AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEALTHCARE RISK MANAGEMENT • VOLUME 29, NUMBER 1 1

© 2009 American Society for Healthcare Risk Management of the American Hospital AssociationPublished online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) • DOI: 10.1002/jhrm.20000

President’s Message

Working together, staying focused on our goals

Georgene Saliba, RN, BSN, CPHRM,FASHRM

When I was elected president of ASHRM for 2009, I accepted the honor as anopportunity to help ASHRM reach new heights. My goal is to support the objec-tives and goals consistent with the mission, values, and strategic direction ofthis organization and to do that with integrity through service, teamwork, andinnovation. This is a challenging year for all of us individually, which by exten-sion makes it a challenge for ASHRM. Staying focused on my goal will be diffi-cult, but my intention is to do just that.

The board remains cognizant of our fiduciary responsibility and is monitoring expensesagainst revenues to identify necessary adjustments. As stewards, we will continue to set pri-orities and make tough decisions. For example, although I would like to visit many chaptersthis year, we must limit this activity. Please know I am available to you and welcome your e-mailed questions and comments.

Collaboration remains a priority. We continue as a board to seek out partner organizations inorder to continue to make a positive impact in healthcare. When we collaborate as a collec-tive voice, the statement can be more powerful. That’s why we are working with theAmerican Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration and the AmericanOrganization of Nurse Executives on a white paper addressing criminalization in healthcare.This is an important concept, so we will provide this resource to our membership and col-leagues. Watch for it on the ASHRM Web site monographs page.

I continue to feel strongly about the importance of participation in ASHRM initiatives.I have been given won- derful opportunitiesas a volunteer, and I want to enable oth-ers to enjoy them as well. Each of us cancontinue to grow per- sonally and profes-sionally by getting involved in thework of our profes- sional organization.This year, more than 300 membersanswered the call for volunteer participa-tion. What a great response! Each indi-vidual was assigned to a committee or taskforce. Thank you for stepping up to theplate and working with your board to con-tinue to make ASHRM successful. If we work together, we can make a difference forour patients, ourselves, and healthcare as a whole.

Being the premier healthcare risk management resource is consistent with ASHRM’s objec-tive of professional development. A great example of that is the new Student Edition of theRisk Management Handbook for Health Care Organizations, published this spring as the col-lege textbook for our next generation. Take a look at the excerpt included in this issue ofthe journal.

continued next page

When we collaborate as a

collective voice, the

statement can be more

powerful.

00_JHRM29_1_PresidentsMessage.qxd 8/11/09 8:43 PM Page 1

2 JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE RISK MANAGEMENT • VOLUME 29, NUMBER 1 DOI: 10.1002/jhrm

How can experienced healthcare risk management professionals personally show commitment to the field and to theirown leadership development? I recommend that you look into the designations of Fellow of the American Society forHealthcare Risk Management (FASHRM, for outstanding achievement) or Distinguished Fellow (DFASHRM, forsuperior achievement). Criteria and other information are listed on the ASHRM Web site. Here’s my challenge: to fillthe stage at our annual business meeting on October 22 in Denver with newly designated Fellows and DistinguishedFellows.

As John F. Kennedy said, “Our problems are man-made; therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of humandestiny is beyond human beings.”

Working together—staying focused on ASHRM’s goals of development, voice, information, and awareness—we cancontinue to be an integral voice as healthcare leaders.

2009 President, ASHRM

00_JHRM29_1_PresidentsMessage.qxd 8/11/09 8:43 PM Page 2