The 2026 VPS Quality Summit & User Conference

Aurora, CO US
October 8, 2026 to October 10, 2026

Register Today!

VPS is hosting an in-person summit being held in Colorado, October 8-10th.

Actual registration fees displayed at checkout. Based on credential and deadline dates.

Target Audience

VPS conferences provide the opportunity for intensivists, critical care nurses, and quality specialists to gather and collectively work towards improving PICU quality care.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 13.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 13.75 Attendance
    • 13.75 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 13.75 NCPD
Course opens: 
02/06/2026
Course expires: 
10/24/2026
Event starts: 
10/08/2026 - 1:00pm MDT
Event ends: 
10/10/2026 - 3:00pm MDT
Cost:
$495.00
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1:00 PM1:11 PM MAIN CONFERENCE OPENING - Thursday - October 8 
   Welcome/housekeeping/disclaimers/Recognition of Planning TeamNancy Brundage
   Welcome to Aurora and Children's Hospital ColoradoCameron Gunville
1:12 PM2:27 PM75Key Note #1:  "Leading with Data- From Bedside to Board"Ramesh Sachdeva, Kathleen Gorman, Tom Rice
   a. Introduce Topic and OverviewRamesh Sachdeva
   b. "Leading with Data- From Bedside to Board" Kathleen Gorman
   c. Making Value Visible, a Facilitated Discussion: Demonstrating Value to C-Suite ExecutivesRamesh Sachdeva, Tom Rice, Kathleen Gorman
2:28 PM3:08 PM40Global Expansion and Innovation - VPS Beyond the U.S. — International PanelRamesh Sachdeva and Panel
   a. Introduction of topic and Overview Ramesh Sachdeva
   b. Canadian VPS: Activities and UpdatesElizabeth DiGiacomo
   c. Beyond Benchmarking: How VPS is Shaping Pediatric Critical Care in Qatar Ikram Ul Haque
   d. VPS in Saudi Arabia: Advancing Data-Driven Pediatric Critical Care Tareq Alayed 
   e. Summary / Q&A Ramesh Sachdeva
3:09 PM3:29 PM Break and Move to Selected Track 
3:30 PM5:00 PM90Site Coordinator/Data Collector TrackLeadership Applications of Clinical and Operational Data: Physician/Administrator/Manager/Operational Leadership Track
   Site Coordinators and Clinical Data Collectors Overview (Ashley Sweeney)Topic Overview:  Tom Rice 
   Speaker A: “Navigating the Complexities of Clinical Data Collection: Challenges and Solutions” (Brittany Critcher and Lena Bouwens)Speaker A: Using VPS data to support quality incentives and financial incentives with physician leadership at Rainbow. (Matt Marx)
   Speaker B:  Transforming Data into Insight: Understanding the Value of VPS Metrics (Maria Galletto and Jaime LaVelle)
   Speaker C: Bridging Data and Practice: Advancing Dissemination, Quality, and Registry Management at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health (Cassie Bergaro)Speaker B:  Advancing Academic Scholarship Using VPS Registry Data: Strategies for Physician Success (Michael McCrory)
   Speaker D: Maintaining Momentum: Sustained VPS Engagement and Utilization (Carl Maly )Speaker C: Turning VPS Data into Stories: Dashboards That Inform and Drive Change (Matt Scanlon)
   Speaker E: Less Noise, More Impact: Focusing on the Diagnoses That Matter Most in VPS  (Kelly Jackson)Speaker D:  Leading Through VPS (Randall Wetzel)
   Q& A Panel:  Ashley Sweeney Moderate Q & A: Panel Randall Wetzel Moderate
5:00 PM5:01 PM Closing Remarks and Instructions: Nancy BrundageClosing Remarks and Instructions: Randall Wetzel
6:00 PM7:00 PM Networking Reception and Cocktail 
   Dinner on your Own 

 

StartStopMinFriday, October 9 
7:00 AM7:50 AM VPS Quality Council Breakfast (by invitation only) 
7:00 AM7:50 AM Continental Breakfast and Networking/Registration 
8:00 AM8:05 AM Welcome Back and Overview for the DayNancy Brundage
8:06 AM8:58 AM52VPS QI Collaboratives: A Structured Path to Measurable Improvement 
    Introduction of Topic Tom Rice / Cheryl Hulbert
   a. Respiratory Management Issues Tom Rice/Cheryl Hulbert
             ii. Collaborative MemberRusly Harsono
    b. Patient Flow Collaborative Tom Rice/Cheryl Hulbert
             ii. Collaborative MemberMichael Wilhelm 
    c. Nutrition Collaborative Theresa Mikhailov
            ii. Collaborative MemberMudit Mathur
   d. Looking ahead: Future Collaborative Work Tom Rice
   e. Summary/Questions  Cheryl Hulbert/Tom Rice
8:59 AM9:53 AM54Key Note #2: Quality in the Age of AI: Advancing Pediatric Critical care Data, Decisions, and Discovery 
   Introduction of Topic and OverviewRandell Wetzel
   Keynote Speaker: “Quality in the Age of AI: Advancing Pediatric Critical Care Data, Decisions, and Discovery”Blake Martin 
   Q & A Moderated by Randall WetzelRandall Wetzel
9:54 AM9:55 AM Instructions for Morning BreakNancy Brundage
9:55 AM10:15 AM Morning Break  
10:16 AM10:17 AM Welcome BackCheryl Hulbert/Tom Rice
10:18 AM11:10 AM52Using VPS Data to Change Practice: Lessons from PICU Leaders 
   QI with VPS Data OverviewRamesh Sachdeva
   Presentation 1: Using VPS Data to Help Guide QI Interventions to Reduce Incidence of Pneumonia in sTBI PatientsBinod Balakrishnan 
   Presentation 2: pARDS Guideline Compliance Michael McCrory 
   Presentation 3: Implementation of an Extubation Huddle Protocol Reduces Time to Successful ExtubationBrittany Fitts 
   Presentation 4:  A Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Duration of Mechanical Ventilation in a Tertiary PICU Kaitlin Kobaitri
   Summary / Q&AModerator: Ramesh Sachdeva
11:11 AM11:42 AM31FHIR Application: Transforming VPS Data CollectionAlex Kaminski/Cheryl Hulbert
   FHIR Discussion/ Q & AAlex Kaminski
11:43 AM11:57 AM14Caring for Complexity: Using VPS Data to Develop Programs for Medically Complex PatientsKevin Smith
11:58 AM12:00 PM Lunch InstructionsNancy Brundage
12:00 PM1:00 PM Lunch Buffet 
1:00 PM1:49 PM49VPS and Clinical Practice — Panel Presentation 
   Topic Introduction Randell Wetzel
   Presentation 1: Using VPS Data to Secure PICU Nursing FTE: Optimizing Pediatric ICU Staffing Through Effective Data AnalysisJaime LaVelle 
   Presentation 2: Empowering Insights: Integrating the Childhood Opportunity Index with VPS data to understand the neighborhoods where our patients live and their hospital outcomes.Cassandra Bergero 
   Presentation 3: Myth Busting with VPS - Using Data within VPS to inform Operational Decision-MakingSid Dante 
   Presentation 4: Bouncy balls of death – Using VPS to Identify, Track, and Investigate Common Problems in the PICUJosh Koch
   Q & A Moderated by Randall WetzelRandall Wetzel
1:50 PM2:10 PM20VPS Engineering Update Alex Kaminski
2:11 PM2:36 PM25VPS Analytic UpdateGerardo Soto-Campos
2:37 PM2:39 PM Instructions for Break and BreakoutsNancy Brundage
2:40 PM3:00 PM Move to Breakout/Grab a snack 
3:00 PM3:40 PM40Breakout Round #1 — Select 1 of 7 Concurrent Sessions 
   A. Breakout 1- Making Sense of Complexity: Using VPS Data for Patients with Complex Medical Conditions Julia Heneghan 
   B. Breakout 2-  The Site Coordinator's Advanced PlaybookPanel:  Vivian Santillian, Jaime LaVelle, Nina Terry, Elizabeth Di Giacomo, Kelly Jackson, Lena Bouwens, Carl Maly,  Ashley Sweeney
   C. Breakout 3- A Deeper dive into Control Charts and Why Risk Models Need Periodic RecalibrationGerardo Soto-Campos, Lauren Agatstein
   D. Breakout 4- What COVID Taught Us: Turning Crisis into Capability for Emerging Diseases Matt Scanlon, Theresa Mikhailov, Cheryl Hulbert
   E. Breakout 5- From Definition to Application: Understanding the Phoenix Sepsis FrameworkBlake Martin 
   F. Breakout 6-  From Data to Action: Turning VPS Insights into Measurable Change Howard Jeffries
   G. Breakout 7-  Levering AI and Advanced Analytics with VPSPamela Petersen/Brian Boville
3:45 PM3:50 PM Move to next breakout 
   Breakout Round #2 — Select 1 of 5 Concurrent Sessions 
3:51 PM4:31 PM40Breakout #2  (select one) (8 conference rooms) 
   A. Breakout 1- Making Sense of Complexity: Using VPS Data for Patients with Complex Medical Conditions Julia Heneghan 
   B. Breakout 2- The Site Coordinator’s Advanced PlaybookPanel: Vivian Santillian, Jaime LaVelle, Nina Terry, Elizabeth Di Giacomo, Kelly Jackson, Lena Bouwens, Carl Maly,  Ashley Sweeney
   C. Breakout 3- Optimizing FHIR Use in VPS: Advanced Strategies for Participating SitesAlex Kaminski, Manoj Naik, and Eddie Lee
   D. Breakout 4- What COVID Taught Us: Turning Crisis into Capability for Emerging Diseases Matt Scanlon/Theresa Mikhailov/Cheryl Hulbert
   E. Breakout 5- From Definition to Application: Understanding the Phoenix Sepsis FrameworkBlake Martin 
   F. Break Out 6: Poster Judges Only meet to review criteria (private session - by invitation only) (Jeffries/Brundage)  Target Audience:  Poster Abstract Judges to Meet
4:32 PM4:39 AM Move to Poster Session 
4:40 PM5:40 PM Poster Presentations & Wine and Cheese Reception 
6:30 PM8:30 PM VPS PICU Advisory Group Dinner (By intivation only) 

 

StartStopMinSaturday October 10 
7:00 AM7:50 AM Continental Breakfast and Networking 
8:00 AM8:01 AM Welcome Back (Nancy)Nancy Brundage
8:02 AM9:04 AM62VPS RESEARCH PANEL 
    Introduction of VPS Research Program and the Panel Howard Jeffries
        a. Multicenter PICU StrainMatthew Baker
        b. Utilization of Critical Care Resource in Pediatric Neurocritical CareBinod Balakrishnan 
        c.  VPS Research: Using Data Combined with a Survey StudyMatt Marx 
        d. Dexmedetomidine Use in Children with Acute Bronchiolitis Requiring High-Flow Nasal CannulaNeelima Marupudi 
        e. Summary/Q & AHoward Jeffries
9:05 AM9:59 AM54VPS - PHIS Linked Research  
   Introduction of VPS-PHIS Research Tom Rice
   VPS-PHIS ResearchBrian Flaherty
   Analytic Approach of the LinkageGerardo Soto Campos
   VPS-PHIS Research Project: Examining Discharge Delay and Patterns Among Children with Medical Complexity Following Pediatric ICU stayJulia Heneghan 
   Summary/Q & ATom Rice
10:00 AM10:01 AM Instructions for Break Nancy Brundage
10:02 AM10:17 AM Break 
10:18 AM10:19 AM Welcome BackHoward Jeffjries
10:20 AM10:26 AM Research, QI, Clinical and Poster Presentation AwardsHoward Jeffries, Nancy Brundage, Cheyrl Hulbert
10:27 AM11:23 AM56AI-Driven Innovation in Pediactric Critical CareRamesh Sachdeva and Brian Boville
   Emerging Applications of AI in the PICURamesh Sachdeva 
   Integrating AI into PICU Care: Clinical Examples and Emerging Opportunities Brian Boville 
   Clinical Discussion of AI OpportunitiesRamesh Sachdeva, Brian Boville
11:24 AM11:59 AM35PICU Advisory Group Report and Taskforce Group Reports 
        a. PAG OverviewTom Rice 
        b. Narrative Builder Brian Boville/Alex Kaminski 
        c. Taskforce: Complex Medical Conditions Matt Scanlon
        d. Taskforce: Social Determinants of Health Matt Scanlon
        e. Summary/Questions Tom Rice, Matt Scanlon, Brian Boville, Alex Kaminski
11:59 AM12:00 PM Instructions for lunchAlex Kaminski
12:01 PM12:59 PM Lunch (Boxed Lunches)  
1:00 PM1:01 PM Welcome Back 
1:02 PM1:10 PM Advancing Excellence Through VPS RecognitionTom Rice and Nancy Brundage
1:11 PM2:00 PM49The State of VPS: Opportunities, Outcomes, and Strategic VisionRandall Wetzel
   Discussion Randall Wetzel
   Closing Remarks - Dr. WetzelRandall Wetzel
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
6700 N Gaylord Rockies Blvd
Aurora, CO 80019
United States
+1 (720) 452-6900
Gaylord Rockies Resort

Use the above link for VPS discounted room rates. Reserve as soon as possible to secure to space.

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. All planners, teachers, authors, others involved in the development of accredited educational content are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships, within the last 24 months, related to the educational content.

Mitigation of all relevant financial relationships or lack thereof will be conducted and disclosed to all learners prior to.

The Planning Committee reserves the right to alter the agenda or cancel the conference in the event of an unforeseen circumstance, or if the minimum registration is not attained by Sept. 24 with a full refund to participants. 

Guest Faculty - Speakers - Alpha Order  
LaurenAgatsteinMAVPS Data Analyst IIVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
TareqAlAyedMD, FAAP, SBP, DCHIDirector of Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatric IntensivistKing Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research CenterRiyadhKSA
MatthewBakerMDAssistant Professor of Pediatrics, Attending Physician, Associate Director of Quality, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Children's Hospital ColoradoAurora CO
BinodBalakrishnanMDAssistant Professor of Pediatrics- Critical CareChildren's WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
CassandraBergeroMSN, RN, CNS, FNPQuality SpecialistLucile Packard Children's Hospital- StanfordPalo AltoCA
LenaBouwensBSN, RNVPS Clinical Resource CoordinatorVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
BrianBovilleMDPediatric Intensivist / Medical Director of ECMO, Medical Director of Pediatric Blood ManagementCorewell Health- Helen DeVos Children's HospitalGrand RapidsMI
Nancy BrundageMPH, RN, BSN, CPHQVPS Senior Director, Clinical Affairs Virtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
BrittanyCritcherBSN, RNRegistry Services Director, Pediatric Service LineRegistry PartnersBurlingtonNC
Sidhhartha "Sid"DanteMD, MHSMedical Director, Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Maryland Golisano Children's HospitalBaltimoreMD
ElizabethDi GiacomoRN, BScN, CpedN(C), MSc, PhDcVPS Site CoordinatorThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoON
BrittanyFittsBSN, RN, VPS-c1Senior Data Analyst, RNNemours Children's HospitalWilmingtonDE
BrianFlaherty MD, MSAssociate Professor, Pediatric Critical CarePrimary Children's HospitalSalt Lake CityUT
MariaGallettoMSN, RN, CNL, CPHQQuality & Safety Improvement Consultant VI, Clinical Quality ConsultingKaiser Permanente-Northern CaliforniaOaklandCA
Kathleen GormanMSN, RN, FAANFounder & PresidentKCG Healthcare ConsultingArlingtonVA
CameronGunvilleMD Children's ColoradoAurora CO
Rusly HarsonoMD, MSc, MBA, FAAP, Dip ABLM, CHEFClinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care MedicineJohn Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus, Stanford University School of MedicineWalnut CreekCA
Ikram UlHaqueMD, FAAP, FCCMDivision Chief, Critical Care Dept of Pediatric MedicineSidra MedicineDohaQatar
Julia A. HeneghanMDAssociate Professor, Pediatric Critical CareUniversity of Minnesota - Fairview Masonic ChildrensMinneapolisMN
CherylHulbertMSQA, BSN, RNVPS Director of Clinical Resources and Quality ImprovementVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
KellyJacksonBSN, RNVPS Clinical Resource SpecialistVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
HowardJeffriesMD, MBASenior Medical Director, Strategy & NetworkSeattle Children's HospitalSeattleWA
AlexKaminski VPS Director of EngineeringVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
KaitlinKobaitriDO, FAAPPediatric Intensivist Nicklaus  Children's HospitalMiamiFL
JoshKochMDDivision Chief of Critical Care - CVICU/PICUPhoenix Children's HospitalPhoenix AZ
JaimeLaVelleBSN, RNClinical Nurse Database Coordinator Children's Hospital ColoradoAuroraCO
EddieLee Senior Software EngineerVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
CarlMalyRRT, BBAVPS Clinical Resource SpecialistVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
BlakeMartinMDAssistant Professor of Pediatrics and Biomedical Informatics
Pediatric Critical Care Attending Physician		University of Colorado School of Medicine/Children's Hospital ColoradoAuroraCO
NeelimaMarupudiMDAssistant Professor of Child Health, Section of Pediatric Critical CareBanner Children's Hospital at DesertMesaAZ
MatthewMarxMDDirector of Quality Improvement, Pediatric ICU, Assistant Professor- Department of Pediatric Critical CareUH Rainbow Babies & Children's HospitalClevelandOH
MuditMathurMD, MBA, FAAP, FCCMMedical Director - PICU; Physician Director- Patient Safety and Risk Management; Associate Professor- Clinical ScienceKaiser Permanente Fontana Medical CenterFontana CA
MichaelMcCroryMD, MSAssociate Professor, Pediatric Critical CareAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University School of MedicineWinston-SalemNC
TheresaMikhailovMD, PhD, FAAPProfessor of Pediatrics (Critical Care) Children's WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
ManojNaik VPS Senior Software EngineerVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
Pamela C.PetersenMD, FAAPTCH Associate Chief Health Information Officer, Associate Professor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine,
Adjunct Faculty, BCM Clinical Informatics Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine at Texas Children's Hospital		Texas Children's HospitalHoustonTX
Tom B. RiceMD, FAAP, FCCP Professor of Pediatric Critical Care (Emeritus), Medical College of Wisconsin, Chief Medical Officer -Virtual PICU Systems, LLC Los AngelesCA
RameshSachdevaMD, PhD, MBA, FAAP, FCCMVPS CSO; Chief, Division of Critical Care Medicine; Professor of Critical Care MedicineVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLC; Children's Hospital Los AngelesLos AngelesCA
VivianSantillanRN, MSN, CCRNVPS Site Coordinator/Quality SpecialistStanford Medicine Children's HealthPalo AltoCA
MatthewScanlonMD, MSProfessor of Pediatrics - Critical CareChildren's WisconsinMilwaukee WI
Kevin D.SmithMD, MS, MScBMIAssistant Professor of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Critical Care and Biomedical Informatics, University of ChicagoComer Children's HospitalChicagoIL
GerardoSoto-CamposPhD, MS VPS Director of AnalyticsVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
AshleySweeneyMSN, RNManager of Clinical Resources & Product DevelopmentVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLCLos AngelesCA
NinaTerryBSN, RNPediatric Critical Care Registry AnalystUniversity of Rochester Medicine, Golisano Children's HospitalRochesterNY
RandallWetzelMBBS, FAAP, FCCMVPS CEO, Professor of Pediatrics and AnesthesiologyVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLC; CHLALos AngelesCA
MichaelWilhelmMDMedical Director for Quality, PICU and Pediatric Heart Program American Family Children's HospitalMadisonWI

Medical: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Children’s Hospital Colorado and Virtual Pediatric Systems.

Children’s Hospital Colorado is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Children’s Hospital Colorado designates this Live activity for a maximum of #.# AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing: This activity has been submitted to the Colorado Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. The Colorado Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Other: Verification of attendance for non-physician learners will be provided with completion of the evaluation.

 

Available Credit

  • 13.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 13.75 Attendance
    • 13.75 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 13.75 NCPD

Price

Cost:
$495.00
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