Planetree Annual Conference Draws Experts in Management and Healthcare

DERBY, CT - Planetree, Inc., the non-profit organization and leader in patient-centered care, is holding the Annual Planetree Alliance Conference, Planetree: The Spirit of Caring, October 9-12, 2002, at the Meadowview Conference Center in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Conference, co-sponsored by Planetree Affiliate Wellmont Health System, is open to the public and will feature famous experts in management and healthcare, like Tom Peters, author of "In Search of Excellence" who will present We're in a Brawl with No Rules; and Bill Capodagli, author of "The Disney Way: Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company" who will discuss The Patient Experience: The Disney Way.

Some of the Conference featured speakers include: Julie Heifetz, gifted therapist and storyteller presenting Out of Silence; Charlotte Brody, executive director of Healthcare Without Harm, will talk about Achieving "Hospitals for a Healthy Environment" Status; Steve Horowitz, MD, chief of cardiology at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City will present Lifestyle: Getting to the Heart of the Coronary Disease Epidemic in America; L. Robert Keck, MDiv, PhD, independent scholar, author and lecturer, will discuss Healing as a Sacred Path; Motivational Speaker Joe Tye will talk about Engaging Employees in Enhancing A Values-Based Culture; and Jane Buckle, PhD, RN, will present Clinical Aromatherapy and Chronic Pain.

A post-conference series will be held on Saturday, October 12, from 1-5, featuring seminars for aromatherapy certification, caring leadership workshop, exploring energy medicine modalities for personal transformation, and tools to help implement Disney's Dream, Believe, Dare, Do in an organization.

Attendees will have time for a special wine and cheese reception where the speakers will be available for book signings.

For more detailed information on the 2002 Annual Planetree Alliance Conference, call Planetree at 203-732-1365, or log onto Planetree's website at www.planetree.org/conference for easy email, fax or mail-in registration and information.

Planetree was founded over 20 years ago by Angelica Thieriot; an Argentinean appalled by what she felt was cold, impersonal, dehumanizing medical care when she was hospitalized in the United States for a rare virus. Thieriot began a crusade that resulted in the founding of Planetree, which is dedicated to improving the hospital experience for patients and their families through a patient-centered approach which supports healing of the mind, body and spirit. Currently there are over 55 affiliates in the rapidly growing Planetree alliance.

For more information about the Planetree organization or to obtain a copy of a video, contact Mary Ellen DeRosa, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418, telephone: 203-732-1366. Or visit the Planetree website at www.planetree.org.