Kansas Association of Health Care Executives

May 3, 2011

President's Message

by Jeremy Armstrong, FACHE

KAHCE moving forward in 2011...

Spring is here!  And after this past winter, I hope that you are welcoming the warmer weather – I know I am. 

Since our last newsletter, your KAHCE leadership has been hard at work evaluating and planning programs to address membership needs. As I mentioned in our last newsletter, we will be focusing more on mentoring/scholarship, communication, and education for the chapter.  This newsletter will offer a glimpse into the recent activities and plans for the year.

Dave Engle, Membership Chair, has created KAHCE’s first list of values or benefits from being a member of KACHE.  Our hope is that it will communicate the value gained by the members of KAHCE and will encourage others to join.

Kathy Howell, our Mentorship Chair, is planning some exciting changes to the mentorship program that will offer some guidance and education to lead and encourage the interaction between mentors and mentees.  Please contact Kathy Howell at khowell@saint-lukes.org if you have an interest in being a part of the mentorship program. 

I would like to give special recognition to Heather Fuller, our Education Chair.  Heather is leading the effort to offer our first ever two-day education event on June 21-22.  This will be a great education event with some nationally known ACHE speakers.  Please take a moment to review our chapter’s 2011 calendar of events and make plans to join us at this year’s events.  

KAHCE has also developed a sponsorship program to help defray the costs of offering more frequent and high quality education to you. As we roll out and grow this new program, we will be better able to bring national speakers to our events and keep the registration fees low.  Please contact Heather Fuller at hfuller@srhc.com if you have any questions about this program.

Thank you for your support and participation.  I look forward to seeing you at our next event.


Take Advantage of Category I Hours in Kansas

Heather Fuller, Education Committee Chair

ACHE Category I opportunities abound with KAHCE in 2011.


Join us for the KAHCE Spring Education event on June 21-22, 2011, at the Hotel at Old Town in Wichita.  On Tuesday, June 21, KAHCE will host a 6 hour Category I session titled “Aggressively Improve Cost, Quality, and Throughput” with two ACHE speakers.  On Wednesday, June 22, there will be two educational panels:  "Developing High Performance Teams" and "Managing for Morale-Effective Management Techniques to Retain Your Staff."  Each panel qualifies for 1.5 hours of ACHE Category I credit, and approval has been requested.   For more details and the registration brochure, see the KAHCE Web site.

We also have a webinar planned for Thursday, August 25, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.  This panel “Sustaining a Financially Vibrant Healthcare Organization, also qualifies for 1.5 hours of ACHE Category I credit.

Please save the date of Tuesday, November 15, 2011, for our annual meeting and education at the Hyatt in Wichita.  This event will be held in conjunction with KHA’s annual convention and tradeshow.  Please watch for more details coming soon!

KAHCE is currently in the process of developing a sponsorship program.  Please contact Heather Fuller if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity!


KAHCE Member Receives Award

Congratulations to Ken Allensworth on his pretigious award!

Congratulations to our own Ken Allensworth, KAHCE Board Member, who received the 2011 American College of Healthcare Executives Federal Excellence in Healthcare Management award.  This award is given annually to one ACHE affiliate outside the Uniformed Services (e.g., civilian employees of the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, etc), who:

  • Has been engaged in leading ACHE activities at the local or national level 
  • Demonstrates a track record of ongoing professional development   
  • Is gaining prominence in the area of healthcare management by leading innovative practices in the field of healthcare administration and management (e.g., effectiveness, skill, and savvy in developing patient-centered care initiatives, advancing operational efficiencies, etc.)
  • Exhibits exceptional abilities to develop integrated and creative solutions to interdisciplinary problems across healthcare delivery settings
  • Exemplifies the ethical standards of the College in establishing sound, ethical leadership practices
  • Participates in civic/community activities and projects that reflect positively on the profession
  • Stimulates interest in healthcare management and leadership among colleagues

Ken was recognized this month during the Joint Federal Sector Breakfast at the 2011 ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago.  

Ken is the Executive Assistant to the Director, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.  In this healthcare manager role, Ken has provided solid critical and creative thinking skills to addressing a number of key VA initiatives and has served as project officer for many of those plans.  He has developed new clinical annexes and community based outpatient clinics.  He has been instrumental in the development of rural health care initiatives for Veterans throughout Kansas.

He is the lead VA project officer for a proposal to build a Federal Inpatient Health Care Center near McConnell Air Force Base, which would increase access and services while efficiently conserving federal healthcare resources.

Recognizing the need to contain cardiology costs and improve continuity of care, Ken reached out to the newly assigned Chief of Cardiology and developed a complete Cardiology Service, to include staffing mix, space and resource requirements, referral protocols and contracts for Non-VA cardiac catheterization and cardiothoracic surgery care. Ken subsequently prepared the facility application for a Joint Incentive Fund (JIF) project to create an inhouse cardiac catheterization laboratory, in partnership with McConnell Air Force Base. This proposal was approved for the largest single site award in the first year of the JIF program.  The facility now provides high quality diagnostic and interventional cardiology services to Veterans and Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries.

Ken has been the impetus for a heightened level of departmental coordination between the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, the 22d Medical Group at McConnell Air Force Base, and the Hunter Health Clinic, which includes an Indian Health Service component.  Under his stewardship, several innovative training agreements have been marshaled from concept to reality.  These agreements will continue to have a lasting impact on the full continuum of healthcare for today’s active duty military member and tomorrow’s veteran.  Furthermore, Ken’s efforts have created countless opportunities for the 22d Medical Group to train jointly with the VA healthcare team, ultimately improving the clinical skills used to provide support to our wounded warriors both at home and abroad.

Ken represents the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center on the Sedgwick County for Veterans Coalition.  He worked with county leadership to develop an annual educational event for local law enforcement, public defenders, and community mental health providers on the specific issues facing these veterans.  His work on this task force has made several improvements to outreach and education activities and established the VA Medical Center within the community as a caring and committed partner.

Ken serves on the Boards of Directors for Kansas Health Ethics and the Kansas Association of Health Care Executives. He also serves on the Master of Health Care Leadership Advisory Board for Friends University. An Air Force veteran, Ken is board certified in healthcare management and is a Fellow in the College of Health Care Executives.

Membership is Growing!

Dave Engel, Membership Committee Chair

Welcome to new KAHCE members! 

I would like to begin this column with welcoming the following new members to KAHCE since Jan 1, 2011:

January

  • Matthew Bogner, North Newton
  • Nhut Bui, Wichita
  • Denise Bury, RN, Lees Summit
  • Brenda Mills, Topeka
  • John A. Moore, Hiawatha
  • CMSgt Jonathan Shane, Andover
  • Scott Strom, Overland Park
  • Michael A. Wegner, Wichita

February

  • Ebeneezer O. Babalola, MD, Kansas City
  • Bryan L. Hall, Topeka
  • CPT Joe Peabody, Manhattan

March

  • Colleen D. Heeter, Leawood
  • Rachel Holthaus, RN, Topeka
  • Jennifer J. Johannes Hascall, Kansas City
  • Amber Stroud, Topeka

 

During this spring’s KAHCE Leadership session, the membership committee will be involved with the following strategies for the coming year:

  • Analyze potential Kansas ACHE membership, especially CEO’s and target early and mid-careerists for KAHCE Board Contact
  • Develop a one page flier for use in recruitment
  • Send a welcome packet to new members
  • Inform CEO’s new to Kansas at the annual KHA CEO Orientation
  • Notify regent of CEOs new to Kansas (as KHA staff are notified)
  • Continue hosting KAHCE Booth at KHA Convention
  • Utilize Membership Committee to focus on membership engagement
  • Support the KC LPC and explore a Wichita LPC
  • Develop and articulate the value of KAHCE membership

I encourage anyone interested in volunteering with this or any other KAHCE committee to contact myself or Jeremy Armstrong – KAHCE President.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the June 21, 2011 educational event.

 

 

What's the Value of Your KAHCE Membership?

Have you ever articulated the various benefits of KAHCE membership?  We have...

 The Value…

… To You

Education

Provide convenient, accessible and economical educational opportunities in addition to the national opportunities offered by ACHE.

Mentoring

Provide access to member leadership experience and support for self-advancement toward the distinction of FACHE and Board certification in healthcare management.

Professional Affiliation

Expand your professional network and exchange ideas with over 430 Kansas healthcare leaders through mentoring, ACHE seminars and meetings and socializing opportunities

Lifelong Learning

Enhance your knowledge of best practices and leadership skills by being among leaders committed to lifelong learning and excellence in healthcare management, both nationally and in Kansas.

Early Careerist

Supports an early careerist by encouraging participation in events and committees, offers scholarships and mentoring with leaders in the state.

Newsletter

Quarterly chapter newsletters of activities and services provided by KAHCE with an opportunity to edit or publish articles.

Career Enhancement

Strengthen your organization’s ethical culture and enhance and provide greater opportunities for advancement at the executive/administration (C-suite) level.

National News - Spring 2011

Board of Governors Exam Fee Waiver Promotion 2011

ACHE is pleased to offer once again the Board of Governors Exam fee waiver promotion to ACHE Members who apply for the FACHE® credential between March 1 and June 30. Members must submit their completed Fellow application and $250 application fee during the promotion period. Pending application approval, ACHE will waive the $200 Board of Governors Exam fee. All follow-up materials (i.e., references) must be submitted by Aug. 31, 2011, to receive the waiver.

For more information on the promotion, go to ache.org/FACHE.  


Early Careerist Network E-Coupon Offers Savings Up to $300 on ACHE Education

Early Careerist affiliates under the age of 40 are automatically part of the Early Careerist Network (ECN) Special Interest Group that offers a complimentary package of resources for up-and-coming professionals. The annual coupon program is one ECN benefit that offers discounts on one of the following ACHE programs or services:

  • $300 coupon toward one ACHE two-day management seminar
  • $250 coupon toward one Online Tutorial session for the Board of Governors Exam
  • $50 coupon toward one ACHE webinar
  • $50 coupon toward ACHE’s Online Leadership Assessment
  • $50 coupon toward ACHE’s Emotional Intelligence Assessment

Early Careerist affiliates can select their 2011 coupon at ache.org/ECN.


ACHE Call for Nominations for the 2012 Slate

ACHE’s 2011–2012 Nominating Committee is calling for applications for service beginning in 2012. All affiliates 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 and Regent at-Large vacancies within their district. Open positions on the slate include:

- Nominating Committee Member, District 1 (two-year term ending in 2014)
- Nominating Committee Member, District 4 (two-year term ending in 2014)
- Nominating Committee Member, District 5 (two-year term ending in 2014)
- Regent-at-Large, District 2 (three-year term ending in 2015)
- Regent-at-Large, District 4 (three-year term ending in 2015)
- Regent-at-Large, District 5 (three-year term ending in 2015)
- 4 Governors (three-year terms ending in 2015)
- Chairman-Elect

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

  • District 1: Canada, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
  •  District 2: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
  •  District 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
  •  District 5: 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 Regent-at-Large and the Nominating Committee should only submit a letter of self-nomination and copy of their resume. Applications to serve and self-nominations can be submitted by U.S. mail and postmarked between Jan. 1 and July 15. Mail applications to serve to: Charles R. Evans, FACHE, chairman, Nominating Committee, c/o Julie Nolan, American College of Healthcare Executives, 1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700, Chicago, IL 60606-3529. Materials also can be sent via e-mail to jnolan@ache.org or faxed to (312) 424-2828 by July 15.

The first meeting of ACHE’s 2011–2012 Nominating Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 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 in person on Oct. 27, 2011. All candidates will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision by Sept. 30, 2011.

To review the Candidate Guidelines, visit the Affiliates 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 jnolan@ache.org.



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