ASHRM
CIT catches up with ASHRM executives ahead of the association’s annual conference to find out what’s in store for attendees this year
Why was ASHRM established?
Andrew Oppenberg: ASHRM filled a previously unmet need in the healthcare environment. What began as the American Society for Hospital Risk Management evolved into the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM), a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association (AHA). We support healthcare risk managers by serving as their voice, building awareness about the profession, delivering the information they need and fuelling their career development. Today, nearly 6000 members and 40 affiliated local chapters represent ASHRM’s variety of healthcare-related entities with clinical, legal and financial interests.
ASHRM was formed more than 30 years ago. Why do you think that the association has been so successful?
Oppenberg: Our continued success hinges on the unflagging commitment of our volunteers and past and current leaders. From the pioneers who first saw the need for a society of like-minded healthcare professionals to all of the members who have contributed to its growth, it is their collective dedication that has made ASHRM a world-class organisation. We continue to be the global resource leader in the field of healthcare risk management by meeting our members’ evolving needs through world-class education and effective professional networking opportunities, driven and supported by our dedicated member volunteers.
What has been on the agenda for ASHRM this year?
Oppenberg: Through careful analysis of industry trends, membership needs and shifts in the healthcare risk management profession, ASHRM has identified four initiatives and subsequent goals that will serve as a guide for its leaders, staff and members. These goals will assist ASHRM in reaching its full potential in bringing healthcare risk management and patient safety to the forefront of the healthcare community, assuring safe and trusted healthcare for everyone. The initiatives and goals include facilitating effective decision making in the healthcare industry through the application of enterprise risk management, advancing patient safety through a value-driven approach, and leading the healthcare industry in embracing and implementing an enterprise risk management approach.
How effective is the captive insurance structure as a healthcare risk management tool?
Ellen Grady-Venditti: Captives typically offer an organisation more control related to risk mitigation decisions and early claims resolution. Additionally, the savings appreciated from lower premiums offered by the captive can be utilised for loss prevention/patient safety activities by the organisation. Many captives offer risk management grants for loss prevention activities in the organisation, which places risk management and loss prevention activities front and centre in the organisation, which is a benefit for patients, providers, staff and the organisation as a whole.
What can we expect from this year’s ASHRM conference?
Oppenberg: Our conference is being held this year in beautiful downtown Austin, Texas. This year’s theme, ‘Everyone is a Risk Manager’ (ERM), emphasises the vital role that all healthcare workers hold as guardians of patient safety—from nurses to paramedics, to pharmacists, physicians and beyond.
The myriad networking and learning opportunities along with the 70 educational sessions over six tracks—claims and litigation, risk financing, patient safety, leadership development, ERM, and legal and regulatory—offers something for every level. In fact, ASHRM strives to provide healthcare risk managers and patient safety professionals with the most efficient, effective educational programmes possible.
This year, as a result of recent efforts, the 2013 concurrent sessions will be offered according to the following levels:
Foundation level sessions: material covered is foundational for effective healthcare risk management. The material is designed for participants with three years or less experience in the domain of practice presented in the session.
Practitioner level sessions: material is designed for participants who have a working knowledge of the topic with a minimum of three years of experience in the domain of practice.
Advanced level sessions: material is designed for participants who have a detailed knowledge of the topic and specific experience applying or using this knowledge in a professional capacity over a period of at least 10 years.
Attendees will also enjoy a live educational simulation, lunch-and-learn events such as bite-sized learning sessions, presentations in our industry spotlight theatre, and so much more.
Are there any particular speakers/panel discussions that attendees should look out for?
Oppenberg: ASHRM has an impressive lineup of keynote speakers this year. On the first day of the conference, attendees will enjoy an informative and thought-provoking presentation by Ian Morrison, entitled The Future of the Healthcare Marketplace: Playing the New Game.
ASHRM’s keynote panel, Everyone is a Risk Manager, will be moderated by Grace Crickette, senior vice president and chief risk and compliance officer at triple-A of Northern California, Nevada and Utah.
The panel will discuss ERM—the comprehensive, organisation-wide framework for risk management that includes all healthcare employees. Panel members will comment on their role in regards to patient safety and risk management and will offer insight into managing risks in their area of expertise.
Panellists consist of members from other personal membership groups from the AHA, including leaders from the societies that support professionals in materials management, patient advocacy, HR, and healthcare engineering and facilities management.
ASHRM’s closing keynote features astronaut, best-selling author and husband of former congresswoman, Gabby Giffords, Captain Mark Kelly, who will deliver an inspirational presentation on how we can ‘endeavour to succeed’ by combining teamwork, leadership, and communication while maintaining an unwavering commitment to family.
