Our patients' safety through our new vision,mission, and strategic plan

This being my first president's column, I would be remiss if I did not provide a heartfelt thanks to the ASHRM membership, who elected me to serve as your 2013 ASHRM President. Thank you all for allowing me to continue to give back to our fine and noble healthcare risk management profession!.     

Spreading the word about the unique and valuable role of healthcare risk managers

Here I am three‐quarters through my year as president of ASHRM and I am still pinching myself that I am where I am! How has your year been? It has been a tough year for everyone in healthcare. With the Affordable Care Act demands on healthcare and the public, concerns about funding, quality initiatives, and overall potential loss of revenue, it's a wonder we are still in healthcare. But would you be doing anything different? I don't think so. I love that I can help make a difference by assisting staff with a difficult patient or situation or help a patient with a care concern that they are totally frustrated with or explain to a fellow risk manager what I would do in the situation they are dealing with. Although we feel like we are being pulled into new healthcare territories for our insight and recommendations, it is an indication of the value we bring to our organizations. We will get through this and there will be more challenges, but as risk management professionals, we can help solve problems and create value in the upcoming changes in healthcare.     

Working together,staying focused on our goals

When I was elected president of ASHRM for 2009, I accepted the honor as an opportunity to help ASHRM reach new heights. My goal is to support the objectives and goals consistent with the mission, values, and strategic direction of this organization and to do that with integrity through service, teamwork, and innovation. This is a challenging year for all of us individually, which by extension makes it a challenge for ASHRM. Staying focused on my goal will be difficult, but my intention is to do just that.     

ASHRM code of Ethics

In May, the ASHRM Code of Ethics was mailed to all members. Following is a reprint of the Code of Ethics, as well as the letter from ASHRM president Ellen L. Barton, J.D., CPCU, DASHRM, that introduced the code.     

Keep that magic going in 2015!

Greetings and welcome to ASHRM's 35th anniversary year! As I begin my term as president, I acknowledge and appreciate the richness and depth of our organization's history and value the wisdom of our many members and volunteers who have been actively involved in ASHRM from the beginning, as well as those of us who haven't been around that long!     

Jacob and the preacher: Conversations in context,part I

“You're the child care worker. Right?” “I'm the child care worker.” “So, wadda you want? I told the old lady I'd see you because she was freaking out. I got ten minutes. Talk.” “I want to buy you a cup of coffee and tell you how to save your life.” “I don't drink coffee.” “So? What about your life?” “What are you, a missionary from the local church? Or are you just an asshole?” “If I gotta make a choice, I'd rather be an asshole. What about you?” “You're fucking crazy, man. Me, I wouldn't make a choice like that.” “That's the problem. You're not making choices. That's why your life is going to hell. And that's why I'm here: to give you the choice of saving your life. Now. Do you want to do it or don't you?” “Are you paying attention here, preacher?” “Sorry, Jacob. I was thinking about your history.” “Who gives a shit? Pay attention. I was asking you if you wanted to go over to the park with me. I got something I gotta do.” “Is it safe for me?” “Sure. Don't worry. I'll look after you. Nobody's gonna touch you if you're with me. The only thing is, you gotta do what I tell you.” “I'm glad you're looking after me, son. It always feels good to know somebody's taking care of you.”     

Professional collaboration to achieve FASHRM and DFASHRM recognition

Members of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) are undeniably talented. They also share a spirit of volunteerism. Two ASHRM committees are fostering further member collaboration to provide individual growth, enhance educational offerings for members, and strengthen the organization's journal. Though 26% of ASHRM members have attained the CPHRM credential, only 2.5% of ASHRM members have attained a fellow designation. Primary barriers to attaining a fellow designation are the requirements for continuing education and contributions to the risk management field. The organization's Journal Editorial Review Board, in concert with its Annual Conference & Exhibition Committee, encourages members to explore opportunities to write for the Journal, speak at the annual conference, and attain one of the organization's professional designations. In addition, the Barton Certificate Program in Healthcare Risk Management promotes professional development with sessions taught on this topic for new and experienced risk managers.     

Engaging ‘levers’ to guage success

In 2007, as part of its annual strategic planning process, the ASHRM board was fortunate to have the assistance of Rick Foster, an internationally known management consultant and author. Those of you who have participated in the AHA's Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship program have had the opportunity to work with Rick as he showed you what your Myers Briggs personality assessment results really mean, and how to understand different behavioral tendencies predicted by those assessments.     

“Risk management” is a verb

To optimally demonstrate the value of risk management, our actions must show the benefits. The American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) board needs to provide support through tools and resources. ASHRM members must show through their actions the value of risk management. And ASHRM members need to show the organization where actions and activities should be focused in the future. Actions show the value of enterprise risk management.     

The risk management professional and medication safety

ASHRM is committed to the future development of the healthcare risk management profession. A key contribution to this commitment is the creation of a student version of ASHRM's best‐selling Risk Management Handbook for Healthcare Organizations. The Student Edition was released this spring. It is now being made available to universities and colleges to incorporate into their degree programs.     

Leading the way to professional success

One of the goals contained in the ASHRM Strategic Plan for 2007–2009 is to develop the risk management professional in a changing healthcare environment. The goal is tremendously important to all of us.     

Learning from others: A low‐cost–high‐impact risk/opportunity identification technique

News for risk/opportunity identification (NfROI) is a tool for practitioners to leverage the journey from a risk management mindset to an enterprise risk management approach. NfROI unleashes the power of storytelling and provides a standardized format to enhance the existing practice of gleaning information from sources such as JHRM, news outlets, social media, and the ASHRM Exchange. A series of 3 examples highlight the advantages of learning from others as a complement to retrospective internal data. The stories have implications across the ASHRM's ERM Framework domains and thereby provide bridges across the pillars in the organizational chart. Learning from others can reduce costs and reveal emerging risks before the direct impact on the organization.     

The journey and Journal get better every year

As I enter into my presidency, I have been reflecting on the past and when I first learned of ASHRM and everything the society offered. I think of all the past presidents and how much I admired their knowledge and dedication to the profession of healthcare risk management.     

A new year,new opportunities for growth

Reflecting back on my 20 years in risk management, I wonder at times how I got this far. In my first risk position, to my great fortune, my boss Melinda felt it important that I attend the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) Annual Conference. Flying out of San Francisco in 1996 after the conference ended, I was in awe of the wealth of information available to me through this venue. I was grateful for those in our industry willing to share their expertise and engage me in conversation at an event where I didn't know a soul. I was hooked, and have missed just a few Annual Conferences since then.     

Closing the Gaps: Ensuring the Application of Available Knowledge in the Promotion of Health and the Prevention of Disease

Introduction by Clarence E. Pearson, President, National Center for Health Education: In my introduction of our luncheon speaker, let me try to supplement President Carter's fine remarks with a few additional items of information which will help you know Dr. Foege a little better. Bill Foege is truly what I would consider a “man for all seasons,” and for all reasons; a distinguished scientist, humanitarian, epidemiologist, global scholar, medical practitioner, educator, and really a human being extraordinaire. Dr. Foege, as Director, Carter Center of Emory University, also heads the Task Force for Child Survival, a working group of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, UNDP, and the Rockefeller Foundation. The mission of the Task Force is to assist in developing child health programs and accelerate research related to immunization activities, focusing primarily in the developing world. As an epidemiologist, he is recognized as the key person directing the successful worldwide campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. After serving as a medical missionary in Nigeria, Dr. Foege became chief of the CDC Smallpox Eradication Program. His career of public service brought him to the top of his profession when he became Director of the Centers for Disease Control of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1977, a position he held until 1983. As president of the American Public Health Association, he championed the role of health promotion in education, injury prevention, and risk reduction as tools for improving the quality of life for all people in the U.S. He earned his doctorate of medicine degree from the University of Washington and his public health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. We are pleaded to note that he also has accepted a position as a member of the recently-appointed National Commission on the Role of the School and the Community in Improving Adolescent Health. I know him as a man of conviction, commitment, vision, and lots and lots of energy. I'm pleased to introduce our co-host for this invitational conference, Dr. William Foege.     

Analysis of ASHRM membership survey on healthcare captives

This article explores the emergence of captives as a vehicle for managing healthcare risks. In 2006, the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) surveyed a segment of its membership with experience and interest in alternative risk financing about the role of healthcare captives. This article summarizes the findings and generally assesses the responses for opportunities to educate risk managers more fully on the role captives can play in managing risks.     

Taking the correct approach

Welcome to ASHRM's 27th year! We have started this year off with a fresh new look through the introduction of a new logo and publications format, as you can see from this edition of the Journal, and from the information published in the January/February edition of the Forum newsletter. This is the product of a lot of effort on the part of the ASHRM staff over the past year, and I hope you will join me in letting them know how much we appreciate their efforts to update and maintain ASHRM's positive image as a professional association.     

The experiences of risk managers in providing emotional support for health care workers after adverse events

Risk managers often meet with health care workers who are emotionally traumatized following adverse events. We surveyed members of the American Society for Health care Risk Management (ASHRM) about their training, experience, competence, and comfort with providing emotional support to health care workers. Although risk managers reported feeling comfortable and competent in providing support, nearly all respondents prefer to receive additional training. Risk managers who were comfortable listening to and supporting health care workers were more likely to report prior training. Health care organizations implementing second victim support programs should not rely solely on risk managers to provide support, rather engage and train interested risk managers and provide them with opportunities to practice.     

Jacob and the preacher: Conversations in context,part II—Jacob talks back

Freeman and the Preacher showed me the story Freeman wrote about the first time me and the Preacher met. I thought it was kind of neat, but there was some things I thought was different. So Freeman said I should tell you the same story from my point of view. I told it to him, actually, and he put it on paper because I still ain't too good at this writing thing, but he and the Preacher are teaching me how to write. I think I'll get better as time goes on. The Preacher, he says I have what's called a “natural ability.” Me. I don't know about that. Anyway, I told my side to Freeman and he wrote it. I read it and I think it's okay, you know. It ain't exactly what I said, but he said it has to be this way so other people can understand it. Like he had to take out some of the language so people don't get turned off. He's okay. I don't think he'll mess with me. Anyway, he said maybe you'd be interested and maybe you wouldn't. Sort of like life, eh? So here it is, Jacob and the Preacher from Jacob's point of view. I ain't as good at this as Freeman or the Preacher, so I just told the story. The talk that the Preacher said happened was real and everything, so I thought I would just tell you what was going on for me when the talk was going on. Freeman said that's what you wanted to know anyway. I guess you know that when me and the Preacher first met, I didn't know all this was going on inside of me. It's only since he has been helping me to be “in touch with myself” that I know that there is always all kinds of stuff going on inside. I'm still not real sure I like knowing this but he says it gets to be less of a problem with time. He says I'll read this in a few years and be surprised by how much I know. Sometimes I wonder, why bother, but he says I'll understand later. Maybe. Anyway, here it is. I would be interested in knowing whether you think it is okay. Like I said, I told it to Freeman and he wrote it out like this.     

Interdisciplinary Professional Practice Leadership within a Program Model: BC Rehab's Experience

In restructuring from a departmental to a program management model, BC Rehab successfully developed the role of professional practice leader to address clinical standards of practice and other concerns related to individual disciplines. A review of the role of professional practice leader is presented. Practice leaders are in a unique position to promote interdisciplinary, client-focused service. Because practice leaders' mandates cross program boundaries, they are able to keep the broad scope and goals of rehabilitation in the forefront, offering a balance to the program-specific perspective. It is imperative for practice leaders to maintain connections to operational and clinical issues to avoid isolation.En délaissant le modèle de gestion de services pour adopter un modèle de gestion de programmes, BC Rehab a réussi à créer le rôle de « chef de file de I'exercice professionnel» dans le domaine des normes cliniques de I'exercice professionnel et autres préoccupations liées aux disciplines individuelles. L'article qui suit examine ce rôle. Un chef de file de I'exercice professionnel occupe une place unique dans la promotion d'un service multidisciplinaire centré sur le client. Comme le mandat du chef de file lui permet de dépasser les limites de programmes particullers, il est en mesure de garder au premier plan la portée générale et les buts de la réadaptation, et faire ainsi contrepoids aux perspectives restreintes aux programmes particullers. Pour éviter I'isolement, le chef de file doit absolument demeurer au courant de I'actualité médicale et administrative.