At the Healthcare Financial Management Association's Annual National Institute, Gen. Colin Powell urged healthcare finance executives to step up to leadership in his Monday keynote talk.
The annual meeting, which focuses on all things financial in healthcare, officially opened Sunday evening with a reception. Pre-conference workshops and seminars were offered throughout the weekend.
Speaking before a packed audience of CFOs and other executives from the healthcare front, Powell urged them to become leaders during this time of unprecedented change in the industry. Exceptional leaders remain focused, take responsibility and work toward improving processes, organizations and people, Powell said.
In fact, Powell laid great stress on the quality of people in an organization. What makes a leader great, he said, was the greatness of the people who follow. On the other hand, when the team isn't perfomring, something should be done. "The best leaders face reality," Powell said, "and do something about the followers who are not helping to carry the load."
HFMA’s annual meeting has more than 80 educational sessions slated over three days. The sessions are focused on compliance and legislation, financial management, patient financial services and revenue cycle, payment, reimbursement and managed care. So far, the sessions have been packed with attendees.
The conference also hosts more than 300 exhibitors, offers several online sessions in conjunction with on-site workshops and seminars and operates a CFO bootcamp.
Tuesday’s keynote speaker James H, Gilmore, an author and co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP, will talk about shifting from “business as usual.” His talk The Experience Economy: Maximizing the Value of Health Care, will focus on helping executives look beyond traditional economic indicators such as pricing and bottom-line practices. He recommends focusing instead on the changing economic landscape offers new opportunities in healthcare.
Quint Studer is slated to deliver the keynote talk on Wednesday, the last day of the annual event. Studer will discuss evidence-based leadership. He is expected to talk about motivating employees and improving physician relationships.