2014 Board of Directors Election Candidate Narratives. Candidates for President-elect (Social Worker)

Transcription

1 2014 Board of Directors Election Candidate Narratives Candidates for President-elect (Social Worker)

2 Pam Foster, LCSW, MBA/HCM, ACM It is an honor to be considered for nomination to the President-Elect Board position of ACMA. It has been my great privilege to serve in multiple leadership positions within ACMA over the past several years and I am tremendously proud of the work this organization has done to represent the interests of the ever growing and changing field of Health System Case Management. The ACMA has remained strongly committed to providing education and services for those who serve in this complex field and consistently strives to identify and serve the needs of its members. For that reason, I fully support the initiatives and work of the ACMA and take great pride in my affiliation with this organization. For the past 22 years, I have dedicated my career to Case Management in the form of direct practice and leadership roles. I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from many great Case Management Professionals in multiple settings across the healthcare delivery system over these years. It has always been my practice to collaborate with all disciplines involved in the field and to leverage the expertise of each discipline in the best interest of the patient. Case Management Professionals often balance multiple, competing demands every day, but their ability to put the needs of their patients first is what makes them truly outstanding members of the healthcare delivery team. The Case Management Profession s ability to deliver excellent patient care in a constantly changing environment gives me great hope for the future. Although healthcare has undergone fundamental change in the last few years, I remain confident in our profession s ability to meet the challenges ahead. Case Management Professionals will deliver on the promise of healthcare reform and take a central role in its success. My vision is that the ACMA will be instrumental in helping us to meet these challenges and I would be honored to lead in that endeavor. As a leader in Case Management, I have strived to maintain solid leadership attributes including: strong competency in all aspects of the field, a healthy vision for Case Management s role in the future of healthcare, measureable and achievable goals through defined accountability structures, strong communication and interpersonal skills including emotionally intelligent conflict resolution, and ability to motivate and inspire others through difficult times of change. Finally, as a leader, I have never failed to lose touch with front-line staff and seek to understand the issues they face. It has been through coming along side front-line staff that I truly understand the day to day challenges of the Case Management Professional. I believe that the key to unlocking success is to listen to those who are closest to the work and remain responsive to their needs. That is the only way we will achieve success, remove barriers, and deliver the best patient care possible. If I were to be elected to the position of President-Elect, I would apply these same leadership standards and commitments. My highest priority as a leader in the ACMA has always been to serve member needs, mentor Chapter and Committee leaders, and represent the interests of Case Management to policy makers at the national level. I remain strongly and passionately committed to these priorities and to the

3 organization s mission. Additionally, I am confident that ACMA will lead the Profession in this new era of healthcare reform so that we may provide excellent care of the highest quality to our patient populations. It is one of the great honors of my career to be considered for this leadership role in ACMA. Terry Ortiz, LCSW, ACSW, ACM Upon self-reflection on the skills and experience I to bring to ACMA, the old myth People never really change crossed my mind. Is this true? In some ways I believe we are all wired with certain traits and propensities that color our interactions with others in our daily lives. So we, may not change as in metamorphose into something we are not. However, I like to think (and hope) that we all can Grow. I my career, I have seen growth, personally, professionally and as a Leader. A lot is due to the encouragement, skills, knowledge, and support I have gained through my activities with ACMA. One year ago, I changed jobs, moving to a large inner city safety -net teaching health care system. With health care reform on the move the 150 year old institution is just ripe for instituting care coordination. I was asked to develop a plan for implementation of a collaborative model. Because of the superior education and networking with other leaders through my involvement with ACMA I was able to develop a comprehensive plan that is in the process of implementation. I don t know if organizations can be mentors but if they can, ACMA is it for me. My vision for ACMA is to expand awareness of the organization, keep the education, networking and advocacy strong so that ACMA can continue to help grow future leaders of the profession. My attributes as a leader may have been there, but ACMA has helped me develop and put them into action. I would like to give back to the organization, with these offerings: I am a strategic, big picture thinker, able to see how individual efforts, the political climate, the institution, and timing can converge for change. I can effectively communicate with most anyone. I am able to address difficult issues in a direct but sensitive manor, which makes it easier for others to hear what I am saying. In a group or committee I listen and am able to point out common ground between dissenting view points. I encourage collaborative decision making with my staff, but can make hard decisions on my own when necessary. As I have grown and matured in my career, I have been able to mentor others in my previous organizations as well as my current. I am good at articulating others strengths with concrete examples. I would be honored to serve ACMA and be able to continue giving to future leaders what the organization has given me.

4 2014 Board of Directors Election Candidate Narratives Candidates for Member-at-Large (Nurse)

5 Joan Brueggeman, RN, BSN, CPUM I am honored to be nominated as a potential board member at large for ACMA. I am currently a clinical nurse manager in a mid-level suburban hospital in Wisconsin and oversee a group of 35 individuals who work in Utilization Management and Care Coordination. I have been a nurse for 27 years with the last 20 years of this time working in case management and/or utilization management. The reason I am interested in serving the members of ACMA thru a board position are based on my passion for case management and my interest in ACMA. My passion is in case management and the work that is being done by dedicated individuals across the country in this field of practice. The people who do this work never cease to surprise or amaze me at their ingenuity and resilience. Each and every day, individuals like you, across the country work thru difficult and complex patient and family health care situations to work towards best outcomes and treatment plans. The ACMA is a great organization with dedicated volunteers, leaders and staff that are committed to keeping our profession up to date and active in the fields of nursing and social services. One of the things I like best about the ACMA is the collaboration of nurses and social workers sharing their work and perspectives. Nurses and social workers have different education and training but these differences make us a stronger collaborative force to improve patient care and health care delivery. The individuals that do this work are involved to make people s lives better and improve outcomes while being stewards of health care dollars. I believe I can be an effective leader for you because I have walked the walk for many years and know the challenges and barriers that our professions are up against with health care reform and changes that are on the horizon. I have been involved with volunteering most of my life in both helper and leadership capacities. In addition to serving on the 2 National ACMA committees this year and for the past 6 years on the Wisconsin Chapter ACMA board and educational planning committees, I have also been involved in volunteering to teach and serve in my community (i.e. religious education, sports programs, etc.). I hope that you will give me the opportunity to help strengthen our profession over the next two years. I will work hard for our ACMA members to continue to move our professions and work forward in these challenging days, months and years ahead Thank you for considering me. Joan Doreen Day, MS, RN, ACM Since my early days in Nursing I have been seen as a leader. I was the first to take students and was put in charge of the units when the regular charge nurse was off. My communication style is to get to the point quickly and not mince words. I have been very successful by including staff in the decision-making process so they buy into changes and new strategies. As a Case Manager I developed strong bonds with my medical teams. As a Case Manager Supervisor I reach across to the many medical and ancillary departments to promote case management and to encourage free communication and point out where we can be of assistance to each other. In times of conflict I encourage staff to step away if there is a volatile situation. If discussion can occur I ask them to isolate themselves and the other person to calmly

6 discuss the issue. I would only intervene if the parties are unable to resolve their conflicts. As mentioned earlier, I am always the first to embrace students or orientees. I have educated New RNs and nursing students regarding the role of case managers. ACMA needs to do more advertising to the medical community. In my area I never see any mention of ACMA but there is a flurry of information about CMSA. Also, if we are promoting the ACM credential we need to have training classes for the test all around the country, not just at the National Convention. I would meet with Case Management Departments to discuss the beginning of ACMA state chapters in all regions where there are none. I have attended all the ACMA National Conventions since I have attended the Connecticut ACMA Convention 4 times. I have attended the ACMA Leadership Conference in Newport, RI. I have been a member of the Legislative and Research Committees. I am presently a member of the Fund Raising Committee. Candice Krill, MS, MBA, RN, ACM Leadership Attributes I believe I consistently demonstrate strong leadership ability as evidenced by my success at implementing change at the unit level and across organizations I have worked for. I consistently demonstrate a commitment to excellence and high standards. Over the years, I have had to implement changes that have been difficult and not well received at first. By maintaining a positive attitude, listening to the concerns of colleagues, and showing respect for different opinions, I have been successful in these activities. An example of this is my implementation of a Case Management Program at a hospital that had never had one before. This program was not received positively by all stakeholders. By identifying physician champions and working with the staff in my department on effective communication skills and collaboration skills, the program was rolled out smoothly and the metrics were met. I also have a strong passion for what I do. The integration of quality with financial reimbursement and coordination of care across the continuum is challenging and exciting to me. The development of strong, multifaceted teams who communicate effectively with each other and with our patients and families is something that I am very proud to be a part of. This represents one of the most exciting areas of health care reform. Communication Skills I am able to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization: the Board of Directors, the C-Suite, Leadership and direct-care staff. I am very comfortable with presentations at a local and national level and have spoken at many local and national conferences.

7 I believe that I am articulate and well-versed in topics relevant to Case Management, and Health Care in general. When there is cause for different opinions, I am respectful of those with different perspectives while still maintaining my own view. In addition to excellent presentation and verbal skills, I demonstrate superior written skills, which is evidenced by my published research articles and poster presentations. Visionary/Strategy One of the key components of strategic thinking is evaluating an organization or process at all levels. As the first state chapter president, I had the privilege of working with other board members with a variety of perspectives on what our chapter should look like and how it should function. We were able to pull these differing views together to build a very successful chapter that has been in operation for over 10 years. I have always been proud to belong to the Illinois Chapter of the American Case Management Association. In today s ever-changing world of health care, we are called to respond effectively and efficiently to profound changes in the market place and in reimbursement. I have always demonstrated flexibility in my work and also have a strong understanding of organizational thinking and systems analysis. Supervisory/Task Orientation I have over 25 years of experience in leadership at the manager and director level. In these roles I have overseen as many as 48 direct reports in addition to assuming other supervisory responsibilities when asked. I have frequently hired staff that is new to the field, be it Critical Care Nursing, Case Management/Social Work, or Infection Control and have overseen their practice so that they are successful in their careers. In addition to excellent skills related to staff supervision, I have exceptional project management skills and have overseen the timely implementation of numerous projects, such as the implementation of a Safe Patient Handling Program, to improve staff and patient safety. Relationship Building Over the years, I have developed strong professional and personal relations with my colleagues. I have profoundly enjoyed getting to know people and working with such a diverse group of professionals in all my roles. It truly has made work, even hard work, interesting and enjoyable. One of my favorite professional organizations has been ACMA. I truly have had a great time, whether it is speaking at a local/national conference, developing a state chapter, or going out to dinner. From an organizational perspective, I have developed strong professional relationships at all levels of the organizations I have worked for, and believe I bring a positive and knowledgeable perspective to meetings, projects, and programs. Conflict Resolution One of my strengths is respecting differences of opinion and working to bring all stakeholders to the same page. In my many years as a health care professional, there have been numerous times when I have had to deal with conflict, particularly as it relates to change.

8 Conflict, in and of itself can bring increased understanding and cohesiveness to any group. I believe I am able to harness the energy that arises from conflict and use it to positively move a group or project along. The key to conflict resolution is to understand that the fact that conflict exists is not necessarily a bad thing and to consistently show respect for everyone s opinion. Mentoring Over the years, I have been in a position to mentor in many different arenas. As a manager of directcare nurses, I was responsible for hiring both new and experienced nurses. When developing and implementing a Case Management Program, I was charged with hiring the entire department, no easy feat. In all my roles, I have enjoyed nurturing and working with staff for professional development purposes. I have also worked with leaders and provided mentoring, either by sharing my experience with a new leader, or my knowledge of a particular subject with a seasoned professional. I find that I receive many positive rewards from counseling and guiding others. One of these rewards is an increase in my own knowledge as I work to answer questions and concerns. Responsiveness to Member Needs As a founding member of the Illinois State Chapter, the newly elected board quickly found that identifying and responding to member needs was a vital component of building our chapter. We surveyed potential members by phone or to determine the best locations for conferences, popular topics for discussion/presentation, and even the type of food to serve at our local conference!! Another key activity was the networking that members do with vendors at our local conference this is a topic that is revisited every year in order to maximize the experience for our members. As chair of NBCM, I believe I also demonstrated a consistent responsiveness to member needs as the Board evaluated requests and questions from members. The board of the Illinois Chapter is constantly looking for new and better ways to serve our members and to improve member services. Suzanne Wilson, RN, MBA It is an honor to be nominated for the American Case Management Association National Board of Directors as a Nurse Board Member-at-Large. I am confident that my years of leadership experience will allow me to be an effective board member on behalf of my colleagues. I have worked in various leadership capacities throughout my career predominantly in the hospital/health system setting. I am a founding Board Member for the South Carolina Chapter of the ACMA established in I have served in various positions for our chapter since its inception including President from 2008 to 2010 and am currently President-Elect. Our collective efforts in South Carolina have allowed us to achieve the distinction as an ACMA Chapter of Excellence. I have been privileged to work with a dynamic, committed group of professionals in our state. Our success and collaboration as a chapter have propelled our work forward as professionals in the state and region. This collaborative approach has

9 allowed our chapter to establish enduring partnerships with our hospital association, the state quality improvement organization, and other state agencies. Over recent years, I have had the privilege of serving at the national level on various ACMA committees. My longest appointment has been with the Public Policy Committee since This is a motivated, dedicated group of colleagues working to keep the critical issues impacting our work at the forefront and ensuring we have a collective voice with legislators in Washington, DC. I have also served on the National Conference Planning Committee and Chapter Advisory Council. The fundamental strength of ACMA is in its membership and vision. We need to ensure ACMA members are abreast of the ever changing healthcare environment and our potential influence in shaping the present and our future as case management professionals. If elected to the ACMA National Board of Directors, I will utilize my professional experiences and skills to be part of a collaborative, forward thinking organization to advance our profession in this ever changing healthcare environment. We collectively play a critical and pivotal role in advancing healthcare and our opportunity abounds in healthcare reform. I would welcome the opportunity to be part of making this vision a reality if elected to this role on behalf of my colleagues nationally. Thank you for your consideration.

10 2014 Board of Directors Election Candidate Narratives Candidates for Member-at-Large (Social Worker)

11 Pat Kramer, Ed. S, CCM, NCC, CSW My career in case management began in the discharge planning days when social workers did all the discharge planning and UR was done retrospectively by Medical Records staff! Over the 26 years of my career, I have seen Case Management as a profession develop and grow. I have had the privilege of leading change in the field by combining social work departments and UR departments in several hospitals creating a stronger Case Management department each time. I was successful at these endeavors because I truly value both disciplines (nursing and social work) and the strengths and skills each brings to the profession. I value staff as individuals and seek to develop each person to the extent they wish to grow. This leads to one of my passions mentoring younger people, both professionally and personally. I am at the point in my life where I am in Erickson s stage of development called Generativity-vs-Stagnation. In this stage, adults need to nurture things that will outlast them. I am totally committed to sharing my knowledge with others, sharing my experience and hopefully helping others grow in knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed at whatever they choose to try. Members of my staff have presented posters in 2009, 2010, two in 2012 one in 2013 and will present one this year. Presenting has allowed them to not only showcase their work but also to attend the National Conference each year. I want to create positive changes that have a lasting benefit. That is how I face my workday and how I live my life. Watching others succeed, especially if I have had the privilege of helping them, is a source of joy to me. This is why I would appreciate a term on the Board of the ACMA. Case Management is positioned to be a major player in healthcare as it changes today and in the years to come. I want to ensure that a new generation of case managers is ready to meet the challenges of this ever-changing environment. Skills I see these case managers needing include adaptability, flexibility, a keen understanding of regulatory changes (that seem to occur almost daily), excellent communication ability, a true understanding of the importance of relationships, networking, and systems thinking and conflict resolution and problem solving to deal with tightening resource availability and challenging reimbursement and coverage issues we are facing daily. The ACMA is a perfect vehicle to provide the framework and the venue for this learning both on the National level and in State Chapters. The education provided at National conferences is targeted specifically to our needs as Health Care System case managers and the National association supports the growth and development of chapters so education can also be provided in an affordable way relatively close to home. Additionally, the Advocacy Committee of the Board is vital to making the voice of Case Management heard in Washington and in North Carolina we have been able to make our voice heard through collaboration with our State Hospital Association. These are critical avenues to make real issues apparent to legislators. The National Board can assist the State Chapters to leverage connections they have locally to start the effort at the grass roots level to communicate and advocate for our patients.

12 Ann Scotti, LCSW, ACM It is an honor to be nominated as a potential ACMA Board Member. Since joining ACMA and attending the national conference nine years ago, it was if I had found in ACMA my professional home. Immediately, I applied for the ACM and was in the first group to take the exam and become certified. I describe ACMA to others as THE organization which is comprised of case management nurses, social workers, and physicians from throughout the country who are doing what we do and who are grappling with the same issues. The education that is provided, the exchange of information by colleagues, the public policy advocacy, and the standards for case management practice in health care are all strong reasons why I am proud to be part of ACMA. It was my pleasure to be on the Planning Committee for last year s National Conference; it continues to be my pleasure to be on the Editorial Board for ACMA s Collaborative Case Management. If elected, I would consider it a privilege to serve as an ACMA Board Member. Leadership Attributes: I am committed to the role of case management in the delivery of care to patients and their families. And, I am just as committed to demonstrating the value and the outcomes of case management within the Organization and Health Care System. It is critical for a leader to demonstrate knowledge of the mission and values and key objectives and the relationship to the work of case management. As the Director of Care Coordination in my organization, I have been selected to lead multiple hospital initiatives; this is a reflection of a consistent level of case management practice which has become integrated into the organization such that our leadership skill set is recognized. Communication Skills: At my recent performance review, the Senior Executive to whom I report (CNO) told me that I have the ability to communicate clearly and to keep all staff informed. She called me transparent and said that I have direct and necessary discussions with others while caring for them as people. When she told me this, I thanked her and I thought: I can t imagine doing it any other way. Visionary/Strategy: While the number of years I have spent in hospital case management are enough to earn the label experienced, I would say that those years have been, and continue to be, exciting and ever-changing. An important key is to have a vision for future state and to work towards the realization in a proactive manner. Our hospital has a current major initiative for implementing our strategic plan; I was selected to lead a major component. Supervisory/Task Orientation: I bring a strong skill set in leading staff and work groups creating work plans, identifying appropriate resources and processes, setting priorities, delegating, coaching, and meeting deadlines. Relationship Building: Engaging others, fostering cooperation and trust, and leading by example are all critical in developing and strengthening partnerships both internally with other disciplines and departments and with

13 community and post-acute providers. Some of the most rewarding work that I have had during the past couple of years is with a Transitions Collaborative which I developed and lead as well as partnering with area agencies and hospitals to successfully receive funding for a Transitions in Care Initiative. Conflict Resolution: Important to first listen and understand the perspectives of all involved whether individuals or entities. Then, honest, transparent, objective communication and goal-setting is the key. These are required skills for any successful leader. Mentoring: We have a professional responsibility to develop and mentor future case management professionals and leaders. For me, this area is one of the most rewarding. It is exciting to see the development and growth of those whom we guide. We need to give serious attention to developing future case management staff and leaders. Responsiveness to Member Needs: Any nominated or elected position is about service. And, service requires responsiveness to members and to representing concerns and ideas and providing bi-directional feedback. What is Your Vision or Perceived Opportunities for ACMA and How Would You Help us Achieve Those? ACMA has already appropriately moved from hospital case management to Health Care Delivery System Case Management and Transitions of Care Professionals. As models of health care delivery continue to change, the scope of ACMA has the potential to become even broader. The challenge will be to continue and even strengthen the consistency of practice as settings of practice and roles expand. I look forward to exploration and consideration of the various components of health system case management and the impact on case management delivery and staffing models. I would like to see more development regarding the case management workforce of the future. I am concerned that the demand for case management nurses and social workers will exceed the existing means of attracting professionals/obtaining the requisite skill set. I would like to be involved in creative strategies to insure that we have an adequate supply of competent and capable staff who are enthusiastic about case management.