towards a future WCBF event. This credit will be available for up to one year from the date of issue. No refunds will be available for cancellations or postponements.

    WCBF is not responsible for any loss or damage as a result of a substitution, alteration, cancellation, or postponement of an event. WCBF shall assume no liability whatsoever if this event is altered, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled due to a fortuitous event, unforeseen occurrence or any other event that renders performance of this conference inadvisable, illegal, impracticable or impossible. For purposes of this clause, a fortuitous event shall include, but shall not be limited to: an Act of God; governmental restrictions and/or regulations; war or apparent act of war; terrorism or apparent act of terrorism; disaster; civil disorder, disturbance, and/or riots; curtailment, suspension, and/or restriction on transportation facilities/means of transportation; or any other emergency.

    Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organisers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such, WCBF reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.

    Changes to the Programme
    WCBF reserves the right to make changes to any aspect of the programme, agenda, speakers, dates and venue location and can also cancel events if enrolment criteria are not met, or when conditions beyond its control prevail. Every effort will be made to contact each delegate if the event is cancelled. If an event is not held for any reason, WCBF’s liability is limited to the refund of the registration fee only. WCBF is not responsible for any loss or damage as a result of a substitution, postponement, alteration or cancellation of the event due to causes beyond its control including, without limitation, natural disasters, sabotage, trade or industrial disputes or hostilities, and accident.

    Exhibitors and Sponsors Cancellation Policy
    WCBF cannot accept cancellations from exhibitors and sponsors.

    Protection of your data
    Personal data is gathered in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Your details may be passed to other companies who wish to communicate with you offers related to your business activities.

    Travel and Accommodation

    VENUE

    Seaport Boston
    200 Seaport Boulevard
    Boston
    MA 02210

    Reservations number: 1-877-SEAPORT or 877-732 -7678


    Documentation, Tapes and CDs

    The Conference experience is unique, but we can still provide you with the documentation of the event you missed on CD!
    To order call (1) 800-959-6549 0r (1) 312-466-5774 - or email reg@wcbf.com. Cost $699 (inc. p&p)

    Sponsors & Partners
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    Sponsor

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    Showcase Exhibitor
    Showcase Exhibitor

    Exhibitor
    Exhibitor

    Exhibitor
    Exhibitor

    Recommended Online Resource
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    Media Partner
    Media Partner

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    Media Partner
    Media Partner

    Media Partner
    Media Partner


    info@wcbf.com

    copyright © WCBF INC. 2001