Board adopts 'Statement on Chapter Quality' at November meeting

Healthcare Financial Management, Jan, 1994

At its November 1993 meeting in Westchester, Ill., HFMA's National Board of Directors adopted a "Statement on Chapter Quality" designed to "emphasize HFMA's commitment to support chapter leaders in building increasingly effective organizations that exhibit the ability to focus on customers, a culture that encourages leadership development, and a strategic emphasis."

This statement, fashioned and proposed by HFMA National's volunteer services group, formalizes National efforts to help maintain and increase the capability of chapters to deliver quality services. To aid in these efforts, the statement notes, the Association will offer support services to assist chapter leaders. HFMA National will provide chapter leaders with services and products intended to make their jobs easier and more rewarding. These services will include methods and tools to assess chapter management and the impact of chapter products and services on membership; benchmarking resources to identify effective chapter practices; individualized consultation and facilitator assistance; and education and training to support the development of quality management skills.

The statement adds that while National's commitment to changing the way a chapter does business now is substantial and it will encourage and support such change, National will not impose this quality improvement process on chapter organizations.

In other actions, the Board of Directors:

* Increased member annual dues by $5 to $175 beginning June 1994 approved prepayment of annual dues for up to three years at the current $170 rate between January and May 1994, and maintained retiree and student annual dues at $35;

* Reassigned the Puerto Rico Chapter from Region 5 to Region 2 in recognition of the cultural and professional ties between Puerto Rico and New York (which comprises Region 2);

* Discussed the concern raised by HFMA chapter liaison representatives about the impact of the membership-approved rule requiring HFMA certification for individuals serving as volunteer leaders at the National level on the leadership pool; the Board directed National staff to study and report on the issue at the March 1994 Matrix meeting;

* Approved a 5 percent increase in advertising rates for HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT magazine; and

* Approved a proposal to revise the Association's vision statement (and four supporting goals) for FY95.

The Board of Directors' next meeting will be in March 1994 in Westchester.