Newsletter

March 1, 2021

 

 

Program Spotlight: Congress 2021: Still Time to Snag Early-Bird Pricing 

Did you miss the early-bird registration deadline for Congress? Not to worry—we have extended discounted pricing until March 11. As if that’s not added incentive to register, this year’s virtual event will feature an all-star line-up of speakers from the U.S. and abroad.

During “Leadership Insights: Global Learnings from the Pandemic,” healthcare leaders from across the globe will share their experiences and insights of leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Hosted by the International Hospital Federation, this session will feature Bertrand Levrat, CEO, University Hospitals Geneva; Risto Miettunen, MedSc, chief executive, Kuopio University Hospital District; Lesley Dwyer, CEO, Central Adelaide Local Health Network; and Lee Chien Earn, deputy group CEO, SingHealth.

Another session hosted by IHF, “Experiences From Being a Hospital Internationalist CEO: What Is It Like to Lead a Hospital in a Foreign Country?” will highlight executives from the United States sharing their experiences and insights of leading a hospital in a foreign country. Ron Lavater, FACHE, CEO, International Hospital Federation; Linda Clark, FACHE, CEO, Corniche Hospital; David Hoidal, CEO, Delta Health China; and Ben Frank, FACHE, market president, Chen Medical, will discuss lessons learned on leadership style, approach and skills needed to succeed in leading a hospital overseas.

We hope you’ll join us March 22–25 for this year’s virtual Congress. Visit ache.org/Congress to register and to learn more.

Explore the Process of Earning the FACHE® Credential

Thinking about becoming board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of ACHE? Chart your course for earning the credential with a complimentary webinar. Join us March 11 for a complimentary Fellow advancement information session. During this live-streamed webinar, participants will gain a complete overview of the process of earning the FACHE credential and will be able to ask questions. The presentation will cover:

  • Eligibility requirements and how to know which ones you’ve met.
  • The application process and what materials you will need.
  • Deciding whether now is the right time for you to pursue the FACHE credential.
  • Setting your expectations for the Board of Governors Exam, from knowing what’s covered to how to prepare to do your best.

Although the webinar is free, it does require registration. Learn more and register today.

Quality and Safety Uninterrupted 

With the pandemic having reached the one-year mark and vaccine administration underway, many healthcare professionals have doubled down on their commitment to quality and safety.  During times of crisis like this past year, it’s possible to loosen one’s grip on quality and safety goals. However, as you will read in the March/April 2021 Healthcare Executive cover story, the strain of COVID-19 has not diluted healthcare workers’ commitment to achieving zero harm. In this feature, healthcare leaders from major academic medical centers and a community hospital within a larger system share how they’re working to sustain quality and safety momentum in these demanding times. For example, pairing clinical and nonclinical leaders is one best practice that helps to meet the needs of patients.

Other features of note in this issue include a profile of ACHE’s 2021–2022 Chair, Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of the Northern California Region, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan & Hospitals, Oakland, Calif., and reflections from the outgoing Chairman, Michael J. Fosina, FACHE, president, NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, Bronxville, N.Y., and senior vice president, NewYork-Presbyterian, New York.

Visit HealthcareExecutive.org to read more of the new issue of ACHE’s official magazine, as well as exclusive web extras. 

Leading With Influence 

Today’s healthcare environment calls for collaboration, efficiency and results, often while working with people from different organizations. To lead affectively in this field, it is helpful for executives to behave in ways that positively influence the feelings, thoughts and actions of others. From March 17 through April 28, “Leading With Influence, Not Authority,” will provide healthcare leaders with the tools they’ll need to be more influential and decisive.

Expert faculty William F. Martin, PsyD, director and professor/diversity administrator, Health Sector Management, DePaul University, will lead this six-week online seminar, worth 6 ACHE Qualified Education credits. By the end of this course, attendees will be able to recognize the importance of interpersonal influence to one’s personal and organizational success, explain the science of behavioral finance and how it can be used to influence others, and determine when to switch from influencing without authority to disciplining with authority. Learn more and register today.

A New Framework for Healthcare Performance Improvement

“While depicted as discreet strategies, change levers are often employed with other levers. For example, process improvement frequently drives changes in role design, improvements in facility layout, and efforts to match resources to work demand,” writes author Gary M. Auton in chapter 3 of his new book 18 Levers for High-Impact Performance Improvement: How Healthcare Organizations Can Accelerate Change and Sustain Results. Bridging the gap between performance improvement theory and its real-world application, this book applies systems engineering principles and methods to such critical topics as strategic growth, portfolio management, revenue cycle and clinical utilization improvement. Auton applies knowledge gained during more than 30 years of consulting, presenting a framework of 18 performance improvement “levers” that healthcare leaders can deploy at various levels and degrees throughout an organization. Order your copy today. 

CMS Urges Hospitals to Comply With Medicare Transfer Billing Policy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reminding hospitals to bill post-acute care transfers correctly. In a recent report, the Office of the Inspector General found Medicare improperly paid inpatient claims subject to the transfer policy because many hospitals did not properly code inpatient claims as a discharge to home when patients resumed home health services within three days of discharge. To bill correctly, CMS is urging hospitals to read a previous article it shared regarding hospital compliance with Medicare’s transfer policy with the resumption of home health services. Additionally, CMS is encouraging hospitals to visit the fiscal year 2021 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule webpage to stay up to date on the latest policy changes and payment updates. Other resources related to this topic include the following: