1. DRAFT GKEN Conference Antigua, Guatemala April 1-3, 2009 Antigua, Guatemala April 1-3, 2009

2. 22 GKEN Mission  To identify and promote the awareness and adoption of existing and emerging better practice models and promising new health system models across industrialized nations.

3. 33 GKEN Guiding Principles  GKEN is principally a communication initiative focused on promoting better healthcare practices among developed and developing nations.  We will focus on emerging, better, and best practices with measurable outcomes.  We will have a patient/consumer focus.  We will help enable health organizations to promote wellness.  We will favor private policy/action (that which can be taken by organizations without governmental action) over direct influence of public policy.

4. 44 Proposed Criteria for GKEN Activities  GKEN activities and research should follow ‘ SMART ’ objective criteria to identify relevant and meaningful material for wider dissemination:  Specific  Measurable  Appropriate  Realistic  Timely

5. 55 SMART Criteria: Specific  Focused and relevant to the topic  Target-group oriented

6. 66 SMART Criteria: Measurable  Sufficient size and scope/scale  Evidence-based (scientific and other reliable evidence)  Quantifiable and qualifiable outcomes

7. 77 SMART Criteria: Appropriate  A need for action exists  Goal/action is attainable  Solution oriented  Evidence to support it (scientific and other reliable evidence)  The “right thing to do”

8. 88 SMART Criteria: Realistic  Resources are available  Leadership / community support  Broad cross-sectoral approach  Ownership / Identification  Incentives

9. 99 SMART Criteria: Timely  A sense of urgency  A window of opportunity  Sustainability / longevity  Rapid dissemination of knowledge

10. 10 Continuum of Healthcare Practices and Process Improvement  GKEN framework suggests a continuum of healthcare practice with 4 major categories:  Anecdotal information  Emerging Better Practice  Better Practice  Best Practice  All are valid forms of improving healthcare practice, with differences in level of organization, quality/quantity of information, and timeliness in reaching a broad audience.

11. 11 Emerging Better Practice Better Practice Best Practice Anecdotal (Good) Practice Information or technique shared between two or more practitioners Real-time communication Unorganized Not clinically proven or measurable (unfiltered, not validated) Believed to produce good results (i.e. opinion) SMART criteria do not apply No GKEN involvement Information or technique put into practice, with early signs of success Semi-real time communication (e.g. internet publication) Organized information Interest in/commitment to continuing support of the practice (i.e. momentum) Low filtering/validation Few measurable outcomes (too early to tell) SMART criteria apply GKEN involvement (website, synopses of better practices, direct idea exchange) Technique put into broader practice over a period of time (i.e. longevity) Semi-real time communication Organized information Clear, measurable outcomes Moderate filtering/validation (some scientific research to support it) Believed to be replicable SMART criteria apply GKEN involvement Technique with proven, measurable results Semi-real time communication Highly organized Research and knowledge-based (high filtering/validation) Highly replicable and transferable Long lag time to formal acceptance SMART criteria apply GKEN involvement Continuum of Healthcare Practices and Process Improvement

12. 12 GKEN Role  GKEN aims to decrease the18-year lag time between conception and common (“best”) practice.  GKEN will promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas to help bring emerging and better practices more quickly into common practice.  Anecdotal information provides instant communication between practitioners, but little opportunity for GKEN involvement.  Emerging and better practice are knowledge areas with the most potential for GKEN involvement - through dissemination of GKEN web content, synopses of better practice, and direct personal exchange at GKEN conferences and events.