Leadership

Experience Engaging New Session Formats at #NAMSS24 in Denver

By Ann Klinger, CPCS

As your NAMSS Conference Chair, I wanted to share my excitement about some of the newer topics and formats being presented at #NAMSS24 in Denver.

If you have been curious about ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), you should check out a session by Nyleen Flores, CPMSM, CPCS, CPCO, from Lake Oconee Orthopedics in Eatonton, Georgia, titled “Navigating Credentialing in the ASC: Implementing Effective Processes to Meet AAAHC Standards” (Monday, Sept. 30 at 10:15 a.m. MDT). Nyleen will be giving an overview of AAAHC Standards as they relate to credentialing and privileging for ASCs versus hospital credentialing.

Let’s not leave out HRSA credentialing standards. In her session, "Credentialing & Privileging in a Federally Qualified Health Center: Ensuring Your Policy is in Line with HRSA Requirements" (Monday, Sept. 30 at 12:45 p.m. MDT),  Ame Murphy from Health West in Pocatello, Idaho, is going to review HRSA standards and by the time her session ends, you should be prepared for a successful HRSA site visit.

How many of you feel a request for credentialing is an “urgent” request? Attend the session “Enrollment Triage Executive Buy-In and Direction” (Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 10:45 a.m. MDT) by Kimberly Olson, CPMSM, RHIA, CPCS; and Allyson Riley with Blessing Health System in Quincy, Illinois. Learn about the benefits of a steering committee for provider allocation and leave with resources to build your own framework for communicating key milestones of the credentialing and enrollment process to stakeholders.

Do you want to be part of a debate interactive session? Attend “The Great Debate: Insurance Plan versus Hospital Credentialing” (Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1:15 p.m. MDT) with Deb Draheim, CPCS; and Kathleen Dion, CPMSM, CPCS, from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, along with Karin Bernard, CPCS, from Greater Lawrence Family Health Center. This will be the first time NAMSS has presented a session in this format.

If a debate session is not your forte, how about a game show-themed presentation titled, “Who Wants to Be a Medical Staff Extraordinaire? Disruptive Practitioner Edition” (Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. MDT). Jeremy Morris, Esq.; and Avery Schumacher, Esq., MHA, from Epstein Becker & Green in Columbus, Ohio, will be our game show hosts. Make sure to bring your lifeline (cell phone) to this session.

While in Denver, why not network by participating in a Fireside Chat (Monday and Tuesday)? There will be a variety of networking sessions to discuss provider enrollment, defining the role of the medical staff professional (MSP), along with a chat about how we can best support and develop the next generation of MSPs, and a chat on GME. What’s more fun than making new connections and reigniting old connections over a campfire?

You will want to make sure you stay for the closing keynote panel “Embracing Change to Influence Our Future.” Not only do we have a rock star closing panel (Kate Conklin, CHC, FMSP, MS, CPMSM, CPCS, CPHQ; Brian Betner, JD; James Frieberg, MBA, CPMSM, CPCS; and Karen McColl, MD) being moderated by Michelle Stultz, RN, CPMSM, CPCS, FMSP, but one lucky person will leave the conference as the winner of a full 2025 conference package worth more than $2,000.

I look forward to seeing you in Denver and learning about how all of us can drive and influence the future of the profession in this landscape of uncertainty.

Check out the full #NAMSS24 schedule, and register today.