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THE OFFICAL NEWSLETTER OF THE HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION ALUMNI NETWORK

Spring 2014 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3

Greetings from our President! By Ron Byrum

The Health Care Administration Chapter of the CSULB Alumni Association Website: www.csulb.edu/hca

Email: HCAalumni49@gmail.com

I N S I D E

Fellow Alumni, Healthcare Administrators have faced many challenges in 2013 and there is no indication that those challenges will abate in 2014. The combination of the academic base that we acquired at CSULB and the intellectual capital that already exists within the HCAAN positions HCA alumni well to effectively address those challenges and turn them into opportunities. Continue on page 2

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1 Greetings from our President!

2 Network, Network, Network!

3 A Day in my Life as an IPA Administrator

3 Great Healthcare Resources for All of Us…

4 Food for Thought

5 Implementing Meaning in EMR

6 Interview with a Healthcare Executive:

Molina Healthcare

7 Interview with a Healthcare Executive:

MemorialCare

8 HCA Scholarship

8 Mentorships

9 Meet our Leadership Team

12 Save the Date!

12 Message from Our Department Chair

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I have the privilege of being the President of the HCAAN for 2013/2014. This role allows me the opportunity to work with some very talented alumni to develop an Alumni Network that benefits all graduates of the HCA Program. New graduates will find the Mentoring Program helpful in assisting them to experience different areas of healthcare and lead to a fulfilling career. This program also benefits the mentor by providing the opportunity to further develop leadership skills. Early and mid-career graduates will find the mixers and our alumni-specific LinkedIn group helpful in providing networking opportunities. The alumni who are hiring managers can also use this networking group to find skilled and knowledgeable staff to help healthcare organizations thrive in the fluid environment we all work in. HCAAN events are being planned for 2014 that will provide alumni the opportunity to participate in a less formal, family friendly environment. One suggested idea is the “Relay for Life” fundraising event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. In the first quarter of 2014 a survey was sent out to alumni. I hope everyone was able to take a few moments and answer the survey questions. The goal of this survey was to determine the interests of alumni as well as the best way to communicate future HCAAN activities. If you were unable to take the survey, you are welcome to contact me with your input at ron.byrum@csulb.edu. I am looking forward to meeting you at a future event! Respectfully, Ron Byrum Accelerated Master’s Program Graduate 2007

Continued from page 1

Robert Kiyosaki says, “The richest people in the world look for and build networks,

everyone else looks for work.” There is an immeasurable significance behind the concept of networking. Whether you are seeking employment, internships, or mentorship, it is critical to practice networking to open doors for opportunities. HCAAN would like to share with you 4 simple

tips for successful networking: 1) Title isn’t Everything Network from the CEO to the janitor. 2) Be Prepared Opportunities arise when least expected. Carry business cards, know your stuff, and dress to impress! 3) Two-Way Street Offer a helping hand first, before you ask for a hand yourself. 4) Quality over Quantity Which carries more significance: 20 professionals with whom you have built solid relationships or 100 professionals who may or may not remember your name?

Happy Networking!

Network, Network, Network!

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Wonder what an IPA Administrator does? Here’s a chance to walk in one’s shoes for a day.

Gordana Vukotich, health care executive/administrator, recently transitioned from her position as IPA Administrator with Advanced Medical Management (AMM) Inc., a management services organization (MSO). Gordana holds a graduate degree in healthcare administration from CSULB. She has 16 years of experience in the healthcare industry, with a unique combination of provider group, health plan and MSO experience. Her expertise includes a focus on the Medicare/ Medi-Cal market along with provider group development and operational oversight. Regardless of which position she has held, Gordana has always been self-motivated, driven and passionate about her work. In addition to possessing the necessary skills and education, she believes the keys to success in our industry today are dedication, accountability, the willingness to lead change, perseverance, embracing technology, communication and a commitment to learning.

A Day in my Life as an IPA Administrator By Gordana Vukotich

Continue on page 4

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Early Careerist Network is the place to go to for resources and networking opportunities for those starting out their careers.

www.ache.org The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS) is an organization dedicated to improving healthcare through the use of information technology. A lot of the growth in healthcare involves information technology. This organization is a great place to start learning about healthcare technology.

www.himss.org The HealthCare Executives of Southern California is an independent chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). This organization has several healthcare focused trainings, seminars, and networking events throughout the year. Check them out!

www.hce-socal.org

Great Healthcare Resources for All of Us…

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AM 5:00- Alarm goes off, brush teeth, make coffee, bring in paper, dress for morning jog 5:15- Jog with German Shepherd dog 6:00- Cool down, read paper, read email, check calendar 6:30- Shower, get ready for office, banana, news glimpse 7:45- Email communication 8:00- Call with IPA Medical Director/Utilization Management (UM) Manager advising of IPA situation with continuity of care and patient transfer 8:20- Remote work on computer, another glimpse at calendar tasks 8:30- Email 8:50- Touch base with admin support via conference provide direction 9:00- Conference call- Marketing meeting with Marketing Collateral Vendor approvals for IPA branding campaign 9:30- Health Plan conference call to discuss narrow network contract and education of providers 9:45- Cell call with IPA/MSO manager regarding risk pool discrepancy issue while driving to Koreatown to meet MSO Vice President of Operations 10:20- Car Pool Drive to Contracted Lab Vendor: Discuss IPA business and concerns about data integrity with Lab Vendor 11:00- Meet with lab management team to discuss issues, tour facility

Continued from page 3

PM 12:20- Drive back to Los Angeles; continue discussion in car with VP Ops, lunch 2:00- Meet with IPA Board member and Primary Care Physician to discuss Quality Measures/STARS (Medicare health plan rating) initiative 2:45- Meet with IPA QM Medical Director 4:00- Conference call meeting with Health Plan regarding Quality Care Gaps 5:00- Check email, respond to messages from remote office 6:30- Dinner with Niche Market Broker Agents who will enroll Medicare members to IPA 8:45- Arrive home 9:00- Walk dog

Food for Thought

By Ralph Waldo

Emerson

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

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Implementing Meaning in Electronic Medical Records

By Niki Miller

In 2009, as part of the Stimulus Bill, Congress passed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. This act provides financial incentive for clinicians and hospitals to adopt an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Practicing clinicians stand to receive up to $44,000 and each participating hospital up to $10,000,000. In order to receive the financial incentives, clinicians and hospitals must accomplish standards set forth by the HITECH Act to show that they are using an EHR system in a meaningful way. To account for the variation of setting the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has developed components to achieve “Meaningful Use.” The three main components of “Meaningful Use” include: 1. The use of a certified EHR system to

electronically prescribe medication. 2. The use of a certified EHR system for

electronic exchange of health information. 3. The use of a certified EHR system to report

measurement of quality performance. Although the financial incentives may seem to be a great catalyst for clinicians and hospitals to adopt an EHR system, the implementation of such provisions can interrupt the patient-clinician connection as increased data entry becomes the

norm. To account for system-wide changes, different health institutions have built into the EHR system a checklist to ensure that each patient encounter meets the provisions outlined by “Meaningful Use.” By changing the workflow of clinical offices, staff assist physicians to meet each portion as outlined by “Meaningful Use.” The checklist is then automatically marked on the EHR system, as each component is complete within each patient encounter. Furthermore, some organizations have sought to include medical scribes into their workflow to accurately document patient encounters and mitigate concerns regarding the quality of patient-clinician interaction. The implementation of an EHR system will change the way in which clinicians and hospitals operate. A financial incentive coupled with “Meaningful Use” provides a promise of modernized, high quality, integrative care. The “Meaningful Use” provisions will help to improve the legibility of medical records, reduces prescription and medication errors, improve exchange and access to medical records, and ensure quality measures for improved coordination of care. Although barriers may be unique to each institution, each clinician and hospital become stakeholders in improving the meaning of high quality, compassionate care.

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Interview with a Healthcare Executive: Molina Healthcare

What do you enjoy about working in healthcare? I love having the opportunity to employ my diverse background to come to work and serve the underserved every day. It is absolutely fulfilling, and my kids can be proud of what their dad does. When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in healthcare? I never planned to pursue a career in healthcare. After working for many years as a musician, attorney and in various leadership roles in the retail industry, I desired to transition into a final career that involved helping others rather than merely pursuing profit. The opportunity to work for Molina presented itself to me, and I gratefully accepted the position. Do you have any good advice for young college grads who are starting their careers? Do not limit yourself in vision, desire or action. I promise that you most likely have absolutely no idea where your professional life will take you. I have never applied for a job…opportunities have presented themselves and I have simply said “yes”. As a teen, I wanted to be a professional musician. I performed with the US Navy Band. I took the opportunity to go to college and study philosophy, took a year off from school, and then went to law school on recommendation of a family friend. Upon graduating from law school, I was presented an opportunity to work in the automobile industry

as manager and legal counsel, and I took it. I would never have had the opportunity to do what I do now without following a winding path that shaped me as a person, professional and leader. My advice: Fearlessly go where the wind blows you! What was your first step after graduating from college? I took a year off to work. You should, too! I spent the year working for the UCLA student stores as assistant director of security, doing internal theft investigations, supervising a team of shop lift agents, and looking for the next opportunity, which, as it always does, presented itself. What are the most challenging aspects of your job? All aspects of my job are simultaneously challenging and fun…that’s right, fun! Job satisfaction has mostly to do with your attitude. I love working with others, doing projects and leading. Leadership is my favorite thing to do. I view leadership as giving my employees what they need to do their job, removing barriers for them, making them feel good, valued and protected, and making it fun to come to work. Mostly everyone knows what it is like to have a bad boss, someone you dread seeing in the morning when you walk in the door…someone you don’t really respect, admire or like. I certainly know what that feels like, and I dedicate myself each day to making my employees’ work day enjoyable, productive and fun.

Todd Lemmis Vice President

Human Resources, Talent Acquisition

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

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Interview with a Healthcare Executive: MemorialCare

What do you enjoy about working in healthcare? I love that in a small way, through IT, we are contributing to the health of others. We are helping our caregivers take care of our patients. I am also very proud of being associated with the HCA program of CSULB. I have been associated with this program for almost 2 decades. One of my greatest pleasures has been to see my former students make great strides in their careers. When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in healthcare? During my undergrad years I worked as a file clerk in the business office for Little Company of Mary. After this position, I later moved to the data processing department. While in this department, one of my early mentors gave me a good piece of advice about staying in healthcare IT. He said it was going to really expand over the next 10-20 years. He was right. I later became a supervisor in that data processing department. Since those early days at Little Co Mary I have continued to work my way up the ladder in healthcare IT. Currently I am a Vice President of Information Technology for MemorialCare. Do you have any good advice for young college grads who are starting their careers? I would tell young college grads not to be afraid of any entry level job. It is very important to get your foot in the door and let employers see what you can do. I would also say that young college grads need to network as much as possible. Also, continue to stay in contact with your classmates and college professors. These connections will be invaluable throughout your career. What was your first step after graduating from college? After graduation, I made the change to go forward with a career in healthcare IT. Originally, I was planning to go to law school. What are the most challenging aspects of your job? The most challenging aspect is the combination of shrinking reimbursements with the increasing demand. All throughout healthcare IT, we are being asked to do more with less money.

Kevin Torres Vice President Information Technology MemorialCare

HCAAN offers a mentorship program that connects students and graduates with other HCA professionals. Through a hand-selected program administered by the Mentorship Chair and his/her committee, they work to act as “professional matchmakers” for their tenure of 1 year on the Executive Board of HCAAN. After delicately choosing the pairings the committee fosters the introduction of mentee (professional willing to receive wisdom) to mentor (seasoned professional to bestow wisdom). The process is outlined as follows:

Mentor/Mentee interest • Phone screening • Verbal acceptance

Pairings

• Based on professional interests, experiences, strengths, attributes desired

• Committee decision driven

Mentor & Mentee relationship • 1 year commitment with 1 meeting per

month • First meeting In-person • Second and afterward In-person or

phone call • Post 12 months By mentor & mentee

discretion

The Mentorship Committee is responsible for pairing, sourcing mentors and mentees, creating supplementary programs, and ensuring communication happens between mentor and mentee during the first 3 months. If you are interested in giving back as a mentor, mentee, or for additional information, please contact the Committee Chair, AJ Casillas, at HCAalumni49@gmail.com.

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This year, the Scholarship Committee was tasked with raising funds to provide scholarship funds to HCA students. With one fundraising event hosted almost every month since the beginning of the school year, our efforts have included restaurant fundraisers at CPK, Wingstop, Ruby's, and Baja Sonora; as well as opportunity drawings at our mixers. The main goal of the fundraisers is of course, to raise funds, but they also provide opportunities for HCA networking, socializing, and having fun! Please keep an eye out for future fundraising events. The HCAAN appreciates your continued support.

Interested in applying? See FAQ below! Good luck!

What is the Scholarship timeline?

The HCA Department mails scholarship application content and deadlines to students in February or March. The Scholarship Committee reviews applications and recipients are announced shortly after.

What makes a strong candidate? The Scholarship Committee is looking for applications that demonstrate need, experience, ambition, and good writing skills. A new component has been added to the application this year; the Committee is now also looking for applicants who show a history of involvement with the Health Care Administration Student Forum (HCASF), HCAAN, and other professional organizations.

What can I do today to increase my chances of winning a scholarship?

Get involved with HCASF today! We'd love to see you at our upcoming events through the rest of the school year. It is never too late to start.

HCA Scholarship Mentorships

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Meet our Leadership Team 2013-2014 Calendar Years

President: Ron Byrum Ron Byrum graduated with a BS in Kinesiology from California State University Fullerton in 1997. He was a member of Cohort 1 of the Masters in HCA Accelerated Program at CSULB and graduated with Honors in 2007. Ron brings 25 years of Mid Senior management healthcare experience to the Executive Faculty staff which he joined in January 2013. His professional background is in new business development and contract maintenance with the emphasis being in long-term care. He is currently a Rehab Management specialist at Rehab Practice.

Vice President: Adrienne Arellano Adrienne Arellano has over 15 years of healthcare administration experience with providers and operations in managed care. She is currently working with Humana Health Plan, Inc. in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Adrienne earned her Bachelor of Science in HCA at CSULB with Honors. She is also President of local running club So Cal Beach Runners. She also volunteers at Save the Beach Clean ups, CHOC Walk for Kids, OC Trail Run-OC Park/Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Pier to Pier Run Walk/Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc.

Department Faculty Liaison: Brenda Freshman, PH.D. Dr. Brenda Freshman is an associate professor in the HCA Program at CSULB, where she has been a full-time faculty member since 2007. She also serves as Chair of the William Dickson Faculty Fellows Program and Director of Research at the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership at CSULB. Dr. Freshman earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.

Dr. Janice Frates teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the HCA Program at CSULB. She helped to develop elective courses in Medical Group Practice, Long Term Care Management, and Geographic Information Systems in Health. When she is not teaching, her research, publication, and community service focus on Medicaid managed care and state health policy to expand health insurance coverage for the uninsured. Dr. Frates holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from USC, with a concentration in Health Services Administration as well as a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Department Faculty Liaison: Dr. Janice Frates

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Scholarship Chair: Lina Tsoi

Scholarship Co-Chair: Karen Palmer Karen Palmer is a recent graduate with a background in accounting and veterinary practice management. In addition to coursework, Karen served as the Treasurer for the HCASF as well as the Secretary of the College of Health and Human Services Student Council, all while holding an application management position on campus, assisting student clubs with organization management. Presently, she works as a Data Abstractor with LA Net in Long Beach.

Lina Tsoi currently works at HealthCare Partners Medical Group as a Business Analyst in the Quality Improvement Department. Her primary focus is to ensure that Clinicians are providing the best quality care possible for all patients within the community. Lina earned her B.S. in HCA from CSULB and returned back to school in 2013 to pursue her Masters. She has volunteered for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by participating in fundraising events and has also participated in neighborhood drives to help fundraise towards cancer research and support programs.

Mentoring Chair: AJ Casillas

Gabriel Ruiseco has recently graduated with a Bachelor in Science Degree in HCA from CSULB. He also has an Associate Science degree in Biology from Southwestern College in San Diego. Gabriel completed his internship requirements at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach and is an active member of the HCAAN organization as part of the Mentoring Committee.

Mentoring Co-Chair: Gabriel Ruiseco

As a recent graduate of CSULB, AJ Casillas spends time giving back to his alma mater through HCAAN as Mentorship Chair. Professionally, AJ is employed with Molina Healthcare and spends time working at their Downtown Long Beach location. He enjoys learning, mentorship, and public speaking which he occasionally volunteers for in HCA classes at CSULB. Any further questions you can reach AJ Casillas at ajcasillas@ymail.com.

Meet our Leadership Team 2013-2014 Calendar Years

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Newsletter Co-Chair: Cynthia Vuguin Cynthia Vuguin earned her Bachelor of Science in HCA with a minor in Spanish from CSULB in 2013. She is a member of the Human Resources Talent Acquisition team with an emphasis in college recruiting at Molina Healthcare. She currently supports the internship program, campus job fairs, physician shadowing for pre-med students, and various other projects. She is passionate about community involvement and is motivated to give back to the CSULB community.

Newsletter Chair: Maurice Thomas Maurice Thomas graduated from the CSULB Masters in HCA program in 2010. He currently works as a Data Quality Analyst in the MemorialCare Data Warehouse department. He is passionate about turning data into information that can help improve health and healthcare delivery.

Meet our Leadership Team 2013-2014 Calendar Years

Niki Alejo graduated from CSULB with a Bachelor of Science in HCA in 2009. Since graduation she has worked for UCLA Health. She currently works for the Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics as a Lead Physician Partner. Within her position she is piloting an outpatient scribe role to improve patient experience and decrease physician burnout with the implementation of CareConnect an electronic medical records system. She is also the current co-captain for the HCAAN Relay for Life.

Public Relations Chair: Niki Alejo

Interested in joining the next leadership team?

Please contact us at HCAalumni@gmail.com. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

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Save the Date!

Relay For Life April 18, 2014

HCAAN has formed a team for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. We hope to raise funds and awareness for cancer while strengthening our alumni network! To join our team, make a donation, or participate in the relay event, please contact Team Captain Karen Palmer at ockpalmer@gmail.com or Co-Captain Niki Alejo-Miller at nikialejo@gmail.com. For more information, visit main.acsevents.org/goto/csulbhcaan

Ethical Challenges in an Era of Healthcare Reform

May 9, 2014 from 8:30AM-12:30PM Ethical Challenges in an Era of Healthcare Reform – A Mock Bio-Ethics Panel will be convened and observed in a fishbowl format. Participants will be able to not only network with colleagues and alumni but also observe what occurs behind the closed doors of ethics panel deliberations. More details forthcoming. The event will be held at California Endowment, 1000 North Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

See you there!

This has been an eventful and productive year for the HCA Department. The Accelerated MSHCA Program celebrates its 10th anniversary, and every year applications for the program increase. The undergraduate program has also experienced huge growth in the past couple of years, with over 600 students now enrolled in the major. We now offer at least three sections each semester of all required courses. Several alumni are now members of our Executive Faculty, as well as many distinguished current and former executive practitioners in leading Southern California health care organizations. A very exciting development in the undergraduate program is an agreement with the College of Business Administration that allows HCA majors to minor in one of the business programs (Finance, Information Systems, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship) with credit for some HCA courses, thus reducing the number of units required for the business minor. This agreement will help our students gain additional expertise in an area of interest and strength, for an additional competitive advantage in the employment market. For the past two years we have also offered summer travel courses in China to study global health issues; this year students also have the opportunity to study in Germany. All of these things will strengthen our undergraduate re-certification application, for which we are currently completing a self-study. CSULB is one of less than a dozen health management programs in the nation with an undergraduate program certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and graduate programs accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Health Management Education (CAHME).

Message from Our Department Chair:

Dr. Tony Sinay

Stay Connected!

@HCAAlumni

www.facebook.com/CSULB.HCAAN