Illuminate the Journey:
A Virtual Exploration of the Future of Long-Term Care
We’re excited to connect with you! Occurring over the course of three days in February, WHCA’s Virtual Winter Symposium is a fantastic opportunity to learn virtually with other long-term care providers from throughout Washington. Learn invaluable skills and insights from expert presenters and gain the confidence to help your facility provide quality care – from the comfort of your home or office!
Each day of the Virtual Winter Symposium is focused on a single track. Join us for the full event, or choose the days that are most valuable to you. You can earn up to 5 CEUs for each day you attend.
Registration Options
| Member Cost | Nonmember Cost | |
| Full Event | $199 | $398 |
| Single Day | $79 | $158 |
WHCA members get a discount when you sign up as a group! For every 3 attendees you register for the full event, you get 1 free! This discount can only be used for attendees from the same facility. Contact [email protected] for more information.
To stay up-to-date on the 2025 Virtual Winter Symposium, please bookmark this page, or follow WHCA on LinkedIn or Facebook. We will be posting frequent updates to this page between now and the event.
Symposium Schedule
All sessions will be held on Zoom.
Tuesday, February 18
Thursday, February 20
Wednesday, February 26
Technological Advancement in Long-Term Care
Beyond the Chart: Enhancing the Resident Journey in Post-Acute Care
Presented by John J. Vander Meer
How can care teams adeptly coordinate care, emphasize resident choices, and maximize reimbursement, all while enriching the resident experience? This presentation will provide a practical roadmap for leveraging technology’s transformative potential to optimize the resident journey within care communities. Attendees will receive practical strategies for integrating technology and automation, enabling time-efficient and cost-effective solutions that align with the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
AI Tools You Can Use Today: A Live, Hands-on Lab for Healthcare Leaders
Presented by Eric Hansen
In this first-of-its-kind presentation, long-term care professionals will see artificial intelligence (Al) in action, tailored just for the LTC field, with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look. Join us to watch Al in action. Whether you want to optimize care plans, analyze financials, draft rapid POC’s, or engage staff, you’ll leave with a solid foundation in Al applications.
Provider Panel: Technology Leaps, Warnings, and Celebrations
Moderated by WHCA’s Elena Madrid
Hear from assisted living and skilled nursing facility providers who have joined the technology revolution in one way or another: from resident-focused safety technology to AI programs and more. We’ll delve into the pros and cons of such technology, including data-driven results that warrant expansion or changes to facility-level practice.
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Senior Care: Reducing Loneliness and Lonely Deaths
Presented by Xuchen Yao
This session will explore the transformative potential of AI-driven solutions that offer automatic and regular check-ins for seniors. Attendees will gain insights into the practical implementation of AI in senior care, with a focus on its benefits and challenges. By understanding the impact of AI on senior care, healthcare professionals can better prepare for the future, adopting innovative solutions that not only address current challenges but also pave the way for a more compassionate and efficient care system.
Leadership Development
Ignite Your Fire!
Presented by Kayla McCarthy
Burnout is real and contagious! Stop wearing high stress levels as a ‘badge of honor’. You can set realistic boundaries with your team and still be an effective leader. In our presentation, you will take techniques and daily disciplines that will help you learn to love your job again. We will talk about real life burnout, stress of team member relations, resident griefs and frustrating family members.
Safe Teams, Strong Results: Building a Culture of Psychological Safety
Presented by Molly J. Mackey
In this session, you’ll discover how fostering an environment where team members feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and express concerns can lead to improved patient care and staff satisfaction. Join us to enhance your leadership skills and make a lasting impact on your healthcare environment. This session is designed for all levels of healthcare professionals committed to advancing their practice and achieving excellence
Time Management for Leaders: Using Your Most Precious Asset to Move the Needle
Presented by Samantha Jones
Post Acute Care leaders and managers are faced with multiple important priorities. In this workshop style session, we focus on how managers can streamline their day and create more space in their daily schedule to allow them to be more strategic and productive on initiatives that will move the needle in their business. Participants will be given tools used in executive coaching sessions to utilize for themselves and their teams.
Don’t Have a Rotten Core: Building a Core Team
Presented by Kayla Stone
Building the strongest core team possible to help succeed in your role as an administrator. Develop a team so strong that when you leave your building, you won’t come back to a mess.
Regulatory & Government Affairs
2025 WHCA Legislative Update
Presented by Jeff Gombosky, and WHCA staff Lauri St. Ours, Carma Matti-Jackson, and Eric Negomir
Change is on the horizon. Each member of the long-term care community, from frontline staff to company managers and leaders, can expect that a new administration will bring changes in policies, practices, and processes in skilled nursing and assisted living centers throughout Washington. This session will provide a status update on emerging issues—and will help you understand Washington’s long-term care climate.
Meet & Greet with DSHS Leadership: Exploring 2025 Regulatory
Presented by Anna Facio and Kimberly Abe-Gunter
Residential Care Services (RCS), the arm of DSHS that licenses and investigates complaints in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, has undergone tremendous change over the past few years. As legislative session is in full swing, learn from two of the top RCS headquarters staff as they discuss the agency’s areaas of focus and support regarding legislative and regulatory efforts in Washington.
Federal Regulations and Policy Update
Presented by WHCA’s Eric Negomir
This session is designed to ensure that Washington-based long-term care providers are informed about changes that affect care at the bedside—and throughout Washington state’s LTC system. Attendees of this session will hear from experts at the intersection of long-term care and federal policies, who will cut through the noise to ensure WHCA members know the actors, trends, and conditions that define this new regulatory landscape.
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Regulatory Environment and Outlook in Washington’s Long Term Care Facilities
Presented by WHCA’s Elena Madrid and Vicki McNealley
Long-term care’s history plays a significant part in its future. With 40 years of regulatory advocacy and stakeholder work, WHCA’s role in shaping tomorrow’s long-term care includes looking in the rearview mirror to ensure we don’t head back that way. Join Elena Madrid and Vicki McNealley to review where we’ve been, and potentially where we’re headed given today’s regulatory climate.