I am truly excited to be your 2016 Board President!

As we jump right in to 2016, I know that we are going to experience another year of growth, change and partnership as we navigate the ongoing redesign of the health care delivery model. When I think about this important work, I reflect on how ASHHRA continues to be a key partner in these shifting landscapes, providing tools and support to ensure success of HR leaders and the organizations we serve. For me personally, the networking and connection with other ASHHRA members has been invaluable, along with the ability to share best practices and lessons learned, as well as the overarching camaraderie and support.

The CHHR certification has also been a distinguishing factor for me and my career development. It has allowed me to have important conversations with my leadership partners in operations, finance, IT and more about the critical role of having a higher level of expertise specific to the complexities of health care HR and how that knowledge contributes to each of our organizations’ success as we collaborate together in the design of the future health care space.

I have also looked to the learning sessions and the ASHHRA conference as a way to not only support my professional development and the continuing education requirements of my CHHR certification but also as a way to connect with fellow thought leaders.

ASHHRA could not continue to prosper without the dedication and work of our volunteers. Each and every one of you has made a significant contribution to ASHHRA, and it is greatly appreciated. Let me thank those board members who have ended their board service to ASHHRA in 2015:

• Norma Tirado, vice president, human resources and information technology/CIO, Lakeland Regional Health System, St. Joseph, Michigan.
• Jim Frain, SPHR, CEBS, CHHR, vice president, human resources, South Bend Medical Foundation, South Bend, Indiana. Jim provided a total of seven years of leadership to ASHHRA in a board capacity and continues to support ASHHRA in other volunteer responsibilities.
• And our outgoing Past President Maureen O’Keeffe, SPHR, CHHR, recently retired vice president of Human Resources and CHRO at St. Luke’s Health System, Boise, Idaho, whose leadership and vision has helped guide ASHHRA over the last several years.

I would also like to welcome our new member of the 2016 ASHHRA Board of Directors:

• Cathy Henesey, SPHR, CHHR, director, talent acquisition and workforce planning, AMITA Health, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank the committee members, the board and the ASHHRA staff for their contributions that made 2015 such a successful year.I look forward to working with these key partners in 2016 as we work together to Nurture Engagement in Shifting Landscapes!

Kristen E. Fox, MBA, CHHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
ASHHRA 2016 President
Director, Partner Integration
Providence Health and Services

---

Are you aware that the AHA Certification Center is partnering with the ASHHRA to offer a special administration of the Certified in Healthcare Human Resources (CHHR) certification examination in Monterey, California?

Enhance your health care business knowledge at our annual conference and exposition, on Sept. 24-27 in Grapevine, Texas.

Posted by dculbertson Entrepreneurs are developing businesses that will bring physicians or nurse practitioners to the home or workplace or other location where the patient is, based on smartphone apps.

Posted by kmgarber A systematic process for setting up the operating room known as TORCZ – The Operating Room Circulating Zones – is described in this brief article.

Susan Morse, Healthcare Finance News Men on average earned $126,262 in 2015, compared to $100,762 for women in the survey, according to the HIMSS Compensation Survey.

Noam Scheiber, New York Times Outsourced hospitalists tend to make as much or more money than those that hospitals employ directly, typically in excess of $200,000 a year.

Lena J. Weiner, HealthLeaders Media As if the hospital didn't feel enough like a zoo already, the rising use of emotional support animal (ESA) is forcing some HR departments to re-examine their guidelines on animals.

Shelley K. Schwartz, Physicians Practice millennials bring a lot to the table, but they also mystify their employers, including medical practice managers, who often struggle to retain them.

Philip Betbeze, HealthLeaders Media With important strategic decisions increasing in frequency, boards need specific skills and experience to help evaluate their options and avoid mistakes.

Jacqueline Fellows, HealthLeaders Media Based on a year's worth of interviewing and listening to physicians, health care executives, and patients, these are the top four things physician leaders should be thinking about — and doing — this year.

Zack Budryk, Fierce Healthcare Critically ill patients' families are happier and the patients themselves do better when hospitals ease their restrictions on who can visit the patients and when, according to the results of a survey published in the American Journal of Critical Care.

Jess White, Healthcare Business & Technology Technology’s improving patients’ experience and care at hospitals every day. Facilities can take advantage of many different options to boost outcomes and satisfaction, especially regarding some of its most vulnerable patients in intensive care.

Emily Rappleye, Becker Hospital Review The American Medical Association highlighted nine top issues for physicians to watch in the year ahead.

Colorado Tech University Current nursing students or those considering a career in the field may be concerned that delayed nursing retirement will affect their prospects of finding a job after graduation.

Henry Powderly, Health Care Finance News Healthcare's 40,000-a-month job gains in 2015 were almost double 2014, which saw the industry add 26,000 a month.

Lena J. Weiner, HealthLeaders Media There is good news and bad news for health care leaders in the year ahead and beyond, according to experts who share five key points as part of their outlook.

Tinker Ready, HealthLeaders Media The former head of CMS says "we will never solve the problem of cost and finance by focusing on cost and finance." Instead, it will be resolved "by focusing on the design and redesign of health care and the improvement of its quality."

Julie Bird, FierceHealthcare Bedless hospitals. Mega hospital and insurer mergers. A growing consumer appetite for virtual health interactions.