Hot Topics | Abilene, TX | March 3rd - 5th
Tuesday, March 3rd
GOLF – Shady Oaks Golf Club | 3542 County Rd 268 W, Baird, TX 79504 (11:00 a.m.)
Wednesday, March 4th
8:30 a.m.
Registration, Breakfast, and Networking with Sponsors
9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Tess Frazier, President & CEO, THIE
Jim Horton, THIE Board Chair & CEO, Rankin County Hospital
9:10 a.m.
Navigating Texas Nurse Staffing & Peer Review Requirements
Heather De La Garza-Barone, Associate General Counsel, THA
Laura Cornelson, MSN, RN, Vice President, Clinical Initiatives, THA
An overview of Texas nurse staffing regulations and peer review requirements, including key updates from House Bill 2187 (effective Sept. 1, 2025). Topics include nurse protections, complaint processes, staffing data requirements, and mandatory overtime rules. Attendees will gain practical guidance on compliance, documentation, and effective peer review strategies.
10:15 a.m.
Networking Break
10:30 a.m.
Mock Deposition
Angela Gette, Esq., VP, Claims, THIE
Jim Horton, THIE Board Chair & CEO, Rankin County Hospital
11:30 a.m.
Lunch & Networking Break
12:15 p.m.
Risk Management Issues with Nurses and APPs
Susan E. Briones, Partner, Lewis Brisbois
This presentation will highlight common health care liability issues seen in medical malpractice cases and licensing board investigations, including documentation, patient monitoring, chain of command, and scope of practice. Actual case studies will be used to illustrate the scenarios and lessons learned for risk mitigation and development of best practices.
1:15 p.m.
Hospital Grievance Resolution Training
Moderator: Angie Merrell, RN, CPHRM, CHSP, VP of Risk Management, THIE
David Lee, THIE Board Member & CEO, Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital
Mary Cobos-Gallegos, MBA/HCM, C-ERM, Director of Risk Management, Medical Center Health System
2:15 p.m.
Networking Break
2:30 p.m.
Legal Update
Brian Jackson & Craig Carter, Jackson & Carter, LLC
This session will highlight some of the most common legal issues currently impacting healthcare organizations and offer practical insights on navigating today’s legal landscape.
4:00 p.m.
Adjourn
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Networking Reception
8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
“The Saddest Country Song Competition”
Thursday, March 5th
8:30 a.m.
Registration, Breakfast, and Networking with Sponsors
9:00 a.m.
Gratitude 2.0: From Concept to Clinical & Leadership Impact
Marion Spears-Karr, MA, FACHE, Managing Partner & Founder, In-Flow Executives
Gratitude 2.0 builds on last year’s introduction to the Authentic Gratitude Communication Framework® and represents the next iteration of this work for healthcare leaders. Informed by real-world application and ongoing research with Baylor Scott & White Health, this keynote highlights what leaders have learned so far as gratitude becomes a practical leadership tool for trust, engagement, and resilience.
10:15 a.m.
Networking Break
10:30 a.m.
Announcement of Raffle Winners
Russell Tippin, THIE Board Member & President & CEO, Medical Center Health System
10:40 a.m.
Presentation by Woligo Health Solutions
Brian Mauk, AVP, Director of Revenue & Product Development, Woligo Health Solutions
10:50 a.m.
News from the Associations
John Hawkins, President & CEO, THA
John Henderson, President & CEO, TORCH
THA and TORCH leadership will provide federal and state advocacy updates, along with interim healthcare priorities. They will also share a forecast of legislative and policy priorities on the horizon, with time for open question and answer from hospital leaders.
12 noon
Adjourn