President's Message:

As the Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management (MSHRM) begins the new membership year, I am honored to serve as the 2011 – 2012 President. As the MSHRM Mission Statement says, our organization exists to provide a collaborative learning environment to promote professional development and excellence in the delivery of healthcare services. In other words, our organizational goal is to provide a high level of value and education to our membership as well as excellent opportunities for you to develop professionally through collaboration and networking.

As I hope you have discovered, or will discover, MSHRM is an active, successful organization due to the dedicated participation of our Board, Officers, Committees and members. The magnanimous generosity of our sponsors has enabled MSHRM to provide high quality educational offerings to the membership. I am looking forward to another exciting year for MSHRM! We are continuing the work on the action items on our strategic plan. The ultimate goal is to make MSHRM a value-added benefit to you. Therefore, it is really up to you to help us determine what the greatest benefits to you are. There are several ways to let the current Officers, Board Members and Committee Chairs or members know what you are thinking (the Officers, Board Members and Committee Chairs are listed below). Of course, you can always talk to us at the MSHRM meetings or call or e-mail any of us at any time. However, I am a firm believer that the way that you can best have your voice heard, and therefore help determine the direction of MSHRM in the future, is to participate on a committee or run for a Board position.

I think my personal experience with participation in MSHRM is a typical example. I have been a member of MSHRM since 2002. I joined MSHRM because, quite frankly, at the time I was a new risk manager and I knew very little about what risk management was all about. A short while after I joined, the then-president of MSHRM encouraged me to join the Education Committee. Quite frankly, this esteemed now Past President continued "encouraging" me until I finally gave up and joined the committee. In retrospect, I have found that was the best advice I could have received. Serving on a committee, making professional contacts and friendships has truly enhanced my MSRHM experience, and I believe that your active participation would do the same for you. I would encourage you to look at the work of the committees and seriously consider participating.

Elections were held in May and results were announced at the 32nd Annual Meeting held at Bay Harbor in Petoskey. The 2011 Officers and Board of Directors are:

I look forward to working with the Board, Committees and members to enhance the value of MSHRM to our members though educational offerings and networking opportunities. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Respectfully,
Chris Allman
2011 – 2012 MSHRM President

ANNUAL MEETING:

A very successful 32nd Annual Meeting and Educational Conference was held at The Inn at Bay Harbor May 25-27, 2011. Speakers at the annual meeting included:

• Jason Sebolt, JD
• Brain Molde, JD
• Michelle Hoppes, RN, MS, DFASHRM, ASHRM President
• Ridley Barron
• Cynthia Siders, RN, MSN, DFASHRM, CPHRM
• Janelle Mickelson, RN, BSN, MSA, CPHRM
• Mourine Evans, BSN, MS, CPHRM
• Karen Ketlehut, RN, BSN, CPHRM, MSHRM President
• Robert Bitterman, MD, JD, FACEP

Thanks to the Education Committee for another wonderful educational program.

Committee Updates:

• Membership Committee: Chair – Carole Empey
  Currently membership consists of 219 members. Welcome to the following new members approved at the July 12th Board meeting:
  • Amber Mayers
  • Shelly Kane
  • Sheryl Mulder
  • Gary Rolls
  • Kathryn Spirito
  • James Brazeau
  • Douglas Powe
    
    
• Education Committee: Chairs – Karen Adkins-Bley and Theresa Todd
  Upcoming Educational Sessions:
  • October 4, 2011 – Fall Education Program and Business Meeting – Henry Center, East Lansing (webcast at Marquette General Hospital) – Register by September 27 at http://tinyurl.com/2011FallProgram
  • October 16-19, 2011 - ASHRM Annual Conference – Phoenix, Arizona
  • March 6, 2012 – Spring Education Program and Business Meeting – Henry Center, East Lansing
  • May 23-25, 2012 – MSHRM Annual Conference – Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City
    
    
• Government Issues: Chairs – Jason Sebolt and Brian Molde
  Meetings will be scheduled with volunteer members of this committee.
  
  
• Communication: Chairs – Carrie Miedema and Sherri Thrasher
  Please make use of the MSHRM list serve. In addition to the list serve, MSHRM now has a Facebook page. Anyone can "like" the Facebook page, members and non-members alike. This is a great way to stay up-to-date with MSHRM happenings and see pictures for our events.

INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS:

Scholarships: Scholarships are available for educational/professional development in the area(s) of risk management, loss prevention, loss reduction, patient safety and/or risk financing. Scholarship applications will be distributed to members in January with a submission deadline of April 13, 2012. Email info@mshrm.org with any questions.

R. PAUL VENZKE AWARD:
The R. Paul Venzke Award for Outstanding Performance in the Field of Healthcare Risk Management was presented to Janelle Mickelson, RN, BSN, MSA, CPHRM at the 2011 Annual Meeting. Janelle would like to say…

I want to thank the MSHRM Awards Committee and MSHRM for the honor and privilege of being awarded the R. Paul Venzke award for 2011. Just being nominated was a tribute to my long term commitment to risk management. As I stated in my nomination biographical questionnaire "I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the risk management profession and live my passion for patient safety." I have been actively involved in MSHRM since 2002 and am so proud to be a member of this quality organization. Again, to be honored by my peers is awesome and a wonderful career accomplishment! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Janelle M. Mickelson
MSHRM President-elect

Janelle Mickelson, Venzke Award Recipient and Karen Ketelhut, 2010-2011 President