Download the PDF of this programme

Programme
of the 17th EPSO conference,
Porto, Portugal
May 8-9, 2014

Chaired by Geir Sverre Braut (Chairman of EPSO)
Hosted by
the Portuguese Health Regulation Authority: ‘ERS – Entidade Reguladora da Saúde’
May the 8th and 9th, 2014
at ERS office (see below for further information)
Your hotel reservations can be made at the Bessa Hotel (http://bessahotel.com)
Rua Dr. Marques de Carvalho, 111, 4100-325 Porto
ATTENTION: if you want to use the special arrangements please make your booking before March 31st
This programme is also available on our website: www.epsonet.eu
Contacts at Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS):
César Carneiro, Head of Department of Studies and Economic Regulation
ccarneiro@ers.pt, t: +351 93 8186792
Marta Ferraz, Head of Communications
mferraz@ers.pt, t: +351 91 3100235
Address: Rua S. João de Brito, 621 - L32, 4100-455 Porto
telephone: +351 222 092 350
fax: +351 222 092 351
website: http://www.ers.pt

1. Economic Regulation and Financial aspects of Inspection
• New challenges for regulatory and supervisory organisations: What are the main changes in health systems under financial and economic stress?
• Health policy and health system changes in times of crisis: a presentation about the health care reforms in Portugal set up by the troika and how they bring new challenges for the health regulator, a Portuguese perspective;
• Financial Risk, financial and management indicators: financial problems in the social care sector seem to have serious impact on the quality of healthcare and the qualitative results of health care institutions in this sector; if this indeed proves to be the case, this finding could help supervisory organisations with early detection and risk selection of quality failure in the health sector.
• First results of the EPSO Questionnaire on Economic regulation and supervision of health services: results and conclusions of a survey on:
- Missions and responsibilities of EPSO members related to market competition and business relationships in health care;
- Main problems of health systems in these economic dimensions;
- Regulatory approaches to such problems.
2. Forum discussion on Economic Regulation and Financial aspects of Inspection .
3. Risk Management and Risk indicators
• Planned activities of the EPSO working group on Risk management Current state of affairs and recent developments in the area of Risk management and Risk indicators.
• Focus on risk indicators: The SINAS (quality ratings) project by the Portuguese Health Regulation Authority.
4. Media and Supervisory organisations Follow up survey regarding Media and Supervisory Organisations (current state of affairs): Impact enhancement and damage control through media management by supervisory organisations.
5. The Estonian Pilot of the Restraints and Coercive Methods working group to test the EPSO Assessment and Evaluation Framework in long term nursing care, psychiatric wards and various hospitals in Tartu,
Main Topics of the 17th EPSO Conference
in Porto , Portugal

Valkla and Rünga, Estonia.
• Introduction to the pilot; Presentation of the Report; and first Results; Results for neighbouring inspectorates.
6. Directors of Hospital Boards in debate with CEO’s of Inspections and Regulators based on Questions like:
1. How to find the best incentives for excellent co-operation between hospital boards and health inspectorates/ regulators in hospital care?
2. What should be the main objectives and future goals for health inspectorates health inspectorates and inspectors to promote excellence or at least the best possible care, including excellent quality and safety systems in hospitals, the best possible care for users of hospital care and to prevent hospitals from qualitative decline by neglect of critical factors or overlooking important aspects of good governance and effective management in hospitals?
3. Which road leads to mutual understanding between hospital directors and inspectorates or regulators and which road leads to mutual challenge to promote the best possible hospital care?
4. How to find the best incentives for excellent co-operation between hospital boards and health inspectorates in hospital care?
7. Practical issues of EPSO

Overview of the Programme of the 17th EPSO Conference in Porto
 Day 1: Thursday, May 8th
Arrival of delegates at the hotel (11:30);
Informal lunch and registration at ERS office (12:00-13:30);
Start of the conference (13:30);
Afternoon session (13:30-18:00);
Transport from hotel lobby to conference dinner (18:30-19:00);
Visit and conference dinner offered by ERS (19:00-23:00).
 Day 2: Friday, May 9th
Morning session (8:30-12:00);
Informal lunch at ERS (12:00-14:00);
Departure of delegates (14:00).
Please note:
 The EPSO conference and conference dinner are free of charge and only admissible for EPSO Members and invited guests.
 Travel and hotel costs are at your own expenses.
 If you want to use our special arrangements hotel bookings have to be made before the 31st of March 2014.

• 13:30 -13:40 Welcome and opening remarks by Prof. Jorge Simões, president of the board of ERS.
Economic Regulation and Financial aspects of Inspection
• 13:40 – 13:55 Introduction highlighting the position of ERS as supervisory organisation in Portugal and recent changes by Prof. Jorge Simões, Portugal .
• 13:55 – 14:15 Health policy and health system changes in times of crisis: challenges for regulators and supervisors; A presentation about the health care reforms in Portugal set up by the troika and how they bring new challenges for the health regulator; What are the main changes in health systems under financial and economic stress? Are new challenges for regulatory and supervisory organisations emerging? a Portuguese perspective by Prof. Pedro Pita Barros, Portugal (not yet confirmed).
Day 1 (May 8th) –Pre-meeting EPSO working group on Risk
11:00-12:00 pre-meeting of the members of the new EPSO Working Group on Risk management and Risk indicators
Day 1 (May 8th) – Board Meeting
11:00-12:00 EPSO Board Meeting (for board-members only)
Day 1 (May 8th) – Lunch
12:00-13:30 Informal lunch and registration
•
Day 1 (May 8th) – Afternoon Session
13:30-18:00
- Financial aspects of Regulation and Inspection
- Ongoing EPSO topics

• 14:15 – 14:35 Financial Risk - financial and management indicators: financial problems in the social care sector seem to have serious impact on the quality of healthcare and the qualitative results of health care institutions in this sector; if this proves to be the case also in other sectors and other countries this could help supervisory organisations with early detection of quality failure and risk selection by Pieter van Dijk, Netherlands.
• 14:35 – 14:50 Presentation of the first results of the EPSO survey on Economic regulation and supervision of health services:
- Missions and responsibilities of EPSO members related to market competition and business relationships in health care;
- Main problems of health systems in these economic dimensions;
- Regulatory approaches to such problems.
• 14:50 – 15:00 Forum discussion on Economic Regulation and Financial aspects of Inspection with participation in the forum of Portugal / Kosovo( not yet confirmed) / Netherlands NZA
• 15:00 – 15:15 Break Tea/Coffee;
Ongoing EPSO topics
• 15:15 – 15.45 Risk Management and Risk indicators Current state of affairs and recent developments in the area of Risk management and Risk indicators ; Planned activities of the new EPSO working group on Risk management (proposed group members: France – Bruno Lucet (chair) Netherlands-Ine Borghans , Pieter van Dijk, Perry Koevoets ;Sweden -Janna Kokko, Anita Bashir Aréen; UK- Scotland-Steven Wilson; UK-England- CQC; Norway- Geir Sverre Braut; Denmark -Anne Mette Dons, Portugal-César Carneiro , prof. Álvaro Moreira da Silva; ISQUA- Peter Carter)
Bruno Lucet (France) will present results of a recent visit of the French inspectorate to the Netherlands and effective exchange of ideas and will present planned activities of the working group in England and Scotland .
This EPSO working group is based on the discussion, in Utrecht and Brussels about the risk matrix and IRIS program of the Dutch health inspectorate which aimed to support evidence and risk based selection of inspection cases. The group is working on an inventory of the state of affairs in the various EPSO member states (a monograph per country on selected topics), to deepen the conceptual framework and to analyze tools and methods available on the risk assessment topic. Other members with a specific interest or experience in the field of Risk Management and Risk indicators have joined the working group.
• 15:45 – 16:00 The SINAS (quality ratings) project by the Portuguese Health Regulation Authority; focus on risk indicators by Prof. Álvaro Moreira da Silva, Portugal.

• 16:00 – 16:30 Impact enhancement and damage control through media management by supervisory organisations. Presentation by Jorren Scherpenisse of the first results of the follow up study (current state of affairs of the follow up survey regarding Media and Supervisory Organisations).
This second study regarding Media and Supervisory Organisations is based on dilemmas that emerged from the first study of opinions of EPSO members as presented at the Utrecht Conference by prof. Mark van Twist (NSOB, The Netherlands). The follow up plan was presented in Brussels and Copenhagen by Jorren Scherpenisse. The follow up research is conducted in collaboration with EPSO members in the various EPSO countries who were interested in participating.
The aim of this follow-up study (co-financed by EPSO members) is to learn from the dilemma’s found in the first study on reactions and opinions of EPSO members, to deliver answers to dilemma’s that inspectorates have to deal with, and find methods and attitudes to develop the right media strategy in supervisory cases.
• 16:30 – 17:00 The Estonian Pilot of the Restraints and Coercive Methods working group to test the EPSO Assessment and Evaluation Framework in long term nursing care, psychiatric wards and various hospitals in March 2014 in Tartu, Valkla and Rõngu, Estonia.
- Introduction to the pilot by Eve Pilt (Estonian Board of Health);
- Presentation of the Report and first results by Rosemary Smyth (Mental health commission Republic of Ireland);
- Results for neighboring inspectorates by Hanna Ahonen Valvira Finland (not yet confirmed).
• 17:00 – 17:15 Closing remarks by Geir Sverre Braut (President of the EPSO Board).
18:30 Delegates are being asked to join in the hotel lobby of the Bessa Hotel;
18:30 – 20:00 Transport from hotel lobby to conference dinner venue, by coach, along the sea and river shores;
20:00 – 23:00 Conference dinner offered by the Portuguese host Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS)
Day 1 (May 8th) – Conference Dinner
18:30-23:00

Conference dinner Portuguese style offered by ERS in ‘Taylor’s Port Cellars’
ERS is pleased to invite all EPSO delegates to the conference dinner at Barão de Fladgate Restaurant, inside Taylor’s Port Wine cellars (http://www.tresseculos.pt/3/104/Barao-Fladgate. The programme includes a guided visit to Taylor’s cellars, Port Wine tasting and dinner. Located in Porto’s “twin-sister” city of Vila Nova de Gaia. This restaurant has received the Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor in 2011 and 2012.
ERS provides travel from hotel to restaurant by coach, on a pleasant ride along the sea and river shores, and crossing the Douro River over the charming Dom Luíz I metal arch bridge.
Note that travel from hotel to restaurant, and back to hotel, visit and dinner is offered by ERS with no costs for delegates.
Attention!!
a. The menu is fixed so please mention special needs such as a preference for vegetarian food or strictly no meat not later than 1 week in advance to info@epsonet.eu.
b. Please let us know if you want to join for dinner at info@epsonet.eu.

• 8:30 – 8:45 Tea/Coffee;
Directors of Hospital Boards in debate with CEO’s of Inspections and Regulators.
• 8:45 – 9:55 Introduction of the topic by short presentation based on questions like:
- How to find the best incentives for excellent co-operation between hospital boards and health inspectorates/regulators in hospital care?
- What should be the main objectives and future goals for health inspectorates and inspectors to promote excellence or at least the best possible care, including excellent quality and safety systems in hospitals, the best possible care for users of hospital care and to prevent hospitals from qualitative decline by neglect of critical factors or overlooking important aspects of good governance and effective management in hospitals?
- Which road leads to mutual understanding between hospital directors and inspectorates or regulators and which road leads to mutual challenge to promote the best possible hospital care?
- How to find the best incentives for excellent co-operation between hospital boards and health inspectorates in hospital care?
Short presentations (10 minutes each) by CEOs of inspectorates or regulators and by Directors of Hospitals:
Netherlands
- Ronnie van Diemen-Steenvoorde, Inspector-General of the Netherlands’ Health and Care Inspectorate;
- Piet Hein Buiting, Chief executive at Deventer Hospital. Piet Hein has been CEO of the board and managing director of various large and smaller hospitals in the Netherlands (Santeon, CWZ) and is at present interim director at Deventer Hospital.
Norway
- Jan Fredrik Andresen, Chief executive Norwegian board of health supervision and
Day 2 (May 9th) – Morning Session
8:30 -12:00
- Directors of Hospital Boards in debate with CEO’s of Inspections and Regulators
- Practical issues of EPSO

- Norwegian Hospital director.
UK/ Northern Ireland
- Glenn Houston Chief Executive Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
- Hugh McCaughey, Chief Executive of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland. Hugh's organisation manages three acute hospitals including the Ulster, Lagan Valley, and Down Hospitals. The Ulster is a regional hospital and the other two are smaller district general hospitals.
Kosovo
- Ardita Baraku Chief executive Health inspectorate Kosovo;
- Kosovar Hospital director.
Portugal
- Nuno Castro Marques, ERS Board member;
- Portuguese Hospital director.
• 9:55 – 10:30 Split up in little groups to prepare for Panel Discussion on CEO discussion.
• 10:30 – 11:00 Panel discussion with CEO’s of Inspectorates and Hospital directors on the future goals of co-operation between inspection and hospitals lead by Geir Sverre Braut.
• 11:00 – 11:15 Break Tea/Coffee
Practical issues of EPSO
• 11:15 – 11:35 Preparing for upcoming Conferences in the future and hosting offers by EPSO members:
Preparing for the 18th EPSO conference in Dublin Republic of Ireland on the 25th and 26th of September 2014. The Mental Health Commission and HQIA, the Health Information and Quality Authority of the Republic of Ireland have offered to host the conference together.
As topics that might be of interest to most EPSO members, we could mention the following. Please let us know what you think about these topics and feel free to do other suggestions.
Follow-up on the EU directive on cross border health care
 Overview of the effective implementation of the EU directive on cross border health care
 Experience of Portugal or another selected country on this specific topic
Nathalie Chaze (DGSANCO)
EPSO Member
Active Ageing follow up
Follow up on Active Ageing /Integrated Care Follow up on the discussion on the topic of Active Ageing based on EPSO active ageing document as discussed in Brussels with Kartika Tamara Liotard, Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for the Parliament on the topic of ‘Active Ageing’.
a. Input on the new European-wide developments on Active
Riitta Aejmelaeus
and Dirk Meijer EPSO

Ageing and Integrated Care in the context of the B3 EU action group on Integrated Care regarding developments such as e- health ,instruments to support active ageing of health personnel in hospitals and other health institutions , innovative care on complex chronicle diseases, tele-cardiology etc.
b. Discussion by EPSO members about possible follow up activities in this field to develop new ways of inspection and supervision in a cross border context of integrated care and to prepare for a measurable and effective supervisory activities on new forms of integrated care, and
c. Exploring interest in setting up a new EPSO working group on Active Ageing to develop possible new ways of inspection and supervision in a cross border context of integrated care and to prepare for measurable and effective supervisory activities on new forms of integrated care. (see enclosed active ageing document
Follow up on ‘Quality of Professionals’
Follow up of the focus group discussion in Brussels organized by EPSO in co-operation with the Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare) of the Radboud University Nijmegen to Identify best practices to deal with impaired and incompetent health care professionals.
At our Brussels conference and afterwards the researchers have - together with EPSO members from various interested countries - set steps forward to gain more insight in successful strategies on how to adequately prevent and deal with impaired and incompetent health care professionals . Recently the final report is presented to the Dutch Health care inspectorate . It could be interested to pay attention to the actual state of affairs of this topic and have a discussion based on the final report.
Tijn Kool and Jan Willem Weenink (IQ health care)
Follow Up on ‘Risk Topics’
Risk Management and Risk indicators Risk management and Risk indicators ; follow up activities of the EPSO working group on Risk management.
working group on risk: France Bruno Lucet ( chair), Netherlands , Pieter van Dijk, Perry Koevoets , Ine Borghans and Jan Maarten vd Berg, , Sweden, Anita Bashir Aréen, Scotland Steven Wilson , UK-England Neil Prime/ Emma Rourke)

Follow up on EPSO Peer evaluations Norway and Denmark
The Danish Peer Evaluation is planned to be finished and presented to the Danish minister of Health Spring 2014
The Peer evaluation team Denmark: Jan Vesseur, Geir Sverre Braut, Glenn Houston, Mandy Collins, Jooske Vos
Preparing for a more active co-operation between EPSO and ISQua based on the recently signed memorandum of understanding between both organisations. Which EPSO members plan to join the next ISQua conference in Rio de Janeiro?
EPSO board and others
Preparing for:
- follow up of 5 Nations Conference England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland Northern Ireland in Belfast , November 2014 ; Short Presentation by Glenn Houston to inform EPSO members about the topics of this 5 nations conference and the possibility to invite a limited number of EPSO members to this conference (3-4 EPSO members)
- EPSO conference England CQC Spring 2015 as follow-up of the upcoming Five Nations conference in London at The Care Quality Commission, Finsbury Tower, 103-105 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 4TG
- EPSO conference Helsinki Autumn 2015?
- EPSO conference Kosovo Spring 2016?
- EPSO conference Scotland Autumn 2016?
• 11:35 – 11:40 Suggestions about:
- new topics, additional items , what comes up;
- possible new EPSO members (EPSO members can come up with suggestions for new members);
- Welcome to possible new member Iceland or possible upcoming member Kosovo.
• 11:40 – 11:45 Financial topics and draft Work plan EPSO .
• 11:45 – 12:00 Closing of the Conference by EPSO president Geir Sverre Braut.
Day 2 (May 9th) – Lunch
12:00-14:00 Informal lunch at the ERS office
14
The conference will be held at the office of ERS, in the city of Porto. The office is located 11 km to airport, 5 km to historical centre, 4 km to sea shore and 3 km to River Douro.
Address: Rua S. João de Brito, 621 - L32, 4100-455 Porto
T: +351 222 092 350
F: +351 222 092 351
W: http://www.ers.pt
Conference venue

Address: Rua Dr. Marques de Carvalho, 111, 4100-325 Porto, Portugal
T: +351 226 050 000
F: +351 226 050 001
E: info@bessahotel.com
W: http://bessahotel.com/
The Bessa Hotel is a 4 star hotel at 13 minutes walking distance from the conference location, by car 3 minutes.
Hotel conditions:
If you want to use this hotel offer, be sure to make your reservation in time. Hotel conditions are:
 Check-in: 08.05.2014 // Check-out: 09.05.2014
 Special rate (per night/per room): Single – 70,00EUR, Double – 80,00EUR (although only singles are reserved, doubles may be available); breakfast included and free Wi-Fi internet; if you wish to book additional nights, different rates may apply.
 Payment: charged to credit card on check-in, or bank transfer until 7 days before arrival. Information for bank transfer is:
Hotel and booking information

BANK: Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Valadares)
IBAN: PT50 0035 0829 00008155 830 91
SWIFT CODE: CGDIPTPL
BESSAHOTEL FISCAL NUMBER: 506 072 215
BENEFICIAIRE: Turisbessa, Emp. Tur., Lda.
The reservations must be confirmed by filling in the form (see pdf document below) and sending it
to info@bessahotel.com. This has to be done before 31st of March 2014.
Form de Rsv Directo
- 17 ª EPSO Conference.pdf
If there are any problems or questions please contact EPSO info@epsonet.eu or
jmvos@eurinspect.nl

From airport to Hotel (by metro, bus or taxi)
By metro:
Metro direct line from the airport stops near the hotel. Two options:
 Stop at ‘Francos’: 20 minutes metro ride; 14 minutes walking to hotel; buy single travel ticket: Z4 (1,85€)
 Stop at ‘Casa da Música’: 22 minutes metro ride; 24 minutes walking to hotel (but a nicer walk); buy single travel ticket: Z4 (1,85€)
(see timetable and other info at http://www.metrodoporto.pt/en/)
Travel information

From airport to Hotel (by metro, bus or taxi)
By bus:
‘Terravision bus’ goes directly from the airport to Boavista area (20 minutes). You have to make an online reservation with a reservation online the costs are 5 euro single from Porto Airport to Porto (Boavista area) and 9 euro for a return ticket. If you want to use the bus please look at: http://www.terravision.eu/porto.html
Buses leave you at Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque (also known as Rotunda da Boavista). From there it’s a 19 minute walk to Bessa Hotel.
By taxi:
You can find taxis just outside the main exit of Porto Airport. A trip to Bessa Hotel (or to ERS office) will take approximately 15 minutes and cost 15 to 20€.

From airport to ERS office
If you wish to go directly from the airport to the conference, you can do it by metro or by taxi
By metro:
Take metro at the airport and stop at ‘Francos’: 20 minutes metro ride; 20 minutes walking to ERS office; buy single travel ticket: Z4 (1,85€)
By taxi:
You can find taxis just outside the main exit of Porto Airport. A trip to ERS office will take approximately 15 minutes and cost 15 to 20€.

From hotel to ERS office
You can walk (13 minutes) or take a taxi (3 minutes).
On foot:
By taxi: