ANI: sharing ideas and experiences to create the future - Vantage Point

Healthcare Financial Management, August, 2002 by Phyllis A. Cowling

After attending HFMA's Annual National Institute (ANI) in Seattle, Washington, I feel personally and professionally changed. I'm more energized as a result of exchanging ideas and experiences with my friends and colleagues, I'm more prepared to confront the challenges of our profession, and I'm more confident than ever in our ability as healthcare financial professionals to create the future.

If you were one of the approximately 3,500 people who attended this year's ANI, you experienced a great week of opportunities, and this column will be a brief reminder of a positive experience. If, on the other hand, you weren't at ANI, allow me to share with you some of what you missed. ANI, as always, consisted of a mixture of education and fun, of learning and laughing. The week began with five preconference educational programs. More than 425 people participated in an extra day of education before the official start of ANI, covering topics such as charge-master strategies, information management, and compliance audits and investigations. If spending a Sunday in class instead of exploring Seattle's wonderful sights doesn't demonstrate professional commitment, I don't know what does.

Each morning of the convention began with a general keynote assembly. We learned about the increasing speed of technological advances and the impact on our personal and professional lives, the demographic and social trends that are shaping our future, and the ways in which we can develop our creative skills to enhance our professional abilities.

Additionally, more than 1,750 educational registrants participated in 70 in-depth, practical, interactive sessions. Numerous sessions were directed at one of the hottest topics in healthcare finance, the revenue cycle, with offerings that explored patient-friendly billing, managed care contracting, outpatient PPS, and denial management. CFOs and patient financial services professionals alike shared experiences and gained knowledge on how to improve revenue-cycle performance and, thus, organizational performance. Attendees also enhanced their knowledge in such areas as technology, board education, and financial strategy.

Another aspect of education is learning about products and services that can assist healthcare financial professionals in addressing the challenges we face. ANI's Idea Exchange Exhibit was exactly that--the opportunity to exchange ideas with those professionals who support healthcare finance through the provision of products and services. If you couldn't find what you were looking for among the 250 exhibitors and sponsors at this year's ANI, you weren't looking hard enough.

In addition to education, ANI offered an opportunity for celebration and fun. We honored the successes of our chapters at the annual chapter awards presentation. More than 200 awards were bestowed on HFMA chapters for their 2001-02 achievements in addressing the needs of our members. One of my personal highlights of ANI was helping to honor those volunteers who work so hard delivering value to HFMA's members.

We also honored the Frist family--Thomas F. Frist, Sr., MD (deceased), Thomas F. Frist, Jr., MD, and Sen. William Frist, MD- with the Board of Directors Award, recognizing the contributions of two generations that have challenged the healthcare status quo and created new methods of healthcare financing and delivery.

Along with celebrating together, we remembered and mourned together. Attendees were riveted by a poignant description of the events of September 11, 2001, as related by Mark Ackermann, senior vice president and chief corporate services officer of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan. When he concluded his remarks with a moving tribute to the heroes of that day, there wasn't a dry eye in the room--a reminder of the very human bond we share in the American, and healthcare, communities.

I've attended a number of ANIs, but I came away from Seattle with a greater understanding of what ANI is all about. More than simply education, ANI is about exchanging ideas and sharing experiences--elements needed to create the future.

Why, you may ask, am I telling you this today, after the fact? That's easy--so you'll mark your calendar now for next year's ANI to be held June 22-26, 2003, in Baltimore, Maryland, where we'll once again gather as a profession and as an association to learn, laugh, and share experiences. I hope to see you in Baltimore where, as in Seattle, we'll come together to "Create the Future."