Message from the Past President
Final thoughts as the reins are turned over
I want to thank my board for their leadership and teamwork in reaching out working together to reach our members. 2008 has been filled with a number of milestones for our North Florida Chapter:
- Networking events were held in the cities of Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Pensacola,
- Local program councils are being organized in all of our major cities and our Director of the Panhandle LPC was recognized with a Regent’s Award for her efforts,
- Educational events were offered to enable members to earn category I or II continuing education credits,
- Task force focused on coordinating our first workshop on board of governors exam preparation was organized with the goal of offering a program in early 2009,
- Planning was undertaken to launch a new E-newsletter format beginning with our quarterly newsletters in 2009,
- Aramark has agreed to serve as our corporate sponsor in support of our educational events,
- Florida A&M University has been engaged to participate in chapter activities,
- Four individuals were recognized with ACHE Service Awards for their volunteer efforts with respect to chapter activities,
As you think about your wish list for your personal development in 2009, be sure to add participating in local ACHE activities. Why? Your chapter board is bringing together opportunities for you to learn about critical issues in our industry, to meet healthcare executives in our region and to mentor our graduate students and up-and-comers in the healthcare field.
Happy New Year!
Peggy Mortensen, FACHE
Past President,
ACHE North Florida Chapter
Message from the President
The holiday season is upon us and we have much to be thankful for. From my standpoint, I am sure that we would all like to thank Peggy for her leadership, vision, and cheerleading over the last six years (the last two as president). I admire her drive and the list of accomplishments that she has been able to navigate through the North Florida Chapter. I look forward to working with Peggy in her new role of past president and only hope that I can live up to the standard that she has set.
The New Year is generally a time to pause and reflect on the past and prepare for the future. We have a strong program planned for 2009 due to the hard work of all the committees. We can always use more hands in the mix—offering up new ideas. We especially want to encourage those in the areas outside of Jacksonville to check out the LPCs in Panhandle, Tallahassee, and Gainesville. We want to be able to provide all ACHE members with a highly valued experience. The membership from each of these areas may have a different take on what that experience should be so we need your feedback and participation.
I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season and I look forward to hearing from you in the 2009.
Tom
Regent Message: The Adventure
Quote for the day: Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. -Helen Keller, 1880-1968
I seem to be assaulted daily with validation that Helen was right: Security doesn’t exist. I recall my mother and father schooling me about planning for security. They were children of the Great Depression, and their greatest fear as parents was that their children might one day experience the hunger and despair of such a time. My father was one of those soldiers abandoned in the Philippines, when the Japanese surge was too great, and the allies pulled back, leaving many behind for a time, to survive as best they could until they could come back to the rescue of those that had been wiser, or more cunning, or luckier….and survived. My parents clung firmly to the ideals of safety and security. They lived in the same town that they grew up in, in the same home that had been in some family member’s hands for more than a century. Sort of like that foxhole that my dad survived in….at least until the hand grenade that forced him out of it…..and temporarily took his sight and hearing. I believe that they were right, for them, it was all about safety and security. After all, without that foxhole, I wouldn’t exist, since I hadn’t yet been conceived.
Still. I think that my life and my time, as well as yours, demands a different drummer. Life lived in the professional world of leadership in healthcare organizations is not about seeking safety and security for ourselves - even though we dedicate much of our time seeking to provide safety and security for our patients, our employees, and our organizations – it often means we accept the risk that goes with that challenge. We seek out exposure and run to it, mindfully, perhaps, but we go for it all the same. We look for business opportunities, like the Columbus looked for the “New World”. We look for efficiency like Ponce De Leon looked for the “Fountain of Youth”. We seek Core Measure 100% compliance with the same determination that Tiger had in the U.S. Open. We hunt for the perfect candidate for the toughest position, like a heat-seeking missile. As well we should, particularly when our reimbursement and margins are shrinking faster than the ozone layer. Particularly when …... the risky business of health care delivery is being seen as one of the best employment opportunities out there. Particularly when …… Internal Medicine residency requests are shrinking faster than the Primary Care Physician shortage is growing. Particularly when ……. baby boomers are reaching the health care consumer age in far greater numbers than the number of young adults are seeking health care careers. Particularly when …….. our 401Ks as dropping value faster than a cold air balloon. Health care leadership – It’s not for wimps!
Helen got it right for me; avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is a daring exposure. If there’s one thing that I have learned in my time in health care that affects my own “Risk/Benefit” barometer it’s this: No one gets out of here alive.
Linda Lemon-Steiner
Regent
Regent Award to One of our Own
Every year the ACHE Regent selects two outstanding individuals who have made distinctive contributions in our profession. The categories of awards are Senior-Level Healthcare Executive, Early Careerist, and “Other”. This “Other” category is reserved for those whose service and contribution are significant and distinguished, but not within the defined parameters of “Early” or “Senior”. This year a member of the North Florida chapter was a recipient, Lidia Webb, Director, Panhandle Local Program Council.
Lidia Webb is a Registered Nurse, and FACHE. She has been a tireless and committed member of the ACHE, and particularly admired by her colleagues in ACHE Northern Florida. Lidia stepped forward to serve as the Panhandle Local Program Council Director when the ACHE North Florida Chapter was initiated as a charter chapter in 2004. She networked with ACHE members in Fort Walton Beach – Pensacola area and coordinated several education and networking events focusing on current issues.
Lidia completed her Radiologic Technology degree in 1978 at Bergen Community College, her B.S.N. at William Patterson College in 1985, and her Master’s in Healthcare Administration at Troy State University in 1994. Lidia retired from the Air Force this past April after a remarkable career, serving in progressively responsible roles including Nurse Executive, Commander, and Chief of Performance Improvement and Compliance. Lidia’s commitment to the program and leadership development in our Panhandle has been exemplary. She is always willing to take on a challenge and turn it into a positive experience, with minimal assistance and resources. Lidia is a spark, and serves as an inspiration to others in the North Florida region, particularly the Panhandle. Lidia is currently the Director of Quality and Risk Management for HealthSouth Emerald Coast Rehabilitation Hospital in Panama City.
We congratulate Lidia on her accomplishments and recognition for this prestigious award.
Peggy Mortensen, FACHE
Greetings from the Gainesville Local Program Council (LPC)
The Gainesville Local Planning Council had a fall kick-off event October 9th at the 2 Bits Lounge in the UF Hilton. The kick-off was a success! Approximately twenty people attended and enjoyed a light evening of networking with other local healthcare leaders and health administration students.
Upcoming events in the Gainesville area include a visit from the ACHE Chairman in February and an educational event sponsored by Aramark that will be held in conjunction with the University of Florida MHA program. Check the website for updates and details!
If you are interested in becoming involved in planning an area event or would like more information, please contact Leslie Jebson at jebsolr@ufl.edu or Jennifer French at frenjn@shands.ufl.edu.
Greetings from the Jacksonville Local Program Council (LPC)
First and foremost, thank you! The Jacksonville LPC has experienced a busy and successful year which could not have happened without the planning efforts of our LPC members and the participation of local ACHE members. Over this calendar year, we offered six educational/ networking events with the opportunity to earn a total of five Category I credits.
With a goal of providing local opportunities to meet your professional development needs, your Jacksonville LPC doesn’t plan to slow the pace in 2009. Already, we are planning for the visit of the ACHE Chairman, Major General David A. Rubenstein, FACHE on February 5th, 2008 at the University of North Florida University Center.
Ajani N. Dunn, FACHE
Director, Jacksonville LPC
Tallahassee Local Program Council (LPC)
Organizational meeting for the Local Program Council in Tallahassee was held in December. After reviewing the purpose of the local council and the resources available through Jacksonville and the national website, Tim Rearick guided the group through the options. It was decided that the focus over the next twelve months will be on educational programming. The LPC will be reaching out to the Florida State University's law school and college of medicine in putting together the first education session on universal health care coverage. Check out our website for updates on calendar events and meetings.
Greetings from the Panhandle Local Program Council (LPC)
The Panhandle Local Program Council, led by Lidia Webb is sponsoring an event! Colonel Tama Van Decar, Anesthesiologist and Commander of the 96th Medical Group, Eglin Air Force Base will be speaking on “The Value of Networking” at 8:00PM, January 27th, in the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. The council looks forward to your attendance and guarantees an enlighten session from US Air Force Administrator’s perspective.
That’s not all! Keep an eye out for the Spring council gathering. The meeting will be held in April and sponsored by the 325 Medical Group. Don’t miss these great opportunities for networking and share experience/expertise on a wide range of healthcare management topics. For more information, contact Lidia Webb at Lidia.Webb@healthsouth.com or via telephone 850-914-8631.
Lidia P. Webb, RN, MPA, FACHE
Chair, Panhandle LPC
Greetings from the University of Florida Health Administration Student Association
The University of Florida Health Administration Student Association has worked hard this semester to not only raise funds for ACHE Congress, but also increase the awareness of needs in our community. With the hard times that many families in the Gainesville area experiencing, the organization decided to conduct a food drive. Through the associations donations we were able to make the season a bit brighter in what appeared to be a very difficult Thanksgiving for many area families.
In the upcoming semester we are planning to participate with a local grocer in a wine and cheese fund raiser and have a kickball tournament. Both events are designed to help raise funds that will be used to help offset travel expenses for the 2009 Congress on Healthcare Leadership and to provide support to local Little League players.
As the holiday season approaches please take time to remember those who are in need. A little help from those more fortunate can make an impact in so many ways.
Warm Holiday Wishes,
Kitty Riggs
President, UF Health Administration Student Association
