The COVID-19 pandemic caught health systems and organisations unprepared and underscored the necessity for health managers and administrators to cope with the unknown. To prepare for future threats but also to function effectively, efficiently and sustainably on a daily basis, health organisations require a clear strategy, excellent organisation, and scalable management models.

This year we received 60 research abstracts submitted under the track ‘Management, Operations and Practice’. EHMA 2023 will feature eleven dedicated oral abstract sessions where presenters will discuss best practices, evidence-based research, and lessons learnt on how to manage health systems and organisations in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in a context of complex transformation of care delivery in Europe.

During the first day, the conference will feature three abstract sessions. The abstract session on ‘AI and machine learning’ will share evidence about the benefits AI and machine learning generate in health management, operations, and practice. The research presented will focus on and provide guidance for the use of digital technology for data collection, operations planning, and decision-making. The session on ‘Healthcare processes evaluation’ will discuss Health Technology Assessment, horizon scanning methodologies, tools for mass screening and innovative technologies that support health managers in assessing health systems and organisations’ quality and processes. The session on ‘Management tools for measuring performance – an organisational perspective’ will provide practical examples of indicators tools for health managers to measure systems and organisations’ effectiveness, efficiency, and the quality of care provided.

On the second day, the abstract session on ‘Teams and multi-professional networks’ will share evidence about teams and multi-professional networks and how they can provide benefits to integrated care; while the session ‘Learnings and lessons from COVID-19’ will discuss lessons learnt to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, as well as the resilience of primary and secondary care. The abstract session ‘Management tools and measuring performance – a system perspective’ will share management tools and models to evaluate health systems and organisations’ performance to ultimately optimise the quality of care;AI and the one on ‘Efficiency and accessibility to healthcare’ will address the role of the health workforce and performance management systems in health management. The session ‘Patient-centred and integrated care solutions’ will provide evidence, models, and best practices adopted to progress towards patient-centred, integrated health systems, organisations, and services.

During the last day of the conference, the abstract session ‘Challenges of telemedicine’ will brief about the use of telemedicine and the required competencies and benefits for patients, the health workforce, and the system. The session on ‘Modelling the workforce of the future’ will discuss working conditions, migration, challenges and educational development for the health workforce with a focus on a variety of geographical realities. And the abstract session on ‘Digital tools for healthcare’ will bring evidence from the implementation of digital innovation, including AI, in the healthcare sector. Pieces of research on the use of digital tools for patients affected by chronic diseases and breast cancer will also be discussed.

These sessions will deliver valuable insights into the operations of health organisations and systems. They will provide evidence in the planning, organising, staffing, monitoring, directing, and decision-making processes of health services and systems to ensure the effective, efficient, and equitable use of resources.

Check out the #EHMA2023 programme here and discover the over 50 sessions we have this year. Don’t miss your chance to attend EHMA 2023 – book your spot before Friday, 26 May here.