May 1, 2007

A Successful Event:  More than 50 people, representing 21 member hospitals, jammed our conference room on Friday to hear presentations on Medicaid fraud and abuse from the director of the Buffalo office of the New York State Attorney General's Office and from attorneys from Damon & Morey, a prominent Buffalo area law firm.  The program lasted for slightly over two hours and was well received by attendees.  In fact, one hospital has requested a similar presentation for its physicians, and we are working to coordinate that now.

Member Visits:  With the state budget battle behind us, I am beginning to step up my member visit activity.  I will visit two members this week, and Barbara Brooks is making arrangements for me to visit members immediately after I return from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting at the end of next week.  My goal is to have visited with each member hospital by fall, along with a raft of other visits to other members and, when appropriate, to non-members.  So, I look forward to visiting each of you as the spring and summer progress.

Annual Meeting Update:  Our Annual Meeting is set for Monday, June 11, at the Buffalo Niagara Marriott Hotel on Millersport Highway in Amherst, with registration beginning at 11 a.m., lunch served at noon, and the program concluding by 4 p.m.  Our featured speaker is Daniel Sisto, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State.  In addition, our guest speaker is Jim Larranaga, the head coach of the George Mason University basketball team, who will focus on "Success Begins with C" and will outline what he says are the eight "Cs" to a successful team, no matter what the playing field.  As you probably recall, George Mason made a highly improbable run to the Final Four in March of 2006, upending top-seed and defending champion University of Connecticut along the way.  Watch for an invitation and more information in the mail.

AHA Meeting:  I am eager to attend my first-ever AHA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.  I will fly out Friday and return late Wednesday.  I plan to attend a variety of educational sessions and to make a host of visits to our elected representatives (or their staff) on Capitol Hill.  I will write about my experiences at the AHA Annual Meeting in our next Update.

Reminder:  The next meeting of the WNYHA Board of Trustees is set for May 14.  The later-than-usual meeting (normally, it would be on May 7) is to accommodate those who are going to the AHA Annual Meeting.