HR Pulse - Winter 2007 - (Page 7) [EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER] Dear ASHHRA Members: I’m just back from the annual conference, my first as ASHHRA’s executive director, and I can still feel the energy generated in Anaheim. What an exciting time! It’s hard for me to name just one or two conference highlights because there were so many—from the rousing opening session with the University of Southern California’s marching band as our backdrop to the line-up of dynamic speakers to the successful fundraising effort for the Radio Lollipop Program at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. We started out with a high level of excitement that continued throughout the event. What was most memorable for me, however, was the spirit I felt from so many people. I had the opportunity to talk with many of you and to observe the interactions of conference participants, and I was struck by how incredibly engaged everyone was and by the family-like feeling that enveloped the gathering. It’s truly a privilege to be working with such a dedicated and friendly group of professionals. The conference was a success by all measures. We exceeded our attendance goal, with more than 650 registrants. (It’s especially exciting that many attendees were first-timers and new to the profession.) By the end of the conference, 85 percent of the exhibitors had already signed up for the 2008 conference in Austin. And the comments we heard from attendees, exhibitors and board members alike were mostly glowing. The educational sessions—particularly the Leader Track and Boot Camp—were especially well-attended and well-received. With the conference behind us, the staff and I now return our attention to making sure we deliver products and services throughout the year that help you better serve your employees, patients and communities. One of those products is HR Pulse. This issue is full of thought-provoking material, starting with the cover story on the Just Culture model (page 16), which addresses the all-important question of how the healthcare industry can tackle the subject of accountability to improve patient outcomes. There are several articles on the topic of leadership at different levels and, given the challenges facing healthcare, the need for capable leaders is greater than ever. We also include a summary of the Department of Labor’s recent report that clarifies the FMLA’s controversial intermittent leave provision (page 24). In particular, I urge you to read “A Special Report from the President” (page 9), where Molly outlines ASHHRA’s bold new strategic directions for the next three years. Her message describes the roadmap we’ve established to ensure that ASHHRA continues to be a viable, vibrant and increasingly visible player in the healthcare industry. We believe that by focusing on three core areas, we’ll be able to make your affiliation with ASHHRA more worthwhile than ever. We hope you agree. Best regards, Cathy Sewell ASHHRA Executive Director 7 HR Pulse Winter 2007 ASHHRA MISSION ASHHRA leads the way for members to become more effective, valued, and credible leaders in healthcare human resources administration. As the foremost authority in healthcare HR, ASHHRA provides timely and critical support through ongoing learning and development, products and resources and opportunities for networking and collaboration. HR PULSE Purpose Statement HR PULSE supports the ASHHRA mission by offering members information, tools and resources that are forwardthinking and relevant to their roles as HR professionals.
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