Health Data Management

We've got the Olympic spirit! We are officially an award winning publication! We are adding to the medal count! Not with our physical ability, but with our desire to be our editorial best! Health Data Management was recognized by the American Society of Business Publication Editors ASBPE with three silver, and one bronze #AZBEES awards of excellence in 2024! This was made possible by all the amazing contributors working to publish thought provoking, deep insight content! Thank you! And a special thanks to Fred Bazzoli and Jessica Siebenschuh who move mountains to keep our editorial engine running! #excellenceinpublishing #healthdatamanagement #OlympicSpirit

AI is transforming patient experience in healthcare by improving access and engagement. Jason Handza explores the role of AI-driven tools in enhancing patient-provider interactions. (Link in comments) #HealthDataManagement #AIinHealthcare #PatientEngagement #ProviderEfficiency #HealthcareInnovation

From scanning medical charts as a teenager to Chief Strategy Officer at DirectTrust and so much inbetween, we are proud to welcome Kathryn Ayers Wickenhauser, MBA, FACHDM, CHPC, CHTS to the fellowship! Shoutout to Jared Jeffery, MBA, FACHDM for the nomination! Ms. Kathryn Ayers Wickenhauser is a highly accomplished healthcare leader with a passion for health information technology, data interoperability, and healthcare compliance. Her career began serendipitously as a teenager scanning medical charts, and she has since grown into a trusted thought leader in the health IT space. Currently, Ms. Wickenhauser serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at DirectTrust, where she works with healthcare organizations to promote trust frameworks, interoperability standards, and seamless data sharing across systems, ultimately driving better healthcare outcomes. With over a decade of experience in health data management, compliance, and electronic health record (EHR) systems, Ms. Wickenhauser has become known for her expertise in navigating complex government initiatives such as Meaningful Use, PQRS, and HIPAA compliance. Prior to joining DirectTrust, she served in leadership roles at DataFile Technologies, where she managed compliance and industry education, helping healthcare organizations optimize their data management practices. At KIG Healthcare and GBS Corp, she played a pivotal role in assisting more than 3,000 providers to collect over $45 million in incentive payments and avoid $20 million in penalties by mastering EHR workflows and audit processes. Ms. Wickenhauser holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biopsychology from Westminster College and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University. Her journey through healthcare has been shaped by her commitment to improving interoperability, healthcare compliance, and data security. Whether speaking at national conferences such as MGMA and AHIMA or leading teams, she consistently advocates for better data management practices that lead to improved patient care and system efficiencies. Ms. Wickenhauser’s work has earned her a reputation as a true #HIPAAnerd, and her dedication to advancing healthcare technology and improving care delivery is a hallmark of her career. #healthdatamanagement #interoperability #healthcarecompliance #datasecurity

Bringing the trifecta of military service, healthcare experience, and academia, we are excited to welcome Dr. Nabil Tahan, Ph.D., MHA, MS-HEM, FACHDM to the fellowship! Join me in welcoming him and get to know him better below. Thank you Aaron Abreu, MPH, FACHE, FACHDM, PMP for the nomination! Dr. Nabil Tahan is a trailblazing leader in health information technology and emergency management, with over two decades of experience in the U.S. Navy and various healthcare organizations. As the first Navy Medical Service Corps officer to graduate with a Ph.D. in Information Sciences from the Naval Postgraduate School, Dr. Tahan has demonstrated his expertise in merging advanced technical and management skills to address the complex challenges of healthcare and military operations. Currently, Dr. Tahan serves as an Assistant Professor at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University, where he teaches Health Information Technology & Informatics. In this role, he also co-directs the Quantitative Analysis of Health Policies and Programs Course, as well as the Health Informatics and Analytics Graduate Certificate Program. His experience in academia is matched by his hands-on leadership in the Navy, where he held positions such as Deputy Director of Enterprise Operations Management at the Bureau of Medicine & Surgery (BUMED) and Chief Information Officer at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center. During his tenure as CIO at the Lovell Federal Healthcare Center, Dr. Tahan was responsible for managing a $8.2 million IT budget and delivering cutting-edge information technology services across six hospital and clinic facilities. His leadership was pivotal in ensuring the success of the first joint DoD and VA healthcare facility in the United States, serving a patient population of 60,000. His ability to oversee large-scale operations and implement strategic technology solutions made a lasting impact on the efficiency and quality of care provided at the center. Dr. Tahan’s distinguished career also includes deployments as the Chief Information Officer for the NATO Hospital at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, where he oversaw critical IT and cybersecurity operations. With a deep commitment to continuous improvement, he has successfully managed multi-million-dollar projects and collaborated with senior executives, establishing himself as a key figure in both military healthcare and information management. #healthdatamanagement #healthinformatics #emergencymanagement #militaryhealthcare

American College of Health Data Management Fellow Remembered! Once a fellow, you are family forever! We are saddened at the loss of Karlene Kerfoot. It was an honor to call her a Fellow! Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Karlene Kerfoot We are deeply saddened by the loss of Karlene Kerfoot, a true force in healthcare and a beloved Chief Nursing Officer at symplr. Karlene’s impact on nursing and healthcare was nothing short of extraordinary. With over 40 years of dedication to improving the lives of nurses, clinicians, and patients, she left a mark on the field. Karlene’s passion for healthcare was inspiring. Her leadership was instrumental in advocating for nurses, and she was recognized for her excellence with honors like the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award and Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing. Her influence extended far beyond her titles—Karlene was a mentor, innovator, and advocate who always sought to make things better for healthcare providers. To those who had the privilege of working with Karlene, she wasn’t just a leader—she was a friend and a guiding light. Her energy, enthusiasm, and determination to “just get it done” pushed all to strive for excellence. She believed in the power of collaboration and was always willing to help, sharing her knowledge and connections freely. Karlene’s love for the DAISY Foundation was deeply personal, and her support helped expand their mission of gratitude to nurses across healthcare systems. Her commitment to the cause will continue to resonate, as will her vision for a better, more compassionate healthcare world. Though we mourn her loss, her spirit lives on in the work we all do and the lives she touched. The standard she set is high, but we hope to carry her torch forward. Karlene’s legacy will continue to inspire us all. We will miss her deeply, but her influence on healthcare will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Karlene. Your memory is truly a blessing. Grateful to have had one last interview with her last year! Her insights are still so applicable today! https://lnkd.in/gEe_F78f

Writing for Health Data Management, Cotiviti's Katie Devlin, DHSc, MS, CPHIMS, recommends prioritizing interoperability with five proactive strategies for health plans to improve clinical data exchange with their partners. https://bit.ly/3YGiLxm #interoperability #HealthPlans

We engaged our Fellows, As one Fellow stated, "Data is the oil, the photons, and the fissile material that powers healthcare." With bad state actors seemingly agreeing and attacking our most precious resource, to what extent is data integrity, data management, and data security being discussed in your organizations or those you work with? Where do they rank in importance with leadership? We are grateful to have so many incredible thought leaders as Fellows of the American College of Health Data Management. Thank you Kent Gale for your insights! #CybersecurityInHealthcare #DataIntegrityMatters #EvolvingHealthcareSecurity

Healthcare’s cybersecurity risks are putting patient safety on the line. Fred Bazzoli dives into the impact of cyberattacks and strategies for bolstering defenses. (Link in comments) #HealthDataManagement #HealthcareCybersecurity #Ransomware #PatientSafety #CyberResilience

102 Days and Counting: My Journey After a Reduction in Force Since July 4th, it's been 102 days since I was let go as part of a reduction in force. Despite actively applying and interviewing for roles, none have yet materialized. I've applied to 89 positions, participated in 12 virtual interviews, and attended 2 in-person interviews, with minimal feedback received. 70 applications remained unviewed (you can see it in the LinkedIn job) or no feedback received from TA at all. With a strong background in acute care, nursing services support, and clinical operations leadership spanning over a decade, I am seeking assistance from my network. Dedicated to advancing in healthcare leadership, I am grateful for any connections, leads, or advice to help me secure my next opportunity. If you are aware of any roles aligning with my expertise in clinical operations, strategic innovation, and patient logistics, please don't hesitate to reach out. Your support and encouragement throughout this journey have been invaluable. #HealthcareLeadership #JobSearch #ClinicalOperations #PatientLogistics

Is your health system on top of managing and analyzing procurement data? Spending can become fragmented and challenging to track when dealing with multiple procurement systems and decentralized teams. Mark Flowers, LogicSource & OneMarket’s Managing Director of Product Management and Operations, highlighted in an article published in Health Data Management that understanding how much and how often you spend can help you identify purchasing patterns, increase operational efficiency, and reduce costs. He shares eight key metrics that can empower health systems to create a robust, data-driven framework, supporting operational excellence while minimizing waste. Discover how to leverage these metrics for impactful results in the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gGc3V3FK #ProcurementAnalytics #HealthcareProcurement #NonclinicalProcurement #SpendManagement