Specialty Groups — Oncology
Announcing the Line-Up for ACOA’s 2002 Conference in Boston, MA
The American College of Oncology Administrators (ACOA), a specialty
group of the American Academy of Medical Administrators, has announced the line-up of educational sessions for the AAMA’s 45th Annual Conference, in Boston, MA, November 21-23, 2002.
The ACOA’s educational sessions on Friday, November 22, and Saturday November 23, address a broad range of cutting-edge topics and practical fundamentals. “Sessions cover a variety of critical issues oncology administrators currently face and address several issues they should prepare for in the future,” stated ACOA President Joseph Spallina, FAAMA, FACHE, and Director of the Arvina Group, LLC of Ann Arbor, Michigan. “The ACOA education sessions also highlight opportunities for expansion into new areas of care and new roles that hospitals will be assuming in the long-term care of cancer patients,” Spallina continued.
“The college has put together a strong and comprehensive series of education programs this year. We‘re addressing some of the most pressing issues in oncology administration today. With the constant state of change in healthcare, our goal is to empower oncology leaders with the information and expertise they need to grow and develop programs in a chaotic healthcare environment,” explained Spallina.
ACOA Education Sessions
Developing an Outpatient Infusion Center
Presented by: Abbi Bruce
Changes in reimbursement may not provide adequate incentives to physicians to continue to perform chemotherapy in their offices and may necessitate the development of infusion centers at hospitals. This session will include a comprehensive discussion of developing an infusion therapy center Session participants will learn how to plan and develop an infusion therapy center from the evaluation of need to identifying the financial implications a center could have on an organization.
Care of the Dying Patient: The Role of Hospital-based Palliative Care
Presented by: John R. Combes, M.D.
Approximately 53% of American deaths occur in hospitals each year. Yet hospital resources dedicated to providing comfort to patients during their last days of life are limited. Hospitals have a unique opportunity and responsibility to make significant improvements in the care and support of the dying. By applying the lessons learned from the hospice movement, inpatient care can be tailored to make the dying process more compassionate and meaningful for both the patients and their families.
Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and HNPCC
Presented by: Dawn St. Amand
This session addresses the basic family history features of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). This session will investigate the cancer risks associated with each of these hereditary cancer syndromes. It will provide information on the medical management options that reduce the risk for cancer associated with HBOC and HNPCC. The session will also provide information about legislation and studies regarding hereditary cancer syndromes and insurance discrimination.
Making Payers Pay
Presented by: MediSun Consulting, Inc.
Evaluate and discuss various techniques, tools, and training that could significantly affect the profitability of your medical practice. Compare your internal administrative functions and processes to “best practices” based on a comprehensive database. Investigate strategies for organizing, documenting, and tracking interaction and compliance with third party insurance payers and patients to capture revenue. This session will also address developing comprehensive contracts, competitive fee schedules, and processes for capturing critical information in the initial phase of establishing a new patient.
Health Care Providers and Technology Providers: Partnerships for the Future
Presented by: Elekta Instrument, Inc.
Changes in the healthcare environment have driven changes in the business conditions for every healthcare provider with increased cost pressure and budget restrictions combined with demands to improve services and quality of care. The challenge is not only to improve cost effectiveness, but also to improve the quality of care within radiation oncology. This session will examine how technology providers can participate in the health care delivery processes, creating partnerships between hospitals and provider groups in terms of helping not only with technical aspects of health care products, but understanding the business conditions and patient care environment.
Cancer Program Management: Mastering the Basics
Presented by: Joseph Spallina, Arvina Group, LLC
Hospital leaders across the country can expect an inadequate future supply of experienced cancer program administrators. To respond to this deficit, hospitals must take responsibility for the leadership development of their management and executive teams to assure continued success and growth of cancer programs. Learn the basic financial, management, strategic planning and marketing, physician relationship building, quality monitoring and management, and program monitoring information tools required to manage a cancer program. Developing these skills and competencies in management and executive teams is essential to allow them to excel in their organization as clinical program leaders.
The AAMA’s 45th Annual Conference is a comprehensive annual conference with 33 education sessions in seven specialty areas, each led by nationally recognized speakers. In addition to Oncology, session specialties include Leadership, Cardiovascular, Contingency Planning, Healthcare Information, Managed Care, and Small or Rural Health Organizations.
The Academy also sponsors a dedicated day of education to members from the uniformed services of the federal government, immediately before the annual conference.
For more information on the AAMA’s 45th Annual Conference in Boston, MA, November 21-23, 2002, or for full explanations of ACOA’s educational sessions, please visit the AAMA website at www.aameda.org. Registration will start in early summer, 2002.