Hospital Capacity Management (HCMC) Leadership Forum
The Hospital Capacity Management Leadership Forum is an in‑person convening for leaders responsible for hospital flow — designed to strengthen physician engagement, improve throughput decision‑making, and advance system‑wide capacity performance through real‑world, peer‑led learning. This forum brings together clinical, operational, and capacity leaders to share what’s working, what’s not, and what’s coming next — in a role where most leaders are navigating change alone.
Letter from Nerissa Legge and Jill Sklar
Join us in welcoming a new era as we move forward together, united by a commitment to progress, innovation, and collective success.
Exciting things are happening in 2026! As HCMC enters a bold new chapter, the focus is clearer than ever: building a vibrant community of hospital capacity management leaders dedicated to making a real impact. Whether it’s leading-edge education, practical strategies, or leadership skills that drive results—this is the moment to elevate your game.

Nerissa Legge
HCMC Executive Director

Jill Sklar
HCMC Advisory Board President
Letter from Nerissa Legge and Jill Sklar
Join us in welcoming a new era as we move forward together, united by a commitment to progress, innovation, and collective success.
Exciting things are happening in 2026! As HCMC enters a bold new chapter, the focus is clearer than ever: building a vibrant community of hospital capacity management leaders dedicated to making a real impact. Whether it’s leading-edge education, practical strategies, or leadership skills that drive results—this is the moment to elevate your game.
Get ready to be inspired at the Hospital Capacity Management Leadership Forum! Register now for July 11-12, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, at the stunning Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. This inaugural event is all about delivering maximum value in minimal time—1.5 days packed with powerful learning sessions, networking with peers, and actionable insights you can implement right away.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience. Let’s shape the future of hospital capacity management—together!
For hospital capacity management professionals: this is your must-attend conference. Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your skills, network with peers, and stay ahead in health care efficiency.
The Hospital Capacity Management Leadership Forum is the premier event for healthcare leaders seeking practical solutions. This forum offers unique perspectives, shared lessons from innovative projects, and actionable strategies. Registration is now open, with Early Bird pricing available through June 1, 2026. Plan ahead to secure your spot and stay ahead in hospital capacity management!
For sponsors: meet the people who influence buying decisions.
The Hospital Capacity Management Leadership Forum is the perfect platform for organizations dedicated to hospital capacity management. Join us to connect with engaged professionals and industry leaders involved in this critical area.
HCMC’s straightforward approach is to drive the audience to you—allowing you to showcase your solutions directly. Beyond booth space, you'll find various opportunities to increase visibility and build relationships throughout the year, tailored to meet your specific goals.
Let’s work together to strengthen the field of hospital capacity management—be part of this impactful community.
Let’s build 2026—together.
Get ready, HCMC is gearing up for an incredible year! Your involvement—whether as an attendee, sponsor, or supporter—The Hospital Capacity Management Consortium uses science and collaboration to transform hospital operations to ensure every patient receives the right care, in the right place, at the right time— elevating outcomes, access, satisfaction, and the value of health care. Register now: July 11-12, 2026! Bring your team to meet others in the same space from hospitals across the country. Learn from others in the field to understand different ways of approaching the same issue – accommodate growing demand for access to high quality inpatient care by creating efficient, safe processes using advanced solutions. We are all in this together.
This is more than a forum—it’s a movement. We can’t wait to see you there!
AGENDA
Opening Session: Foundations of HCMC: Our Past, Our Purpose, Our Future
Session #1 | Capacity in Action: Leadership Strategies to Improve Patient Flow
Lunch
Session #2 | Building the Foundation for High Performing Transfer Centers: Workflows, Metrics, and Staffing to Drive Data Driven Decisions and Enable AI-Ready Operations
Session #3 | From Concept to Care: The Journey to Launch Virtual Nursing and vICU
Break
Networking Reception
Breakfast Session #4 | The Intersection of Patient Safety and Patient Throughput
Session #5 | From Analytics Silos to an Analytics Program: MedStar Health's Journey to System-Wide Throughput Intelligence
Session #6 | From Whiteboards to System Strategy: The Evolution of Centralized Bed Optimization
Wrapping Up Strong: HCMC Highlights and What’s Coming Next
Note: Times are listed in MDT (local to Denver).
Schedule and times may be subject to change.
WHO YOU WILL MEET...
Meet fellow capacity, clinical, and operational leaders who understand the realities of hospital flow—leaders facing the same bottlenecks, alignment challenges, and technology decisions, and who are ready to share what’s working and what’s next.
Lanie Crow
Senior Manager, ECG Management Consultants
“Capacity management is a team sport”
Dr. Jessica Crum
Executive Director of Epic Applications and Transfer Operations, Forrest Health
“Real operational strategies you can put to work immediately.”
Christopher Norman, MS, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA
Medical Director, Transfer Center ECU Health
“The mutual learning is critical to continuous improvement.”
Lorelei Stellwag DNP, RN, NE-BC
Vice President MedStar Capacity and Transfer Center MedStar Health Integrated Operations
"Many aspects of our roles are still misunderstood."
Lanie Crow
What is the #1 reason someone should attend this event?
Capacity management is the ultimate team challenge to support high-quality patient care. HCMC is the leading organization focused entirely on solving for the complexities of patient movement and throughput within and around the hospital. This inaugural event is a launchpad to enhance strategy, engage leaders, and develop solutions for your organization’s capacity challenges.
What are you looking forward to most at this event?
After 5+ years of virtual collaboration, education, and networking, the chance to gather with leaders in this field is an incredible opportunity that we do not take for granted. We’ve supported so many discussions, connections, and exchanges online that celebrating success and accelerating work in person is a can’t-miss opportunity.
Dr. Jessica Crum
What is the #1 reason someone should attend this event?
This event brings together leaders who are actively solving patient flow and access challenges across health systems. It’s an opportunity to exchange real operational strategies that can immediately improve transfer center performance and system capacity. I’m looking forward to connecting with peers who are designing innovative approaches to capacity management and centralized command operations. The conversations and shared lessons are always practical and forward-thinking.
What are you preparing for in the next 12–18 months? And what might this event help with?
Health care operations are rapidly evolving with predictive analytics and AI entering the capacity management space. Learning how others are preparing their operational workflows and data infrastructure will help ensure we’re building systems ready for what’s next.
Christopher Norman, MS, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA
What is the #1 reason someone should attend this event?
This event will provide an opportunity to learn from one another. We are all in various stages of growth and development of our capacity management. The mutual learning is critical to continuous improvement.
What part of this experience feels like it will be ‘worth the time’?
The networking connections that will be made are well worth the time commitment for this event. We will all walk away with new contacts and associates that we can call upon at later dates to continue the learning and growth experience.
Lorelei Stellwag DNP, RN, NE-BC
What part of this experience feels like it will be ‘worth the time’?
Ensuring visibility for health care capacity management at the national level is critical to advancing this specialty. Many aspects of our roles are still misunderstood, and this event helps elevate the work and its impact.
What are you preparing for in the next 12–18 months? And what might this event help with?
As our system prepares to go live with Epic, I’m looking forward to connecting with content experts from across the country who can share practical insights and lessons learned.
Register for the inaugural 2026 Hospital Capacity Leadership Forum
Early bird pricing:
Members: $499 | Nonmembers: $550
Join your peers to learn and connect live!
STAY IN THE LOOP
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