the executive connection of north texas: winter 2013

WINTER 2013

http://www.northtexas.ache.org

CONTENTPresident’s Remarks 4Caleb O’Rear, FACHE

2013 Mentorship Program 4

Readmission Rates Tell 5Only Part of the Story

Social Media 6Survey Results

Member Spotlight 7

Five Ways to Keep Your 8Organization Upbeat

News from National 9

Free BOG Exam Review 12

Health Online 2013 13

Event Encore 15

Event Encore Extras 16

Calendar 17

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The ACHE of North Texas e-magazine, The Executive Connection, is published quarterly (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) and includes information on the latest regulatory and legislative developments, as well as the quality improvement and leadership trends that are shaping and influencing the healthcare industry. Readers get indepth reporting on the issues and challenges facing hospital and health system leaders today. We make it our job to tell you about the great things the organization and Chapter are doing every day to ensure the health of our community. If you have any news and updates that you want to share with other members, please e-mail your items to [email protected]. Microsoft Word or compatible format is preferable. If you have a graphic or picture that you’d like to include, please send it as a separate file. The following are the types of information that our members shared in past ACHE of North Texas magazines: Advocacy Issues, Legislative Issues, Educational Opportunities, Awards / Achievements, Promotions (Members On the Move), Committee Updates, journal submissions, conference submissions, and workshop participations, sharing mentoring experiences, etc.

CongratulationsCase Study Competition Winners:University of Texas at Dallas Team Madison Vinklarek, Isaac Hernandez, and Veeraj Thakkar

http://www.rtkl.com


A Publication of the American College of Healthcare Executives of North Texas Chapter | WINTER 2013 3

Editor-In-Chief Susan Edwards, FACHE

Managing Directors Joan Shinkus Clark, DNP, RN, FACHE

Contributing Editors Lisa Cox

Contributing Writers Alvera Mandavia

Production Kay Daniel

Advertising/ Subscriptions [email protected]

Questions and Comments: ACHE of North Texas Editorial Office, c/o Executive Connection 250 Decker Drive | Irving, TX 75062 p: 972.413.8144 e: [email protected] | w: northtexas.ache.org

2013 Chapter Officers

President Caleb F. O’Rear, FACHE Denton Regional Medical Center

President-Elect Winjie Tang Miao Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance

Secretary Josh Floren, FACHE Parkland Health & Hospital System

Treasurer Pam Stoyanoff Methodist Health System

Regent Britt Berrett, PhD, FACHE Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas

2013 Board of Directors

Teresa Baker, FACHEVA North Texas Health Care System

Beverly Dawson, RN, CCM, FACHEElder Care

Jim Dunn, PhD, DHA Texas Health Resources

Forney FlemingUniversity of Texas at Dallas

Dresdene Flynn – White John Peter Smith Health Network

Jay FoxBaylor Medical Center - Waxahachie

Michael Hicks, MD, FACHE Pinnacle Anesthesia Consultants

Janet Holland Rendina Companies

Jonni Johnson, CPSMRTKL

Ashley McClellan, FACHE Medial Center of Lewisville

Kevin Stevenson, FACHE Atrium Medical Center

Matthew van Leeuwe Lake Granbury Medical Center

Demetria Wilhite

University of Texas at Arlington

Bethany WilliamsZirmed

Chip Zahn, FACHESurgical Care Affiliates

Lisa CoxChapter Coordinator

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President’s RemarksCaleb O’Rear, FACHE

Dear Chapter Members,

Happy New Year to all. Our North Texas Chapter is already off to a busy first quarter and we have been focused on orienting new Board Members, organizing committees’ structures, as well as planning for the many events that are in store for 2013. Probably one of the most significant changes to our Chapter involves an organizational realignment of which you should be aware. Years ago, our North Texas Chapter was (and historically had been) physically housed with the Dallas Ft. Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) in Irving. Logistically, our North Texas chapter contracted with the DFWHC to essentially act as a conduit for providing support and employment services. Prior to any of the existing officers or Board Member’s involvement, a decision was made to switch from DFWHC as a service provider to The Health Industry Council (THIC). Now fast forward to this past year in which I became involved as the President of our Chapter. The contract with THIC was approaching a renewal deadline and the Board began discussing the current organizational and support needs. After much deliberation, the decision was made to approach DFWHC and inquire about re-aligning with their organization for our future needs. Steve Love, along with the DFWHC Board, was very supportive and we quickly came to terms with an arrangement. Subsequently, Lisa Cox, our chapter administrator and the engine behind our local chapter, is now a DFWHC employee dedicated fully to support and manage our North Texas Chapter. We’ve always maintained somewhat of a mobile presence, organizing events and meetings at various on-site locations; however, there are times when we need a “home base,” and the DFWHC now fills that need. We are very thankful for their willingness to embrace our organization, its’ goals and initiatives, as well as our many members. Thank you Steve, and your entire Team., for the support.

On behalf of the Board, as well as Lisa, I would like to express our deepest gratitude and thanks to THIC and the role they played for many years. Their Leadership was always equally supportive and the commitment that we both share for the industry has always kept us well-aligned. Moving forward, the three organizations will continue to work together to represent, advocate, and support the many healthcare leaders and healthcare organizations that we very happily stand behind. I hope the first part of 2013 treats each of you well and I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.

Until next edition,Caleb O’Rear, FACHE

ACHE of North Texas is now accepting Mentor and Mentee applications for the 2013 Mentorship Program. Experienced healthcare professionals will be matched in a mentoring relationship with early careerists who have graduated from a Master’s program within the last 5 years or graduate students who will complete their program within 1 year. program will begin with an orientation and “meet and greet” on Tuesday, April 30th. All participants are asked to attend. Required contact hours are to be arranged from Wednesday, May 1st through Monday, September 30th. A reception will be held Tuesday, October 15th were mentees will receive a certificate of completion and mentors a gift of appreciation.

The Mentor will be responsible for providing 16 contact hours that can be broken into multiple sessions. A portion of this time may be spent with colleagues or leaders who can assist the Mentee. Availability for monthly contact by the Mentee is required.

Mentors will discuss career opportunities and healthcare topics in general.

Mentees will be required to complete 16 contact hours with the Mentor and/or organization staff. The Mentee must initiate monthly contact with the Mentor. Mentees must be an active member of ACHE of North Texas at the time of application submission. In order to fulfill program requirements, participants are also required to write a 2-5 page summary of their program experience, due no later than Friday, October 4th. Applications can be downloaded from the home page of the ACHE of North Texas website (northtexas.ache.org). Applications are due by Friday, March 29th and can be e-mailed to [email protected]. If you have questions about the program, please contact Lisa Cox, Chapter Coordinator, at [email protected] or 972.413.8144.

ACHE of North Texas 2013 Mentorship Program



Readmission Rates TellOnly Part of the StoryStudy by RWJF Clinical Scholars finds many patients visit emergency departments after discharge, revealing possible flaw in the way new federal incentive programs assess hospital care.

Reproduced with permission of the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation, Princeton, N.J.

In recent years, hospital readmission rates have become an increasingly important measure of the quality of care hospitals provide their patients, with Medicare now structuring financial incentives and penalties around the measure, and other payers following suit. But a new study by researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Clinical Scholars program at Yale University, supported through a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, suggests that the focus on readmissions overlooks another important measure that could be used to assess the quality of hospital care: the rate of emergency department (ED) visits by recently discharged patients. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Led by Anita Vashi, MD, (VA Scholar) the research team studied data on more than 4 million adult patients who were treated and discharged from hospitals in California, Florida and Nebraska in 2008-2009. Some of those patients were hospitalized more than once, bringing the total number of hospitalizations in the study to more than 5 million. Vashi and her team tracked what happened to patients in the month after their discharge and found that 148 of every 1,000 hospital discharges were followed by readmission to the hospital, usually for a condition related to the original hospitalization. In addition, they found that 97 of every 1,000 discharges were followed by “treat-and-release” ED visits.

Those treat-and-release visits to the ED represented nearly 40 percent of all hospital-based acute care use after discharge, the authors write, suggesting that the current focus on measuring readmission rates is overlooking a vitally important measure of the quality and efficiency of patient care. “Focusing solely on readmissions would have missed nearly half a million ED treat-and-release encounters in these three states and substantially underestimated acute care use following medical and surgical inpatient discharges,” they write. “These ED visits are likely to result in fragmented care following discharge and consequently contribute to duplication of services, conflicting care recommendations, medication errors, patient distress or higher costs.”

“We need to broaden our scope, from focusing solely on hospital readmission rates to include emergency department visits,” Vashi says. “We’re starting to use the hospital readmission as a marker of quality of care. But as an ER doctor, I see so many patients who have just left the hospital, and I’ve realized that hospital readmissions are just the tip of the iceberg. To really understand the problem, we have to broaden the focus. Otherwise we’ll underestimate patient needs.”

Some Patients More Likely to Visit EDThe research team’s data came from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, a group of databases developed through a public-private partnership sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In addition to calculating readmission and ED visit totals for the 4 million patients as a whole, they also examined data for specific medical conditions. They found that some conditions generated a greater volume of treat-and-release

cont. on p 6


ED visits; these included enlarged prostates, digestive disorders, psychosis, gall bladder removal and cesarean delivery.

Vashi’s co-author, Cary Gross, MD, co-director of the RWJF Clinical Scholars program at Yale, agrees that the study points to the need to consider rates of post-discharge visits to the ED. “The number of patients needing to be readmitted or seen in the ED suggests we need to do a better job plugging patients into primary care providers,” he says. “The results show us there’s a great deal of health burden imposed right after patients are leaving the hospital. So it’s clear that this 30-day post-discharge period is a time when patients are very vulnerable, and really need close care. We need to figure out how to best care for them.”

Gross points out the policy implications of the study. “There’s a tremendous focus on hospital readmission rates,” he says. “But policy-makers need to look at ED use, as well. If there is a financial penalty to a hospital for readmission, and there’s no penalty for ED visits, there could be an unintended consequence of the readmission measure: a disincentive for EDs to readmit patients, increasing the likelihood that patients discharged from the hospital will visit the ED, get treated, but then bounce back to the ED later. That won’t serve patients or anyone else very well.”

Vashi adds that the study highlights the need for better communication between providers and patients, and also between hospital staff and patients’ personal physicians. “Patients shouldn’t leave the hospital without a plan for follow-up in place,” she says. “And the plan shouldn’t just be, ‘see your doctor in two weeks.’ We’re not educating patients well enough about how to transition from the hospital to home.”

“We also need to think about the resources we need on a system level to meet these patients’ needs,” she continues. “We need creative solutions to address patients’ needs outside of hospitals, particularly for patients with the conditions likely to cause them to return to the ED at high rates. That could include follow-up programs with nurses and physician assistants contacting patients, for example, or identifying other settings where they can be seen.”

To read the full study go to: www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2013/01/use-of-hospital-based-acute-care-among-patients-recently-dischar.html

5. What do you use social media for? Mostly posting 0% Mostly reading other posts 57.1% A mix of both 42.9%6. What is your age group? 29 or below - 0.0% 30 to 39 - 37.5% 40 to 49 - 25.0% 50 and up - 37.5%

Social Media Survey ResultsIn our last edition, we asked our members, “How Social Are You?”...and the survey said:

1. Do you use social media? Often 75% Sometimes 25% Never 0%2. Which social media sites do you use on a personal basis? Twitter 37.5% Facebook 87.5% LinkedIn 75.0% Google+ 25.0%3. Which social media sites do you use on a professional basis? Twitter 25.0% Facebook 25.0% LinkedIn 100.00% Google+ 25.0%4. How much time do you spend on social media Under 2 hours a week 62.5% 2-8 hours per week 25.0% 9 or more hours per week 100.00%


Edward L. VishnevetskyAttorney at Law

What are you doing now?

I am a health care attorney and litigator working in the Dallas, Texas office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. I typically represent hospitals, insurance carriers, physician groups, trade associations, diagnostic testing facilities (IDTF), durable medical equipment (DME) providers, laboratories, home health agencies (HHA), hospices, skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and manufacturers in administrative and civil disputes before various state and federal regulatory agencies, including TMB, AHCA, OIG, NSC, FDA, and CMS. I also advise clients on operational matters, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, liability exposure, managed care law, ERISA, HIPAA, federal and state health care regulatory compliance, licensing, health care reimbursement disputes and risk management issues.

In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing Healthcare today?

Shifting from treatment to prevention as an effective long-term healthcare strategy.

How long have you been a member of ACHE?

I have been a member for approximately 3 years. I was also a student member when I was studying for my Masters in Health Administration at St. Louis University.

Why is being a member important to you?

ACHE provides an arena for practitioners, like myself, to deliberate and examine new ways to provide practical, effective, and quality healthcare.

What advice can you give to Early Careerists or those considering membership?

Given the changing landscape of healthcare, it is imperative for all practitioners, especially those early in their career, to join AHCE in order to learn from seasoned practitioners and offer suggestions to benefit the industry and practice of healthcare.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Lydia DejongDirector of Nursing


I am the Director of Nursing at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney.


I feel the most important issue facing healthcare today is being more efficient with the care we give to our patients. We have to ensure they are receiving safe, quality care that meets their needs and encourages healthy living once they leave our hospital. As healthcare professionals, we must become transparent with our quality scores and provide a snapshot of our rankings to our current and potential patients.


I have been a member for 2 years.


Being a member of the ACHE allows me to network with individuals from various areas of the healthcare organizations. I utilize the materials that are offered through my membership by reading the journals and information provide to me. This is one way that I keep up with current healthcare related events and topics.


I would say get involved and stay involved. This is the only way to stay current on the current changes that we as healthcare providers are all facing. We have some changes that need to be made and we need all of the support that we can get.

Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about you.

I moved around as a child. I was born and raised in Louisiana, moved to Montana in grade-school years, Alaska in my high-school years, and Arizona during my college-years. I enjoyed moving around and getting to meet different people.


Travis SingletonSenior Vice President


Senior Vice President of Merritt Hawkins, an AMN Healthcare Company.


Physician Integration and the immediate provider supply challenge. Both exacerbated by reforms within healthcare, both governmental and societal.


4 years.


It provides an excellent forum to network with professionals in all facets of healthcare.


The network and tools are excellent, but you have to proactively use them. While sales and career advancement contacts are important, it is the educational materials and mentors at your disposal through ACHE that make it special.

Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about you.

I’m expecting my first child next March.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

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Five Ways to Keep Your Organization UpbeatOptimistic people are happier and more successful than their pessimistic counterparts. So says Martin Seligman, PhD, known as the “father of positive psychology.” For example, in one of his studies, salespeople with the highest optimism scores outsold their pessimistic counterparts by 20 to 40 percent.

But it’s not always easy to stay upbeat when your industry and workforce are facing significant change. Here are five mental toughness strategies that will boost optimism at your organization:

1. Encourage self-evaluation. Ask team members to answer three questions every day: What am I doing well? What do I need to improve? How will I make this improvement? Check in with a different worker each day. Talking to your people about their successes and their challenges—as well as your own—gives everyone a sense of forward movement, possibility and camaraderie.

2. Develop a team vision. What do you all want for the organization? Where do you expect it to be in a year? The more detailed the vision, the better. Post those goals where everyone can see them daily. Expectancy theory says: That which we focus on expands.

3. Develop a relentless solution focus. RSF is a technique that takes practice, but once you and your employees get the hang of it, it will have a dramatic effect on people’s mood and your organization’s success. RSF is one’s ability to quickly transform every problem-focused thought into a solution-focused thought.

4. Strive for any improvement, no matter how small. See even a tiny improvement in any situation as a win and part of the solution. That’s a positive mental technique that you can share and teach to others as well.

5. Teach them to “get it done.” Staying upbeat is more than just a set of thought processes. It’s also linked to discipline. Permeate your culture with the practice of finding a way to “get it done.” Employees gain optimism by knowing that they can control outcomes. They do that by tirelessly translating hope and confidence into success through disciplined action.

—Adapted from “5 ways to keep your business upbeat” by Jason Selk, EdD, Communication Briefings, December 2012; (800) 791-8699; www.CommunicationBriefings.com



NEWS FROM NATIONAL

Join us in Chicago March 11–14 for ACHE’s 2013 Congress on Healthcare Leadership, the premier education event for healthcare executives.

Congress allows you to make the most of your membership in ACHE and get the best value for your educational dollar. Gain the knowledge and insight needed to lead your organization through reform, including key approaches to providing greater access to care, increasing quality and patient safety, integrating technologies, enhancing workforce strategies and more.

Not only does Congress provide you with key opportunities to learn from experts in the field—it helps you connect with other healthcare leaders and advance your career. Join more than 4,500 of your colleagues for an event that offers education on current as well as emerging issues, more than 100 seminars, numerous career development programs and unparalleled networking opportunities.

The 2013 Congress will also feature:

NEW! Networking ExchangeNetworking is one of the most valuable activities at Congress and this informal networking opportunity will allow you to do even more of it. The Networking Exchange lounge will provide a venue for participants to gather, share perspectives and discuss new approaches to the challenging aspects of healthcare leadership. Some of the tables in the lounge will designate current topics such as physician integration, patient safety and career advancement to serve as conversation starters. Optimize your Congress experience at the new Networking Exchange!

The Masters SeriesReturning to Congress and featuring new faculty for 2013, the Masters Series is designed to showcase the approaches and outcomes of some of the healthcare field’s most successful leaders in four critical areas: physician integration, information

technology, clinical quality management and leadership. The Masters Series includes four, 90-minute sessions, each featuring two presenters. Participants will learn from the expertise and real-world experiences of these “masters” of healthcare leadership.

Emerging TopicsOnce again, ACHE is purposely leaving a handful of seminars open to make room for late-breaking topics. Please refer to ache.org/Congress for updates about these topics. Leaving these seminars open ensures that ACHE’s 2013 Congress is on the leading edge of changes as they occur.

Congress ExpressACHE also offers Congress Express, an innovative way to experience many of the benefits and features of healthcare’s premier education and networking event at a reduced cost—Wednesday and Thursday only. Congress Express participants still enjoy Hot Topic sessions, a luncheon session and a networking reception while earning up to 12 ACHE Face-to-Face Education credits. With Congress Express, you can leave home after work on Tuesday, enjoy a full Congress experience on Wednesday and Thursday, and be back in the office on Friday morning.

Watch for the complete Congress brochure in the mail or view it online at ache.org/Congress

Congress on Healthcare Leadership:Changing Healthcare by Design

http://www.ache.org/Congress


NEWS FROM NATIONAL

ACHE Call for Nominations for the 2014 Slate ACHE’s 2013–2014 Nominating Committee is calling for applications for service beginning in 2014. All members are encouraged to participate in the nominating process. ACHE Fellows are eligible for any of the Governor and Chairman-Elect vacancies and are eligible for the Nominating Committee vacancies within their district. Open positions on the slate include: • NominatingCommitteeMember,District1 (two-year term ending in 2016) • NominatingCommitteeMember,District4 (two-year term ending in 2016) • NominatingCommitteeMember,District5 (two-year term ending in 2016) • 4Governors(three-yeartermsendingin2017) • Chairman-Elect

Please refer to the following district designations for the open positions:

• District1:Canada,Connecticut,Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. • District4:Alabama,Arkansas,Kansas,Louisiana,Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. • District5:Alaska,Arizona,California,Colorado,Hawaii,Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Candidates for Chairman-Elect and Governor should submit an application to serve, a copy of their resume and up to 10 letters of support.

Candidates for the Nominating Committee should only submit a letter of self-nomination and a copy of their resume.

Applications to serve and self-nominations must be submitted electronically to [email protected] and must be received by July 15, 2013. All correspondence should be addressed to Rulon F. Stacey, PhD, FACHE, chairman, Nominating Committee, c/o Julie Nolan, American College of Healthcare Executives, 1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700, Chicago, IL 60606-3529.

The first meeting of ACHE’s 2013–2014 Nominating Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago. The committee will be in open session at 2:45 p.m. During the meeting an orientation session will be conducted for potential candidates, giving them the opportunity to ask questions regarding the nominating process.

Immediately following the orientation, an open forum will be provided for ACHE affiliates to present and discuss their views of ACHE leadership needs.

Following the July 15 submission deadline, the committee will meet to determine which candidates for Chairman-Elect and Governor will be interviewed. All candidates will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision by Sept. 30, 2013, and candidates for Chairman-Elect and Governor will be interviewed in person on Oct. 31, 2013.

To review the Candidate Guidelines, visit the Members Only area of ache.org and select the “Candidate Guidelines” link on the left-hand side of the page. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Nolan at (312) 424-9367 or [email protected].

Tuition WaiverAssistance ProgramTo reduce the barriers to ACHE educational programming for ACHE members experiencing economic hardship, ACHE has established the Tuition Waiver Assistance Program.

ACHE makes available a limited number of tuition waivers to ACHE Members and Fellows whose organizations lack the resources to fund their tuition for education programs. Members and Fellows in career transition are also encouraged to apply. Tuition waivers are based on financial need and are available for the following ACHE education programs:

• CongressonHealthcareLeadership • ClusterSeminars • Self-StudyPrograms • OnlineEducationPrograms • OnlineTutorial(BoardofGovernorsExampreparation) • ACHEBoardofGovernorsExamReviewCourse

All requests are due no less than eight weeks before the program date, except for ACHE self-study courses; see quarterly application deadlines. Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Recipients will be notified of the waiver review panel’s decision not less than six weeks before the program date. For ACHE self-study courses, applicants will be notified three weeks after the quarterly application deadline.

If you have questions about the program, please contact Teri Somrak, associate director, Division of Professional Development, at (312) 424-9354 or [email protected] more information, visit ache.org/Tuitionwaiver

http://www.ache.org

http://www.ache.org/Tuitionwaiver


NEWS FROM NATIONAL

ACHE Job and Resume Banks Are Re-introduced ACHE’s online Job Bank and Resume Bank are being re-introduced as a new resource with features to make it even easier for job seekers and employers to connect.

Job seekers will benefit from improved search functionality, new job notification options, enhanced job detail pages, a mobile-friendly version of the ACHE Job Bank and more. Employers will find value in a simplified job posting process, easier job formatting options, resume alerts and other benefits.

Registered users of the ACHE Job and Resume Bank will receive instructions for accessing their new accounts. If you have questions about the transition, please contact the Healthcare Executive Career Resource Center at (312) 424-9446.

Continuing the Legacyof a Leader With ACHE President and CEO Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, retiring in May 2013, the Foundation of ACHE is establishing the Thomas C. Dolan Diversity in Executive Leadership Program to honor his longstanding service to the profession of healthcare

leadership and to further his strong commitment to achieving greater diversity among senior healthcare leaders.

To honor his significant contributions to the profession, the Board will be hosting a special event on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, with a reception and dinner from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago. The event will also recognize Tom’s strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in healthcare leadership by establishing a program—the Thomas C. Dolan Diversity in Executive Leadership Program—to achieve greater diversity in executive leadership. The program will support an annual cohort of mid- and senior-level careerists who aspire to higher leadership roles by providing scholarship support to attend the Senior Executive or Executive program, specialized curriculum opportunities to address barriers in career attainment and enhanced career support.

Attendees may purchase individual tickets to the event or host tables. If you would like to support the Diversity in Executive Leadership Program through a table sponsorship, please contact Laura J. Wilkinson, CAE, vice president, Development, at [email protected] or (312) 424-9305 to reserve your table at the event.

Even if you cannot attend the dinner, please consider honoring Tom by making a donation to this charitable initiative. No matter the amount, your donation can make a difference.

Visit ache.org/Diversitytribute to learn more about the program, purchase individual dinner tickets, write a tribute letter to Tom or make a donation. You may also purchase individual tickets as part of your Congress registration.

http://www.ache.org/Diversitytribute


Increase your knowledge and boost your confidence as you prepare for the Board of Governors Examination—sign up for the ACHE of North Texas Chapter Study Group today!

The ACHE of North Texas Study Group combines convenience and a set timeline to keep you motivated and on track to prepare and pass the Board of Governors Exam. This program will provide a detailed look at each section on the exam and the resources to help focus your preparation.

• 10week lunch-n-learn study course combining resourcesused from the ACHE website, Board of Governors Reference Manual, books, articles, and sample questions.

•Onlinetele-conferencefrom12-1pmeveryTuesday (April 2nd - June 18th)

• Team-based approach. Each section will be facilitatedby program participants. Everyone that registers will be paired with other participants to assemble the materials (provided) and will teach one section in these small groups. (You will receive your segment assignments and additional course information during an orientation conference call held Wednesday, October 3rd - attendance required)

Participants in other Texas ACHE Chapters experienced a 95% pass rate after participating in a similar course.

*If you attend at least 80% (8) of the sessions and sit for the exam before the end of the year, ACHE of North Texas will refund your registration fee ($75.00).

In addition to this review, from March 15th – October 31st the North Texas Chapter will reimburse the exam application fee, worth $250, for the first 20 members who pass their exam.

We are also seeking a course facilitator. This individual will be responsible for distributing the presentations to participants and leading the weekly webinars. The course fee will be waived and the chapter will reimburse them for half of the exam fee ($100). Those interested should contact Lisa Cox at the information below.

Sessions begin April 2nd. Space is limited to 25, so reserve your slot today! Registration deadline is Friday, March, 22nd.

For more information, course schedule, and registration, visit northtexas.ache.org. If you have any questions, contact Lisa Cox at [email protected] or at 972.413.8144.

Free BOG Exam Review



One in three American adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition

Thirty-five percent of U.S. adults say that at one time or another they have gone online specifically to try to figure out what medical condition they or someone else might have.

These findings come from a national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. Throughout this report, we call those who searched for answers on the internet “online diagnosers.”

When asked if the information found online led them to think they needed the attention of a medical professional, 46% of online diagnosers say that was the case. Thirty-eight percent of online diagnosers say it was something they could take care of at home and 11% say it was both or in-between.

When we asked respondents about the accuracy of their initial diagnosis, they reported: • 41%ofonlinediagnoserssayamedicalprofessional confirmed their diagnosis. An additional 2% say a medical professional partially confirmed it. • 35%saytheydidnotvisitacliniciantogetaprofessional opinion. • 18%saytheyconsultedamedicalprofessionalandthe clinician either did not agree or offered a different opinion about the condition. • 1%saytheirconversationwithaclinicianwasinconclusive.

Women are more likely than men to go online to figure out a possible diagnosis. Other groups that have a high likelihood of doing so include younger people, white adults, those who live

in households earning $75,000 or more, and those with a college degree or advanced degrees.

It is important to note what these findings mean – and what they don’t mean. Historically, people have always tried to answer their health questions at home and made personal choices about whether and when to consult a clinician. Many have now added the internet to their personal health toolbox, helping themselves and their loved ones better understand what might be ailing them. This study was not designed to determine whether the internet has had a good or bad influence on health care. It measures the scope, but not the outcome, of this activity.

Clinicians are a central resource for information or support during serious health episodes — and the care and conversation take place mostly offline

To try to capture a focused picture of people’s health information search and information-assessment strategies, we asked respondents to think about the last time they had a serious health issue and to whom they turned for help, either online or offline:

• 70%ofU.S.adultsgotinformation,care,orsupportfroma doctor or other health care professional. • 60%ofadultsgotinformationorsupportfromfriends and family. • 24%ofadultsgotinformationorsupportfromothers who have the same health condition.

The vast majority of this care and conversation took place offline, but a small group of people did communicate with each of these sources online. And, since a majority of adults consult the internet when they

cont. on p 14

Health Online 2013 by Susannah Fox, Maeve Duggan, Pew Research CenterThis article is reproduced with permission by Pew Internet & American Life Project


have health questions, these communications with clinicians, family, and fellow patients joined the stream of information flowing in.

Eight in 10 online health inquiries start at a search engine Looking more broadly at the online landscape, 72% of internet users say they looked online for health information of one kind or another within the past year. This includes searches related to serious conditions, general information searches, and searches for minor health problems. For brevity’s sake, we will refer to this group as “online health seekers.”

When asked to think about the last time they hunted for health or medical information, 77% of online health seekers say they began at a search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Another 13% say they began at a site that specializes in health information, like WebMD. Just 2% say they started their research at a more general site like Wikipedia and an additional 1% say they started at a social network site like Facebook.

Half of health information searches are on behalf of someone else

When asked to think about the last time they went online for health or medical information, 39% of online health seekers say they looked for information related to their own situation. Another 39% say they looked for information related to someone else’s health or medical situation. An additional 15% of these internet users say they were looking both on their own and someone else’s behalf.

One in four people seeking health information online have hit a pay wall

Twenty-six percent of internet users who look online for health information say they have been asked to pay for access to something they wanted to see online. Of those who have been asked to pay, just 2% say they did so. Fully 83% of those who hit a pay wall say they tried to find the same information somewhere else. Thirteen percent of those who hit a pay wall say they just gave up.

The social life of health information is a low-key but steady presence in American life

In past surveys, the Pew Internet Project has not defined a time period for health activities online. This time, the phrase “in the past 12 months” was added to help focus respondents on recent episodes. We find once again that there is a social life of health information, as well as peer-to-peer support, as people exchange stories about their own health issues to help each other understand what might lie ahead:

• 26%saytheyreadorwatchedsomeoneelse’sexperience about health or medical issues in the last 12 months. • 16%ofinternetuserssaytheywentonlineinthelastyearto find others who might share the same health concerns.

Health-related reviews and rankings continue to be used by only a modest group of consumers. About one in five internet users have consulted online reviews of particular drugs or medical treatments, doctors or other providers, and hospitals or medical facilities. And just 3-4% of internet users have posted online reviews of health care services or providers.

About this study

The results reported here come from a nationwide survey of 3,014 adults living in the United States. Telephone interviews were conducted by landline (1,808) and cell phone (1,206, including 624 without a landline phone). The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Interviews were done in English and Spanish by Princeton Data Source from August 7 to September 6, 2012. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is ±2.4 percentage points.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. The Project is nonpartisan and takes no position on policy issues. Support for the Project is provided by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Support for this study was provided by the California HealthCare Foundation, an independent philanthropy committed to improving the way health care is delivered and financed in California.

To read the full report, go to http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Health-online/Summary-of-Findings.aspx


EVENT ENCORE

Submitted by: Alvera Mandavia

Creating Engaging Teams, Leadership in a New Era of Healthcare highlighted the importance of building effective teams in the constantly changing healthcare environment and how they impact creating excellence in the delivery of healthcare. Featuring key note speakers and industry experts, the panel included: Josh Goldman, Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer for Conifer Health Solutions, Stephen Maffei, Director, Organizational Effectiveness, Methodist Health System, Neena Newberry President, Newberry Executive Coaching & Consulting, LLC, and moderated by Britt Barett, President of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.

Approximately 50 ACHE members attended the event and engaged in discussions with the panel. The audience asked the panel questions specific to creating engaging teams, selecting the right teams, and what leaders can do to create a culture of engagement. This timely and important topic provided our chapter members with key take-aways, lessons learned and 3 specific items which they can implement in their own practices.

As always we extend our appreciation to the featured panel members and to Britt Berrett, North Texas Regent, for moderating the discussion.

For more information on future events, please visit us at ww.northtexas.ache.org or send us an email at [email protected].

Program Panel - Neena Newberry, Stephen Maffei, Josh Goldman, and Britt Berrett

Program Hosts - TRANE

Creating Engaging Teams Event

CEO Breakfast - January 30, 2013with John Phillips, FACHE at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

EVENT ENCORE - EXTRAS



General Membership Dinner - November 15, 2012

EVENT ENCORE - EXTRAS

Anne Bramlett and Beverly Dorney Past and Incoming Board Members - Ron Coulter, Kevin Stevenson and Michael Ojeda

Board Members Janet Hollandand Pam Stoyanoff

Emily Hovde, Tabitha Williams, and Alexis HunterCatherine Sembawe - Reeves and Liz Trevino

Kinnari Patel and SarahHarris

Michelle Speicher and John Schinske, FACHE

Madison Vinklarek, Ijafeh Akpe,and Veeraj Thakkar

Texas A&M Team - Nicolas Carmana, Taylor Hall, Kinnari Patel, SarahHarris, and Steven Luther

UNTHSC Team

ofACHE

North TexasACHE

North Texas


2013CALENDAR

We are currently working on new educational and networkingopportunities. For the latest updates please check our website or

watch your inbox for the event guide.

Corporate Sponsorships are available for 2013

Take advantage of one of our sponsorship packages to showcase your organization’s products, services and career opportunities. ACHE of North Texas is a not for profit education and career development organization supporting healthcare executives in the community. Your Corporate Sponsorship allows the Chapter to pursue its mission by offering educational and networking events throughout the year. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how to increase your company’s local and national exposure, contact us today at [email protected].

ACHE of North Texas would like to thank our Corporate Sponsors,RTKL, Turner Construction, and BECK for their continued support.

Thursday, March 21stAfter Hours Networking EventTime: 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Tuesday, April 2ndBOG Exam Review

Tuesday, April 2ndBreakfast with the CEOTime: 7:30 - 9:00 am Host: Lillie Biggins, BSN, MSN, PresidentLocation: Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Thursday, April 18thEducation Program:A Collaborative Practitioner Model for Efficiency and Safety in Patient CareTime: 5:30 - 7:30 pm Location: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Wednesday, April 24thAfter Hours EventTime: 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Thursday, May 16thGeneral Membership Dinnerand Education Program:Improving the Health Statusof Your CommunityTime: 5:00 - 8:00 pm

http://www.rtkl.com

http://www.turnerconstruction.com

http://www.beckgroup.com

the executive connection of north texas: winter 2013

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