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May 2009
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The Georgia Health Care Association (GHCA) partnered with American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA), Georgia Chapter to recognize the 2011 Georgia Administrator of the Year. This year this distinct honor was awarded to Laura Lines, CNHA, the administrator of Lee County Health & Rehabilitation Center in Leesburg, GA .
During her tenure, the nursing center has been awarded an AHCA Step I and Step II award. She has also been recognized through the American College of Healthcare Administrators as a “Leader in Excellence”. She currently holds the status of Fellow with the ACHCA which is its highest level of membership. She is actively involved in GHCA as a member of several committees and currently serves on the GHCA Board of Directors. Lines is also a Preceptor in Georgia, helping to ensure the future of long term care by training Georgia’s future administrators. |
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Over her career, she has consistently kept the nursing center in regulatory compliance, provided quality care to the residents and maintained financial viability, all the necessary ingredients for a successful administrator. Lines has earned the admiration and respect of countless residents, families and associates during her 22 year history as an administrator. She embodies the definition of a hard worker, striving for excellence in all that she does. She expects the best from her staff, but she also expects and gives the best of herself. She is available, when needed, to listen to staff and families during good times as well as in times of frustration and anger. She delegates authority easily, knows who is capable and assigns them accordingly. All her subordinates respect her drive and leadership. Lines is well known for her inclination to “roll up her sleeves” and work side by side with her team on any given project.
Lines has played and continues to play a pivotal role in keeping the community tied to the nursing center with monthly blood pressure checks at the Boney Senior Citizen Center, has served as host site for the health occupation class from Lee County High School, had a yard sale to assist with the building fund for the new Lee County Animal Shelter, and she encourages her staff participate on the community health advisory board. |
Centers Receive Leadership in Long-Term Care Award
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The American College of Health Care Administrators awarded Lillian G. Carter Health & Rehabilitation and Heritage Inn of Sandersville Health & Rehabilitation with a Leadership in Long-Term Care award at their annual convocation in New Orleans in May.
Ethica Health & Retirement Communities would like to congratulate Debra Mims, Administrator Lillian G. Carter Health & Rehabilitation and Karen McMichael, Administrator Heritage Inn of Sandersville Health & Rehabilitation on this major accomplishment.
Gray Health & Rehabilitation Administrator Recognized as an Outstanding Member
Chap Nelson, Administrator at Gray Health & Rehabilitation was selected from over 2,500 administrators as one of the American College of Health Care Administrators' Outstanding Members for 2011. Chap was selected based on his demonstrated professionalism and strong engagement in state and national activities. Chap served as the president of the Georgia Chapter of ACHCA in 2010 and was instrumental in revitalizing that chapter. Ethica Health & Retirement Communities would like to congratulate Chap! |
Georgia Chapter members attend the 45th annual ACHCA convocation in Philadelphia, PA.
CONGRATULATIONS! to the award winners from Georgia.
American College of
Health Care Administrators
2010 Recognition-
Leaders in Long Term Care
Effingham County Extended Care Facility, Norma Jean Morgan
Dawson Health & Rehabilitation, Donna McMahan
Lee County Health & Rehabilitation, Laura Lines
Traditions Health & Rehabilitation, Lorie Scroggs
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American College of
Health Care Administrators
2010 National Award Winners
Abbott Nutrition Award for
Distinguished Service to ACHCA
Scott Edens, CNHA, FACHCA, RVP, Ethica Health & Retirement Communities
New Administrator Award
Troy Churchill- Southland Health and Rehabilitation
Assisted Living Administrator Award
Chap Nelson- Gray Health and Rehabilitation |
ACHCA National Membership Services Update
Many members have had difficulty in the last year confirming or changing the
status of their membership. This difficulty has been largely due to ACHCA’s national database conversion. The national office now has a current list of all State of Georgia members.
The database conversion and data entry volume had delayed second renewal notices (and a small percentage of first notices). This means that there is still a good number of members with 6/30/09 expiration dates who need to renew.
Here’s a detail of where ACHCA is in the process:
• Members expiring in 2008 through 6/30/09 with email addresses in the system: All were sent email renewal notices (with invoices) in late May/
early June. They are now being emailed and US mailed second notices.
• Members expiring 6/30/09 WITHOUT email addresses: These members are just now being US mailed first notices.
The notice will include a message about the database conversion, apologizing for the delay in their renewal reminder, and offering them a membership extension through 10/31/2010 to accommodate any inconvenience. Please check your renewal date and renew if needed.
This can be done by going to ACHCA web site http://achca.org/joomla/ and click the membership tab.
Thanks again for bearing with us during the transition of the database, as well as the changes we’ve undergone recently with ACHCA national address, phone, and technology infrastructure.
All of it was necessary in the move away from the old management company—and will pay dividends for years to come—but it has certainly been a long, challenging period for us all! Please contact Chap Nelson (cnelson@ethicahealth.org) if you have questions, or would like clarification about your membership, the membership renewal process…or anything else! |
News - Value of Membership in ACHCA
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By Ken Reynolds, CNHA FACHA
From time to time, I am asked by colleagues about the value of being a member of the American College of Health Care
Administrators. It is a fair question, especially with other organizations that represent nursing homes charging per bed fees
and addressing government relations. Why should an administrator pay additional dues to be part of an additional organization?
Having been a member since 1990, I guess I have a personal challenge as to why I would continue to pay dues and
continue to be a member of ACHCA.
My answer in simple form is that ACHCA is the ONLY organization that represents health care administrators. Other organizations
represent facilities, companies and corporate concerns and interests but, the very reason for existence of ACHCA
is to support health care administrators. During my 25 years in health care administration, I have served several facilities
and companies but my membership in ACHCA has continued with me, as an individual administrator, and a connection to
my profession and colleagues.
How does ACHCA support administrators? They won’t step in for me if I am fired to determine if there was due cause, it’s
not like a union. Because of the non-profit status of the organization, they can’t enter into political activities like PACs to
persuade legislators toward specific political legislation. Likewise, I don’t expect ACHCA to come to my defense if I am
ever (God forbid) escorted off my facility premises in hand-cuffs at the request of the Attorney General.
So, how does ACHCA support administrators? By membership in ACHCA, you subscribe to a code of ethics that says you
hold yourself to a higher bar ethically. You consider your profession more important than your position and help employers
know where you stand ethically before you begin employment. ACHCA membership can be a deterrent to a bad situation.
I can’t say enough about p2p, the online ability of ACHCA members to roll out a question or situation and seek input from
other members. The support from peers is in real life and includes discussions and sometimes friendly debates on issues
facing every administrator. Members have solicited requests during survey, as well as during normal operations, that have
afforded answers invaluable to them at the time. Over the years, p2p has evolved to include a Yahoo p2p file system, orchestrated
by noted author, Barbara Acello, and available to all ACHCA members which contains a huge cache of policies
and procedures, articles and welcomed information for every long term care administrator. What is information at your
fingertips worth to you?
Fellowship and connecting with other administrators is valuable to any profession. ACHCA offers a wealth of opportunities
to facilitate connections with other administrators. From the annual Convocation located in various areas of the country to
a Bermuda Cruise to Winter Market Place in Las Vegas, CEUs are afforded as well as friendship and fellowship.
Additionally, ACHCA offers a Certification Process whereby you can become certified. This process is in addition to the
normal licensing process and sets you apart as being so dedicated to your profession that you seek to attain the highest professional
standards available. While it is possible to become Certified without being a member of ACHCA, every CNHA
should truly consider becoming a member of the organization that them that opportunity.
Finally, and this is personal to me, it is an opportunity to give back. I can’t imagine being a newly licensed administrator
in today’s world. There are no classroom studies which can prepare a person for the myriad decisions and broad shoulders
necessary to perform the duties of a nursing home administrator on a daily basis. Whenever I hear the term “ignorance is
bliss”, I think of my first Federal Survey and how I actually thought the Federal Surveyors were there “simply to survey the
State Surveyors”. I had no clue what repercussions it could have upon me or my facility. At this point in my career, I may
not need assistance on what to do about resident who want to check themselves out daily (a recent p2p question). I may
not have a need to determine if I stand above the norm through Certification. Yet, I do owe those who come after me with
whatever I can afford to assist them on their journey in caring for the sick and the elderly of the next generation.
Whether you are new to long term care, one who is currently experiencing the struggle, or one who is now retired, you need
ACHCA and ACHCA needs you. It is your professional organization if you consider yourself a professional in health care
administration. |
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