Increasing prescription drug costs have caught the attention of the President and the public. What’s behind the rapid rise and how far are lawmakers willing to go?

Would allowing Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers make an impact? What about cutting taxes and regulations? And would lower prices mean less innovation?  Learn more at a Wisconsin Health News Panel Event March 7 at the Madison Club (register now).  Panelists:

• Holly Campbell, Senior Director of Public Affairs, PhRMA
• Mark Huth, CEO, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
• Andy Pulvermacher, Specialty Services Supervisor, UW Health
• Paul Rosowski, Senior Director, Industry Relations and Contracting, Navitus Health Solutions

The application deadline for the LDP is March 13, 2017. The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) – Wisconsin Chapter Leadership Development Program combines site visits, lectures, group exercises, participatory events, skill assessments, and individual coaching sessions to prepare emerging leaders with the skills to influence others and immediately impact their organizations.

In addition to the core curriculum, the program also offers the leader the opportunity to interact with peers from across the state, receive coaching from successful early careerists and executives, increase exposure in the Wisconsin Chapter of ACHE, and the ability to network with Wisconsin’s leading healthcare executives.

Apply Now

February 8, Wisconsin Hospital Association

As you know, physicians are often assigned a role with a hospital or health system’s quality department or committee or asked to lead a quality improvement project.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has developed an important resource for physicians and advance practice providers who have an assigned role related to quality measurement and improvement within a WHA member hospital or health system. The WHA Physician Quality Academy will provide physicians the opportunity to increase their knowledge of quality improvement tools and principles; therefore, increasing the likelihood that a physician will be more successful in and comfortable with this leadership role.

The Academy offers two non-consecutive days of in-person training and access to supporting resources both between and after the live sessions.

• May 10 and July 21, 2017 at the Glacier Canyon Lodge at The Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells; or
• September 29 and November 3, 2017 at the Glacier Canyon Lodge at The Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells.

As part of the Academy, participants will learn to:

• design and conduct quality improvement projects utilizing proven improvement models;
• interpret data correctly;
• facilitate physician colleague engagement in quality improvement and measurement; and,
• discuss quality requirements, medical staff functions and their link to quality improvement.

The Academy is offered twice in 2017 (dates below), allowing physicians associated with a WHA member hospital/health system to choose the cohort that works best for his/her schedule. Attendance will be limited to the first 100 registrants per cohort, so if interested, register today at http://www.cvent.com/d/wvq5nm. A full event brochure, which includes agendas for both of the in-person sessions, learning objectives and information about CME credit is also attached.

Event Brochure

Dear colleagues,

Wow – what a tumultuous time to be a health care leader! No matter what sector you are working in, no doubt you and your colleagues are wondering what is going to happen in health care under the Trump Administration.  I wish I could give you the answers!  I do want to reassure you that we here in the Chapter are keeping a close eye on what new or revised policies and legislation are coming out and how they will impact you.

I am honored and excited to be serving as Chapter President for 2017. We have a lot of work ahead of us to continue to deliver value to you as members. Please keep a close eye on our website for announcements of educational events, articles, and links to other valued websites that will give you the insights and information you need to be your best in your job.

I want to call out a couple highlights of the great work being done in the Chapter.  First, I want to welcome Teresa Feidt, FACHE, MBA, BSN as the newest member of the Board.  We have a highly engaged and committed Board here to serve you – so please do not hesitate to reach out to any one of us.

Please take a look at the Leadership Development Program (LDP) information and eligibility criteria and apply if you meet the criteria, or encourage a Chapter member colleague to apply!  The LDP is rich with immersion experiences and offers participants focused learning and networking opportunities at many organizations throughout the 10-month program.  The 2017-18 cohort will be our eighth cohort since the Program’s inception. The deadline to apply is March 13.

In September we will once again hold an annual conference, designed to offer our members 12 Face-to-Face credits for a real bargain. This year the theme is Driving Engagement Through Innovation, and it will be held Sept. 18-20, 2017 in Elkhart Lake. Even if you do not currently need credits for certification or re-certification, the event promises to increase your knowledge about current trends in healthcare and give you tools for becoming a better leader in your field, as well as provide excellent networking opportunities.  Thanks to the Chapter Program Committee for their hard work in planning and executing this great event.

Once again, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or to any member of our Board if you have any questions or suggestions or to get involved!

Get Connected! Stay Informed! Position for Success!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Wieczorek, FACHE

The Wisconsin Hospital Association is pleased to, once again, invite members of the ACHE-Wisconsin Chapter to 2017 Advocacy Day in Madison. This is a great event where 1,100 hospital and health system advocates assemble to learn from national speakers, state legislative leaders and then meet with legislators in the afternoon. Additionally, each year ACHE-WI launches at Advocacy Day our new Leadership Development Program cohort.

Advocacy Day 2017’s morning keynote is Amy Walter, a well-respected political journalist with the Cook Report. She will be followed by a state legislative leadership panel discussion and the Governor has been invited as the event’s luncheon keynote. In the afternoon, some 700 attendees plan to go to the State Capitol (2 blocks away) to meet with their legislators. These will be important meetings, as the state budget will be under development at that time.

Advocacy Day 2017 takes place Wednesday, April 19, in Madison at the Monona Terrace in Madison. Full event details and registration information are available here.

It is free but registration is required. If you have any questions, please contact WHA’s Jenny Boese at jboese@wha.org or 608-268-1816.

 

Kathleen M. Olewinski, FACHE, LDP Chair

The 2016-2017 LDP cohort visited the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) – Midwestern Regional Medical Center in January 2017. We started our day with an opportunity to attend the “Daily Safety Check-in”, led by CTCA CEO Scott Jones, FACHE.  Director of Quality and Risk Management Lana Poirier then shared highlights from CTCA’s “We are Safe Journey,” and the group learned valuable lessons about “Designing for the Future and Leveraging Technology to Improve the Patient Experience” from SVP Patient Care Services and CNO Jacklynn Lesniak and AVP Patient Care Services Adrienne Schultz before touring the new patient tower and main hospital campus.

The group spent quality time with C-suite leaders at CTCA, for an overview of their enterprise and to gain valuable “Leadership Lessons and Involvement with ACHE.” This session was led by CEO Scott Jones, FACHE; Pete Govorchin, COO; Cecilia Taylor, CFO; and AVG General Services Julie Pendleton, FACHE.  This interactive session was followed by sharing of strategies and best practices from VP Growth Leslie Brewer about attracting patients, and “The Evolution of Lean Daily Management at CTCA” led by Dan Kotecki, Director of Operational Planning and Lean Operations.  Sessions wrapping up the day included an informative session on “Challenges of Preparing Chemotherapy Medications” by Gregg Helm, Director of Pharmacy, and an engaging session on “A Day in the Life of CTCA’s Clinics and Challenges Faced” – with insights from Director-Oncology Clinics Beth Garoutte, and Manager-New Patient Clinic Greta Hanley.

Members of our ACHE Wisconsin Chapter Leadership Development Program (LDP) consistently share how much these site visits contribute to their own leadership development.  The sharing of best practices helps all of us to grow together, and the lessons from the C-suite provide valuable insights into creative vision and innovative strategies of thought leaders who contribute to better health in our communities and beyond.  As one LDP cohort member shared with the host immediately following the visit, “… what an informative day.  It is obvious the mission/values run deep throughout your ‘enterprise.’  I hope to be able to use some of the things learned at my facility.”

If you or a colleague may be interested in participating in our ACHE Wisconsin Chapter Leadership Development Program, applications for the 2017-2018 cohort are being accepted now through March 13th.  If you would like more information or to apply click here.

February 3, WHA Valued Voice

 
Each year, the WHA Advocacy Day event grows both in number of attendees and in the impact made on our legislators in Madison. Advocacy Day is one of the best ways hospital employees, trustees and volunteers can make an important, visible impact in the state capitol. Help make the 2017 event a great success by assembling your hospital contingent for 2017 Advocacy Day, April 19 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. Registration is open at www.cvent.com/d/svqylc.

As always, WHA Advocacy Day 2017 will have a great line up of speakers, including morning keynote Amy Walter. Known as one of the best political journalists covering Washington, D.C., Walter is national editor of the Cook Political Report and the former political director of ABC News. Over the past 14 years, Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective and insightful political analyst. She is a regular panelist on NBC’s Meet The Press, PBS’ Washington Week, and Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Bair. She also provides political analysis every Monday evening for the PBS NewsHour.

The annual legislative panel discussion will round out the morning session, followed by a luncheon keynote address from Gov. Scott Walker (invited). The highlight of Advocacy Day is always the hundreds of attendees who take what they’ve learned during the day and then meet with their legislators in the State Capitol in the afternoon. In fact, over 650 visits were made last year that directly impacted the outcomes of priority legislation. Speaking up on behalf of your hospital by meeting with your legislators during Advocacy Day is essential in helping educate legislators on your hospital and on health care issues.

Join over 1,100 of your peers from across the state at Advocacy Day 2017 on April 19. More information and online registration is available at www.cvent.com/d/svqylc. For Advocacy Day questions, contact Jenny Boese at 608-268-1816 or jboese@wha.org. For registration questions, contact Kayla Chatterton at kchatterton@wha.org or 608-274-1820.

February 3, WHA Valued Voice

Physicians have an important role in health care quality improvement projects in their organizations. Their clinical expertise and leadership are valuable assets in designing and conducting initiatives known to improve the quality of patient care.

While physicians are often asked to lead quality improvement activities, they may not have access to the resources they need to be successful. In response to this need, the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) created the WHA Physician Quality Academy for physicians employed by its member hospitals and health systems.

“Quality improvement initiatives are powerful tools for making sure evidence-based practices make it to the bedside and are performed consistently,” according to Robert S. Redwood, MD, MPH, and faculty for the WHA Physician Quality Academy. “As physicians, quality improvement empowers our profession to use population health data to better inform our individual patient care.”

The WHA Physician Quality Academy will bring physicians together from across the state who can then collaborate and build on their QI knowledge. The Academy will support physicians by providing face-to-face education opportunities, as well as additional resources, to learn the newest tools and principles that lead to successful initiatives known to improve quality in hospitals, clinics and other care settings.

“WHA is a recognized national leader in offering our members the support and training necessary to help improve the quality and value of care for their patients,” according to WHA President/CEO Eric Borgerding. “The vast majority of physicians in Wisconsin are either closely aligned with or employed by hospitals and health systems, and their role in leading quality improvement is constantly expanding and evolving. The WHA Physician Quality Academy is a unique new resource that will provide cutting-edge techniques our members’ physicians can apply in their own organizations.”

The first Academy will be held in spring 2017. More than 200 physicians are expected to participate in the four learning sessions, which will feature both WHA in-house quality improvement experts and outside facilitators. WHA is offering the WHA Physician Quality Academy to member hospitals to ensure physicians have access to the training and resources necessary to lead quality improvement initiatives. The Academy is designed for physicians and advanced practice providers who have an assigned role related to quality measurement and improvement within a WHA member organization. For physicians who fit that description, share this message with them, and encourage them to register at www.cvent.com/d/wvq5nm.

The Academy will be offered twice in 2017, allowing a physician to choose the cohort that works best for his/her schedule: Cohort #1 will be held May 10 and July 21, and Cohort #2 will be September 29 and November 3. Attendance will be limited to the first 100 registrants per cohort and is filling up fast, so register your physicians today at www.cvent.com/d/wvq5nm.

For more information contact Jennifer Frank at jfrank@wha.org or 608-274-1820.

The 2016-2017 LDP cohort visited the SSM Health – Wisconsin Regional Office and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison in October 2016. The day included a tour, networking, and various educational presentations.  Topics covered included: strategic development, ACHE and career development, service excellence & process improvement along with discussions on pharmacy operations.  LDP members were able to meet and learn from the following leaders throughout the day.

• Allison Mooney, System VP-Operations, Physician & Ambulatory Services
• Mary Beth McDonald, VP-Operations, Physician & Ambulatory Services – WI
• Joan Bachleitner, System VP, Strategic Development
• Ed Donagan, Administrator – Surgical Operations
• Seth R. Teigen, FACHE, Regional VP – Ancillary Services
• C. McWilliams, MBA, MHP, System VP, Managed Care & Network Management, Dean Health Plan
• Linda Sparks, MBA, Director of Service Excellence and Process Improvement
• Mohammad (Mo) Kharbat, MBA, B.Sc., R.Ph., BCPS, Director of Pharmacy Services
• Brent Eberle, R.Ph, MBA, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Navitus Health Solutions, General Manager, Lumicera
• Jonathan Lewis, RN, MBA, FACHE, VP of Operations, Interim Administrative Director of Perioperative Services

We are accepting applications for the 2017-2018 Leadership Development Program. Apply now and take advantage of these priceless networking and educational opportunities.

Apply Now

Hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations serve as host sites for SEP interns. Each host site identifies a senior leader who serves as a mentor for the intern. The Institute partners with each host site during the intern screening and matching process to identify candidates that fit the organization’s needs. Host sites pay a $1,200 administrative fee per intern, which covers all costs and materials related to intern screening and matching, SEP orientation and other educational resources. Host sites also pay the intern a stipend at a recommended rate of $600 per week. Students work 40 hours per week.

For more information on becoming a host site, visit diversityconnection.org/SEP or contact Jasmin Clark, Institute membership and educational specialist at mailto:ifd-sep@aha.org or (312) 422-2658.

View the Program Flyer