The Georgia Scroll
July 1998
NOTES FROM NATIONAL
HFMA Announces New Chairman
Chicago –
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) has elected Lori J. Mitchell, FHFMA, CPA, as its 1998-99 National Voluntary Chairman. Installation ceremonies are being planned during HFMA’s Annual National Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, June 28-July 2, 1998.
Mitchell’s term, which begins June 1, will focus on embracing the inevitable changes taking place within the healthcare community. The Chairman’s theme for 1998-99 is Community: Chapters of Change. "Over the course of the next year, we must make strategically sound decisions about our professional community and how it will evolve", says Mitchell. "Our fundamental goal is to preserve the core values of HFMA, and to use this nucleus as a strong foundation to build a progressive and dynamic community." "Lori’s commitment to HFMA bas been extraordinary," says HFMA President and CEO Richard L. Clarke, FHFMA of Mitchell’s 20+ years of service. "The leadership or our organization is in very capable hands. Her talent, drive, and vision for HFMA -on both the national and chapter levels-will serve our membership well."
In addition to her duties as Chairman, Mitchell is Chief Financial Officer at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Previously she served as Chief Financial Officer, PacifiCare of Washington, Mercer Island, Washington and PacifiCare of Oregon, Lake Oswego, Oregon. Prior to this she was employed as Assistant Administrator at Stevens Memorial Hospital, Edmonds, Washington.
A member of HFMA since 1976, Mitchell’s involvement with the National Association includes serving as National Chairman-Elect (1997-98), National Treasurer (1996-97) and National Secretary (1995-96). She has served as a member of the National Matrix (1985-86), a Chapter Liaison Representative (1986-87), and member of the Principles and Practices Board (1989-92), serving as Vice-Chairman (1991-92). Mitchell was also a member of HFMA’s Board of Directors (1992-94 and 1995-98). She fulfilled a post on the Executive Committee (1993-94 and 1995-98), and functioned as Chairman of the Development Task Force (1994-95).
In addition, she has served the Washington Chapter as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, President-Elect, and President. Mitchell has received the Follmer Bronze, Reeves Silver, Munice Gold, and Medal of Honor merit awards. A Fellow of HFMA (FHFMA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Mitchell received a B.S. degree from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
About HFMA –
HFMA is the nation’s leading membership organization for more than 35,000 healthcare financial management professionals employed by hospitals, integrated delivery systems, managed care organizations, ambulatory and long-term care facilities, physician practices, accounting and consulting firms, and insurance agencies. Member’s positions include chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller, patient accounts manager, accountant and consultant. HFMA offers educational and professional development opportunities, information on key issues, technical data, and networking opportunities with the ultimate goal being to create a more supportive environment in which members do their business.
HFMA Announces New Electronic Member Benefit
Chicago –
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) has announced, effective June 1, 1998, it will offer free subscriptions to HFMA Express News for HFMA members who elect to receive the weekly publication via e-mail.
The new electronic format enables HFMA members to enhance the value of their membership by automatically receiving weekly updates on the latest healthcare financial news involving a wide range of topics and healthcare settings. Recent HFMA Express News stories have addressed Department of Justice civil monetary penalties, Internal Revenue Service guidelines on hospital non-profit/for-profit ventures, Medicare’s consolidated billing requirements for skilled nursing facilities, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) rejecting proposed physician/corporation deal, Supreme Court ruling affects on Medicare base-year rates, OIG’s proposal to implement new civil money penalties, and Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) defines Medicare+Choice PSOs. Recipients of this new HFMA member benefit will also be able to access hot links and supplement he weekly service with information from related federal sites including, HCFA and the Government Printing Offices database.
"We tested the new delivery format among 400 volunteers," says Richard L. Clarke, FHFMA, President and CEO of HFMA. "Their enthusiastic response was overwhelming. Most test participants welcomed the opportunity to receive HFMA Express News electronically. They appreciated that they could read, save, forward, or delete the information on their own terms."
To further benefit its members, HFMA will no longer charge redistribution fees for routing HFMA Express News to coworkers. However, permission is still required to disseminate articles to clients, associations, or others outside the member’s immediate employer.
To receive your free electronic subscription to HFMA Express News, forward your name, HFMA member number, and e-mail address to memberservices@hfma.org. Those wishing to maintain delivery of the publication by facsimile must still pay the subscription fee —$160 per year for HFMA members or $320 per year for non-members.
HFMA Express News is a product of the HFMA Knowledge Network (r), an information resource and consulting arm of HFMA, based in Washington, D.C. The fact-finding and resource navigation services of qualified HFMA Knowledge Network (r) staffers are free to HFMA members. Non-members may access the HFMA Knowledge Network(r) for a fee of $30 per 15-minute increment of research and response time. Healthcare finance questions may be directed to the HFMA Knowledge Network (r) by calling 800-252-HFMA, then press 3, Monday through Friday 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Eastern time, or by e-mail at knownet@hfma.org
HFMA Teams Organization
The Georgia Chapter of HFMA has a tradition of excellence in providing service to its members. This excellence has resulted in recognition of the Georgia Chapter as a national leader. Our success can be attributed to one thing-the dedication and effort put forth by ours members in serving the needs of the Chapter.
Our leadership structure is named "Teams for Chapter Excellence" (TEAMS) and consists of Councils, Committees, Standing Committees, and a Parliamentarian, all designed to meet specific goals and objectives. Councils are chaired by Board Members or Officers, and Committees are chaired by non-Board Members. Members serving on Standing Committees may also serve on one of the TEAMS Councils or Committees.
Task force TEAMS may be utilized for special projects as needed and could include members from any of the above Councils and/or Committees.
This year one hundred and fifty Georgia members will serve on TEAMS who will strive to carry out our mission "to provide professional development, education, information, networking and leadership for members to enhance healthcare financial management".
Each TEAM member actively participates on a Council or Committee and is expected to attend meetings and to complete assigned projects on a timely basis. This is critical to the success of the Chapter.
Each Council and Committee Chairperson is responsible for Committee Deliverables as well as the selection of members to serve on the TEAM. The Chairperson also prepares or delegates the preparation of written minutes of each meeting, including attendance records, assignments, and delegation of responsibility. In addition, each chairperson will see that all goals and objectives are met within the window of opportunity allowed in the Chapter year.
All completed objectives and completed projects must be submitted, as soon as possible following the event, to the Chairperson for the Davis Chapter management System Committee (DCMS), who in turn shall report monthly to National HFMA. The DCMS Committee must report Educational Events, Member Communication efforts, and Chapter Management Practice Reports. TEAMS Chairpeople are also responsible for the completion of applications for Helen M. Yerger Special Recognition Awards. Yerger awards recognize chapters for outstanding performance in Education, Member Communications, Advocacy, Membership Recruitment and Retention, Collaboration, Innovation, Member Service, and Improvement. Applications must be completed according to specified guidelines and restrictions and must be submitted to National HFMA no later than April 10, 1999. Earlier completion is encouraged if projects are completed earlier in the year. n
Last modified: June 22, 2001