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Inside This Issue
LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO LEAD
Chicago is well known for fostering new perspectives, from groundbreaking architecture to electrified blues.
The city also is where the risk management business was born in the 19th century at the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and where most of today’s buyers and sellers of futures and options contracts make their deals.
While healthcare risk management professionals don’t deal in stocks, pork bellies or eurodollars, they do understand the value of gathering information to make informed decisions. And ASHRM’s Annual Conference & Exhibition, set for Wednesday, Oct. 10, through Saturday, Oct. 13 in Chicago, is all about that.
This year’s conference theme is “New Perspectives.” The logo illustrates the theme by featuring the city’s new “Cloudscape” sculpture. The massive silver bean-shaped public artwork (everybody calls it “the bean”) in Millennium Park, near the host hotel, reflects intriguing ways of looking at the world.
“ASHRM is committed to creating opportunities for risk management professionals to be exposed to fresh perspectives and interact with a variety of leaders. One key way we do that is through our educational programs, especially the Annual Conference,” said ASHRM President Paul Smith.
Highlights of the week
Among this year’s highlights:
* Approximately 2,000 paid registrants are expected to attend, ensuring that this will be the year’s premier networking and education event for healthcare risk management professionals;
* The Annual Business Meeting will be a lively multimedia showcase for the past year’s highlights and achievers hosted by ASHRM President Smith, President-Elect Douglas Borg and Executive Director Elizabeth Summy;
* The Essentials Module of the Barton Certificate Program for Healthcare Risk Management immediately precedes the conference;
* ASHRM’s popular CPHRM Examination Preparation Course this year complements the Risk Management Handbook for Healthcare Organizations (5th ed.);
* The Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the United States Pharmacopeia join together with ASHRM to present a daylong interactive workshop titled “Using Data to Effectively Manage the Risks to Medication Safety” (separate registration).
Educational perspectives
ASHRM’s 2007 Annual Conference will present 57 education sessions led by a faculty of more than 100 healthcare industry experts. Sessions will arm risk managers and patient safety officers – as well as quality managers, clinicians, insurance professionals, attorneys and other healthcare professionals – with knowledge and tools they can apply at their own organizations.
Sessions are organized by topic track – Enterprise Risk Management, Claims & Litigation, Risk Financing, Legal & Regulatory, Patient Safety and Special Topics (such as Six Sigma, security, natural hazards and teamwork practices).
Keynotes, key achievements
“We are pleased to welcome exceptional leaders who will keynote ASHRM’s 2007 Annual Conference,” said President Smith.
Stephen M.R. Covey (son of Dr. Stephen R. Covey), international expert on leadership and ethics and the author of The Speed of Trust, will be the opening keynote on Wednesday, Oct. 10. He’ll show that trust is a measurable skill that improves interpersonal relationships and, ultimately, organizational performance.
Connie R. Curran, RN, Ed.D., will share healthcare leadership and governance expertise in her Friday, Oct. 12, keynote on “Accelerating Personal & Organizational Performance.” She’ll describe strategies for applying a passion for risk management to leading in formal and informal ways.
Closing keynote Karen Buxman, RN, MSN, on Saturday, Oct. 13, will show where to find the humor in the sometimes painful circumstances of healthcare. As ASHRM’s closing keynote speaker, Buxman will provide unconventional yet practical communication take-aways to survive and thrive in a challenging environment.
And similar in format to last year’s event, ASHRM’s Annual Business Meeting will focus on “Celebrating Leadership: New Perspectives.” All are invited to join ASHRM President Smith, the ASHRM board and distinguished colleagues Thursday morning, Oct. 11, in applauding the past year’s accomplishments and previewing the year ahead.
Popular bookstore
Conference attendees can get a great deal on ASHRM’s landmark Risk Management Handbook for Health Care Organizations 5th edition. The 3-volume set (“The Essentials,” “Clinical Risk” and “Business Risk”) includes a bonus CD-ROM of downloadable tools and materials, and will be available at the on-site book store for a special cash and carry price.
Also at the ASHRM bookstore, the new Risk Management Pearls for the Emergency Department 2nd edition will be available at a special single-copy cash and carry price. Additional products will include the 2007 Aon/ASHRM Hospital Professional Liability Benchmark Analysis report plus additional risk management resources and a special selection of leadership development books.
Internet-connected computers at the adjacent cyber café will allow conference attendees to order ASHRM products online at regular prices for convenient delivery back home as well catch up on e-mail and confirm return flights.
The bookstore and cyber café will open at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, and close at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Specific hours will be posted on site.
Networking opportunities
Networking meals and coffee breaks will be provided during the week. The gala event is the Presidents’ Reception on Wednesday, Oct. 10, that immediately precedes the opening of the profession’s largest tradeshow. This year, approximately 100 exhibitors – a number of them new to ASHRM – will demonstrate helpful products and services Oct. 10-12.
A special networking breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, will be an opportunity for attendees to get together by chapter or committee/task force. Table tents will be available at the front of the room for this self-organized event.
Thanks to sponsors
Many conference amenities and activities are supported by sponsors including:
Ace Medical Risk
Alliant (JLT)
Aon
Arch
Chubb
Darwin
Dialog Medical
Emmi Solutions
Gallagher Healthcare
HRH (Hilb Rogal & Hobbs)
Integro
Marsh
Medical Protective
Quantros
Vertical Claims Management
Willis Healthcare Practice.
Rooms are available
Housing for ASHRM’s 2007 Annual Conference & Exhibition at local hotels is available but is limited to a first-come, first-served basis. Updates will be announced in e-News. Generally, a significant number of rooms booked earlier in the year by prospective attendees later become available due to cancellations.
Reservations for the Hyatt Regency Chicago can be made online through ASHRM’s Passkey reservations system. Reservations at the adjacent Swissotel must be made with the hotel. See www.ashrm.org, Annual Conference page for details.
To qualify for special ASHRM room rates, reservations must be booked by Sept. 13. After that date, ASHRM room blocks will be released and hotels may charge higher rates.
Special pre-con events add value
For details or to register for these events, visit the Annual Conference page or call (312) 422-3980 to request a form.
First-Time Attendees’ Breakfast
Experienced ASHRM members will tell how first-timers can get the most out of the Annual Conference & Exhibition and highlight the benefits of ASHRM membership. The event, with continental breakfast, will be held 8-9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10. No registration is required.
Essentials Module
The Barton Certificate Essentials Module provides the educational foundation for new risk managers and a refresher for seasoned professionals. Topics include risk identification and analysis; risk control; risk financing; claims management; statutes, standards and regulations; and risk management program development.
Essentials will be offered Sunday morning, Oct. 7-noon Tuesday, Oct. 9. See Pages 24 and 25 of the conference advance program for faculty and agenda or visit www.ashrm.org.
CPHRM Exam Prep Course
Also this year, ASHRM is offering an updated CPHRM examination preparation course Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 9-noon Wednesday, Oct. 10. The course is an engaging and comprehensive overview of material corresponding to the six content areas of the exam, and includes a copy of ASHRM’s CPHRM Examination Preparation Guide.
The AHA Certification Center is raising CPHRM exam fees effective Jan. 1 (see notice), so now may be a particularly good time to follow-though on certification plans. Also, there are CPHRM exam testing centers in downtown Chicago H&R Block offices near the host hotels for those who want to take the exam while in Chicago. Locations are specified at www.aha.org/certification (CPHRM page, “Testing Centers”).
'Wicked’ night at the theater
The Chicagoland Healthcare Risk Management Society (CHRMS) invites ASHRM members and guests attending ASHRM’s Annual Conference & Exhibition to join them Thursday, Oct. 11, for the hit musical “Wicked” at the nearby Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre. A pre-show reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Fee is $70 per person for reception and ticket plus a CD of the show’s music.
Register with CHRMS via www.mchc.com (click logo in lower right corner).
Tickets are limited; deadline is Sept. 14. With questions, contact Krishna Lynch at (312) 942-3252 or krishna_lynch@rush.edu.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP LISTERV ENABLES SHARING
ASHRM provides Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as a benefit to its members for the discussion of risk management issues or other healthcare issues. Each SIG is an e-mail community of users interested in a specific area, e.g., patient safety or risk financing. The SIG operates by means of a listserv, which is a collection of e-mail addresses to which e-mail can be automatically distributed.
Any member of ASHRM with a valid e-mail address can sign up for one or more of the SIGs. Mail sent to a SIG is automatically sent to all members of the SIG.
However, users can send their own messages to the entire group or reply to previous messages individually.
As an example of a SIG discussion thread, the following is a recent exchange from the patient safety group. The comments are in presented chronological order and lightly edited for publication. In actual postings, names are included:
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"Does anyone have experience with microwave ovens and small refrigerators in patient rooms for use by family members? In pediatric rooms? Thanks for any tips/insights you can share."
- Minneapolis
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"I believe that would be an infection control nightmare because all frig’s with patient food must have temps monitored – checked and recorded daily – along with the bringing food from home, expiration dates, etc. It, of course, would be doable but labor intensive. We have a nutrition center on the MS unit where Staff labels and dates patient food, and Dietary monitors temps and cleans the refrigerator. It works quite well."
- Onawa, IA
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"We have a Ronald McDonald room where families can have access to a refrigerator and microwave."
- Columbia, MO
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"We have some patient rooms that are equipped with refrigerators for patient use which the hospital maintains logs for. We have allowed families to bring in a small refrigerator for the patient's room under special circumstances. If this occurs, the hospital monitors/maintains a log. This does not happen frequently as there are microwaves and refrigerators on the floor for patients and families to use. No one has ever asked to have a microwave in their room."
- Buffalo, NY
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"I have worked in a clinical setting for the past 11 years but prior to that worked at a hospital location for 7 years. We did not allow refrigerators in a hospital room. On each nursing unit there was a “family room” equipped with chairs, coffee pot, refrigerator, etc… I would think you would have OSHA regulations that would govern if this could be allowed(?)."
- Hattiesburg, MS
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"Claim experience: We had a child suffer a 2nd/3rd degree burns on her forearm because she pushed ahead of the daycare worker at our hospital-owned daycare center and pulled out her own Chef Boyardee cup of noodles.
She was "starving" and, while the worker was trying to deal with another child who was misbehaving nearby, broke the rule of not touching the microwave. The child screamed, dropped the cup and the splash burned her. So I would recommend that a microwave be in a family center and positioned high where young children can't reach it, but not too high for adults to use safely. From this experience, I wouldn't recommend a microwave in a patient room."
- Tulsa, OK
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For details on SIGS, visit www.ashrm.org/ashrm/aboutus/sig.html.
SEEKING AUTHORS FOR ‘CYBER RISK’ JOURNAL
Planning has begun for a special issue of the Journal of Healthcare Risk Management. The theme for Vol. 27, No. 4 will be “cyber risks.” ASHRM is issuing a call for papers covering appropriate topics including (but not limited to) cyber liability, curbside consults, electronic medical record, computerized physician order entry, “best of breed” vendors, physician e-mail, transitioning from paper to electronic records, technology downtime, identity theft and e-discovery. Journal author guidelines can be accessed at www.ashrm.org (Information section, FAQs page). The deadline for submitting manuscripts to be considered for review and publication is Oct. 26.
With questions and to request a sample copy of the Journal, e-mail jpixler@aha.org.
ADVOCACY UPDATE: COUNCIL HONORED FOR SAFETY EFFORTS
The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) is the recipient of the 2007 Pinnacle Awards in the Agency/Association Category for its contributions to healthcare quality through the medication use process. The award is made by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation Quality Center.
Pinnacle Awards recipients are recognized for pioneering innovative ways to improve the medication use process that reduce drug misadventures, improve patient outcomes and increase communication among all members of the healthcare team. The awards dinner was held June 12 at the Smithsonian Museum Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
ASHRM is a long-term active participant in the efforts of NCCMERP. Former ASHRM Board Member Ellen Quinn serves as the ASHRM representative to NCCMERP. She participates in regular meetings with the group.
“We thank and congratulate all of our member organizations who have contributed the time and energy of their employees, and the resources of their organizations to support the groundbreaking work of the council over 12 years since its inception,” said Diane Cousins, secretary of NCCMERP.
“This is a well-deserved recognition for the leadership, commitment and dedication of the individuals who have served as NCCMERP officers, delegates and alternate delegates. It’s their vision of an improved health system delivering safer patient care that has led to the numerous work products of the council which have had impact across the nation and around the globe,” Cousins added.
2007 CALENDAR
Information is subject to change. See the Education page and Friday eNews for updates.
Sep. 16-19
Bermuda Captive Conference:
Healthcare track Sep 17 (theme: “Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together”)
Southampton, Bermuda
Oct. 7-9
Barton Modules: Essentials
Chicago
Oct. 9
Workshop with ISMP and USP:
“Using Data To Effectively Manage the Risks to Medication Safety”
Chicago
Oct. 9-10
CPHRM Examination Preparation Course
Chicago
Oct. 11
Theater evening hosted by Chicagoland chapter:
“Wicked”
Chicago
Oct. 10-13
Annual Conference & Exhibition: “New Perspectives”
Chicago
Oct. 12
ASHRM Foundation fund-raiser:
“An Event To Change the World”
Chicago
Nov. 13
Audioconference:
“Risk Management and Behavioral Health Issues”
PROGRAM DETAILS
Bermuda captive event focuses on healthcare
The 2008 Bermuda Captive Conference, presented in part by ASHRM and its affiliated Bermuda chapter, is set for Sept. 16-19 and will focus on issues of interest to captive owners, prospective owners and market professionals. Issues of particular interest to healthcare captives will be covered Sept. 17, including:
* “The Broker’s Role in Developing Captive Management Best Practices”
* “Captive Underwriting: Everything Old Is New Again”
* “The Final Pieces of the Puzzle: Claims Management Results.”
Other sessions will cover U.S. captive taxation, measuring captive value and performance, case studies of U.S. liability programs and more. Registration for ASHRM members is $300. For details, visit www.bermudacaptive.bm.
Save the date for next audioconference
ASHRM’s final audioconference for the year – focusing on the risk management and behavioral health issues – is set for 2-3:30 p.m. ET / 1-2:30 p.m. CT / 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT Tuesday, Nov. 13. The site registration fee ($199 for members) makes this a great investment for an organization. Pay just one fee and invite colleagues to listen in on one connection via speakerphone. Also, “on-demand access” of the audioconference enables individuals to listen and learn via computer at their convenience for 30 days; printable handouts are included.
Registration will open in September and will be announced in eNews.
Workshop to show how to use data for med safety
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) are presenting a workshop titled “Using Data To Effectively Manage the Risks to Medication Safety” Oct. 9 in Chicago preceding ASHRM’s Annual Conference & Exhibition. Participants will learn how to select risk reduction strategies based on proven medication safety principles instead of relying solely on human vigilance. They also will learn how to report findings in an actionable format to drive medication safety efforts. Workshop faculty from ISMP and USP will share take-home materials and tools to analyze and prioritize error information; breakout sessions will offer the opportunity to gain hands-on practice working with data. To register or get details on the workshops, including program agenda, visit www.intellor.com/usp/ismp.
Foundation event to help build the profession
ASHRM members and other supporters of the profession are invited to join with the ASHRM Foundation as it works to change the healthcare risk management world through educational, scholarship and research grant funding. A gala fund-raiser will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, during ASHRM’s Annual Conference & Exhibition. Cocktails and appetizers will be served. Contributions for the event are being accepted at the following levels: Scholars, $100; Fellows, $185; Founders Circle, $250; Presidents Circle $500 (two tickets). For details and to RSVP, call Kim Engelstad at (312) 422-3989 or e-mail kengelstad@aha.org.
Also, remaining 2007 education scholarship and grant deadline dates are Sept. 28 and Dec. 21. Educational grants are available up to $1,000 and scholarships are awarded up to $2,500. Visit www.ashrmfoundation.org for details.
NEW CPHRMS
The Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management designation provides a credential that verifies a broad-based knowledge of risk management. Certification elevates professionals in an increasingly competitive marketplace. It is awarded based on participants meeting eligibility requirements and passing an examination.
Congratulations to recent CPHRM achievers:
Loran B. August, Columbia, SC
Kaye M. Blom, Butler, MO
Robin Russell Collins, Houston, TX
Annette L. Donker, Killeen, TX
Karrie M. Dosch, Renton, WA
Jennifer Jeannine Ehlers, Richmond, IN
Jennifer M. Groszek, Chicago
Peri A. John, Olathe, KS
Linda K. Larkin, Colorado Springs, CO
Melissa L. Lofton, Spring, TX
J. Kristie Lowery, Allentown, PA
Molly Jean Nolan, Rockford, MI
Susan J. Shepard, Niceville, FL
Tom David Stoddart, Venice, FL
Dana N. Taylor, Mountain View, CA
Dawn M. Williams, Seymour, IN
The complete and most current list of CPHRM certificants can be found at www.aha.org/certification (select the “Certificants” link on the lefthand side of the page).
For details about the designation, download the updated CPHRM Candidate Handbook from the AHA Certification Center via www.aha.org/certification or call (312) 422-3713.
New fee structure announced
A new fee structure for certification examinations administered through the AHA’s Certification Center – including the Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) – will go into effect on Jan. 1. Under the new structure, ASHRM member fees will remain the same but non-member fees will be increased.
The new fees will be:
* Examination – $275 member / $425 non-member
* Renewal – $135 member / $225 non-member
Non-members who apply for an examination in 2007 will pay the current amount even if they do not test until after the new structure begins.
Assessment tool available
An online tool is available for preparing for the CPHRM Exam. Created by the AHA Certification Center (the people who created the exam), the Self-Assessment Exam (SAE) simulates the actual exam in format and content. The test offers rationales for correct and incorrect options, as well as several score reports that highlight the exam topics that they scored well in and those that need improvement. For details about the SAE, contact the AHA Certification Center at (312) 422-3713.
