The Oklahoma Chapter of the HFMA is a professional membership organization for individuals in financial management of healthcare institutions and related patient organizations.

Message From the President

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your president of the Oklahoma Chapter of HFMA for the 2011-2012 year. We have a superb chapter and I look forward to the upcoming year.

I would like to recognize the tremendous leadership of our outgoing-president Erin Hill. She was able to accomplish many advances for our chapter this past year. Erin and I were privileged enough to represent the Oklahoma Chapter at HFMA's Annual National Institute (ANI) conference at the end of June. The Oklahoma Chapter was honored at the President's Awards Banquet where we received the following awards for chapter achievement:

• Yerger Award for Chapter Improvement
• Hottum Award for Educational Performance Improvement
• Silver Award of Excellence for Education
• Silver Award of Excellence for Certification

Congratulations to everyone involved in our educational planning and certification program for these tremendous achievements!
Now it is time to shift our focus to the upcoming year. HFMA Chair Greg Adams told ANI participants, "It's time to support one another for the good of the patients and communities we serve." Greg has chosen "Believe to Achieve" as HFMA's theme this year. ANI keynote speaker Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University head basketball coach, commented, "Healthcare finance professionals should remember why they chose their profession - You do what you do because you want to help people and should hold that sense of purpose close as you work toward improving our nation's healthcare system." Those words should echo with us as we brace for the uncertainty we all face in these changing times in our industry.

The Oklahoma Chapter has laid a good foundation to build upon as we focus on the upcoming year. My goals for this year focus on continuing our excellence in education and to build our infrastructure to promote continued chapter success.

Sherry Collins, incoming President-Elect and Programs Chair, will look to build on the valuable educational sessions we have provided over the past years and continue delivering advice from experts on current issues impacting the health care industry.

It takes a lot of hard work to deliver great educational programs and achieve the overall performance and success we have enjoyed in the Oklahoma Chapter. However, much of the work of the chapter has fallen on the shoulders of a relatively small, dedicated group of chapter officers and committee chairpersons. Many of our chapter committees have been served by a committee of ONE for years. Our leaders and committee chairs need your help to build our infrastructure and sustain our chapter excellence. I am asking that each one of us to play a role in advancing our chapter. Volunteering on a committee takes only a small time commitment, as most committees meet only 2-4 times per year through a combination of conference calls and face-to-face meetings. There is no better way to enhance your HFMA experience than to get involved and serve on a committee. You will benefit from enhanced networking opportunities with your peer group and will help drive the overall value HFMA provides to its membership.

Look inside this newsletter for the list of chapter committees and its chairperson and consider serving this year. Our next meeting will be July 28-29 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino just outside of Tulsa. We will hold an informational session during lunch on the 28th to provide additional details on what each committee is charged with accomplishing and the expected time commitments. In addition, we will hold our next Oklahoma Chapter Leadership Training Conference (Mini-LTC) on Friday, August 12th at the Summit Club in Tulsa. The Mini-LTC will be the first opportunity for chairpersons to organize their committees and hit the ground running strategizing how to implement their goals for the upcoming year. The Mini-LTC will be followed by a reception at the Summit Club of all those who participated in the day's activities. If you've ever wanted to become more involved in our chapter, this is your opportunity and we need you now more than ever!

I look forward to a tremendous year for the Oklahoma Chapter. Thanks to each of you for your support in allowing me to serve as your president for the upcoming year and for the role I hope each of you will play in our Chapter's success. I look forward to seeing you at the Hard Rock in July and at the Summit Club in August!

T. Carley Williams, CPA
President OHFMA 2011-2012