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

 

One-step Process:

Fellow candidates must meet all requirements prior to applying and sitting for the Board of Governors Examination. A completed Fellow application, including all requirements and $250 fee, must be submitted.

Requirements:

• Current Member and three (3) years tenure as an ACHE Member
• Master’s degree (or other post-baccalaureate degree) required
• Five (5) years of Healthcare Management Experience
• Demonstrate 36 hours of healthcare-related CE within the last three (3) years of advancing to Fellow —12 hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face (F2F)
• Two (2) examples of community/civic participation and two (2) examples of healthcare participation
• References: One Fellow (must be structured interview), the second reference may be from a senior-level executive (VP or higher) in your organization—or it may be from a second Fellow

Advance to Fellow and then Recertify Every Three Years

*Starting January 1, 2017, advancement to Fellow candidates must meet all requirements prior to applying and sitting for the Board of Governors Examination. The number of references required dropped from three to two; one must be a structured interview from a Fellow and the second may be a senior-level executive (VP or higher) in your organization who does not have to be a member of ACHE OR a Fellow may serve as a second reference. All other requirements remain the same. Visit ache.org/mbership/credentialing/FACHE_FAQ_2017.pdf for additional information.

Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, will continue to chair the Assembly Committee on Health next session, according to a Wednesday statement.   Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem, will serve as vice chair of the committee.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, also reappointed Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc, to serve as chair of the Assembly Committee on Mental Health. Rep. John Jagler, R-Watertown, will vice chair the committee.  Rep. Tom Weatherston, R – Caledonia, will chair the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. Rep. Warren Petryk, R-Eleva, will vice chair that committee.  Rep. Kevin Petersen, R-Waupaca, was tapped to chair the Assembly Committee on Insurance and Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Delafield, was picked for vice chair.

Vos also announced new committees for next session, including one focused on science and technology and one on regulatory licensing reform.

See more committee leadership appointments.

On Nov. 14, 2016, ACHE’s Board of Governors made an important decision designed to maintain and enhance the value and credibility of attaining Board Certification in Healthcare Management through the FACHE^®designation. The process for advancing to Fellow will change beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

Starting Jan. 1, 2017, candidates who wish to advance to Fellow must meet all of the credential requirements prior to submitting an application and sitting for the Board of Governors Exam. Additionally, the number of references required will decrease from three (3) to two (2); one (1) must be a structured interview from a Fellow and the second may be a senior-level executive (VP or higher) in the candidate’s organization. This person does not have to be a member of ACHE. However, a Fellow may still serve as the second reference. All other requirements remain the same.

You can share a succinct overview of changes with your chapter in this Quick Reference Guide.

Those who wish to submit an application under the current requirements, may do so through December 31, 2016. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, all new applications for advancement will only be accepted under the new process.

Questions? View our Changes to the ACHE Advancement FAQ or contact our Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central time or email contact@ache.org.

 

Are you seeking a post graduate fellowship? ACHE’s CareerEDGE SE, our career management tool specially designed for students, now includes guidelines and samples for writing personal statements and resumes. CareerEDGE SE is an innovative and comprehensive tool designed to help you prepare to navigate the ever-changing healthcare marketplace. Additional resources include healthcare management salary and placement statistics, assessments and more!

 

For questions about CareerEDGE SE or ACHE’s Career Resource Center contact CareerEDGE@ache.org.

 

With Republicans set to take control of the White House and Congress, major changes are likely in store for the country’s healthcare system. Obamacare, Medicaid and Medicare could all be in for overhauls.

How far will lawmakers go? Will people with pre-existing conditions get to keep their coverage? What about the 22 million Americans, and 200,000 Wisconsinites, who have gained health insurance? How would the industry react to a transition period? Are they ready to start over?  Learn more at a Wisconsin Health News Panel Event Jan. 12 at the Madison Club.  Panelists:

• Coreen Dicus-Johnson, CEO, Network Health Plan
• Donna Friedsam, Health Policy Programs Director, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
• Mike Wallace, CEO, Fort HealthCare

Register now.