President's Message - Survival of the "FITTEST"

Karen Newton

It's hard to believe my first encounter with the Georgia Chapter of HFMA was 21 years ago while I was Manager of Patient Financial Services at then Crawford Long Hospital which is now Emory Midtown. Roxann Arnold, the Director of PFS was encouraging staff to study and sit for the CPAR exam offered through HFMA. So, another fairly new employee, Carmen Sessoms and I took the exam at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead. This was back in “the day” when the exam was in hardcopy form with multiple choice and essay questions and even a few calculation problems. We had bubble sheet answer forms that were sent to Georgia State for grading. Fast forward to 2011 and the exam is now totally on-line with immediate passing results. This is just one example of the many successes of the Chapter.

Since my first introduction to HFMA and through the continued support of my employer, Clint Harkins (also a Past President of the Georgia Chapter) I have served as Chair of various committees including CPAR, served two years as a Board member to roll off and serve as Team Liaison for Teresa Singley during her year as President. I was then asked if I was interested in the Officer rotation.

And just a few weeks ago, I was honored to have Roxann and Carmen install me as the 57th President of the Georgia Chapter at Brasstown Valley Resort. I appreciate everyone that was able to share the special evening with me.

The Officers and several key Chairpersons left the Spring Institute headed to New
Orleans to attend LTC (Leadership Training Conference). We were introduced to Gregory Adams’ theme as National Chairperson for 2011-2012, “Believe to Achieve”. Greg Adams explains his theme as follows: In health care today, it sometimes seems like you are being asked to do the impossible. The industry is preparing for an influx of millions of newly insured patients in a reform environment where payments are shrinking and expectations around quality are growing. In a nutshell, you are expected to do more with less—and do it better than ever before. "Believe to achieve" encompasses the keys to success in this new environment. It reflects the need to believe in your organization's mission and in others who share your dedication to achieving that mission. It means believing in yourself. Last but not least, it means believing in the possibility of a better future.

The theme I have chosen for the Georgia Chapter is Survival of the Fittest - Fiscal, Integrity, Transparency, Technology, Ensures, Strategic, Teams or “Fiscally Fit”. Everyone is being asked to do more with less and still keep up with all the changes in Healthcare.

As a Chapter, we will continue to provide quality education at reasonable cost to you as a member. We understand the fiscal constraints being placed on you and your organizations. In keeping with my theme, we will offer education sessions in various venues such as our 4 annual Institutes, through webinars and one day sessions through-out the state. We will provide the avenue for networking opportunities and continue to encourage each and every one of you to get involved. If you are not currently on a Team, please consider volunteering by visiting this link http://www.georgiahfma.org/Chapter/CallForTeams.asp

This will be an exciting year as we have several new Institute locations – Spring at
Brasstown Valley, Summer back at the Hilton at Hilton Head and Fall at the Westin in Savannah. In addition, Georgia will be hosting Dixie this year at the Ritz Carlton at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia.

The Georgia Chapter’s success isn’t due to any one person, it’s due to all the efforts and vision of Past Presidents, Board/Officers and all its outstanding members. I challenge each of you to get involved in some capacity.

I look forward to another successful year and thank all of you for your support and contribution to the Chapter!

Karen Newton