If you find yourself asking "Why PAHCOM?" as I did back in 2001, let me help you to answer that.

A colleague of mine approached several office managers and me about starting a chapter-organizing group for PAHCOM. I was unfamiliar with the national organization, but quickly became impressed with what they had to offer. After trying to fit a square peg into a round hole by attending countless "generic" management seminars, I realized that there were few opportunities for education specific to medical office management, especially for the smaller physician office.

The others agreed and we decided that our vision had to be focused on "hands-on education" - providing tools that office managers could take back to their own offices and implement immediately.

That is still the mission and focus of PAHCOM today - sharing knowledge! And with the rapidly changing healthcare environment, we need information and support now more than ever before. I still serve as the Treasurer for my chapter and have found such enrichment in serving our local practice managers.

I am excited now to expand that role as a member of the National Advisory Board. I am awed by the membership comprised of confident and consummate professionals and welcome the challenge of helping to provide topics and information to meet the demands of today's medical office manager.

Through PAHCOM and association with these exemplary professionals, I have developed a strong sense of pride for what I do every day and feel much more valuable in what I can offer my providers and staff. I know that not one of us can achieve success without a network of peers for advice and educational opportunities to grow our knowledge base and that is what I have found in PAHCOM - you will too!

I am the Practice Manager for AgeWell Medical Associates, a practice providing primary care for adults over the age of 60. I have been with the practice for over 20 years and started in the billing office after working from home doing the billing for the physicians before they separated from the hospital to practice independently. When no one else would do some of the things that they needed done and I "volunteered", they asked me to manage the office - surprise!

Although I do love working with older patients especially as so many of them are living healthier longer lives and still doing things like tennis, skiing, and Tai Chi! They are such an inspiration!

I joined PAHCOM in 2001 and took the CMM certification exam in 2002 at the national conference in Reno, which was the second national conference I attended. Being certified for what I actually do each day gives me such validation - the test is not an easy one, nor should it be, and to see all the many different areas we have to be accomplished in, really confirms the importance of what we do.

I cannot honestly say where I would be without PAHCOM, both my local chapter and the national organization. My challenges are trying to sustain a practice model where the patients are nearly 100% Medicare and my physician works collaboratively with three nurse practitioners who also see their own panel of patients, but get paid 15% less!

My physician keeps telling me "Our ship will come in!" so I am focused on positioning my practice to be ready for value based and quality based payment systems. The first step in that process was being recognized as a patient centered medical home which we have now done twice since 2012.

What a rewarding, albeit difficult, journey - and it is never "done!" But, that is where PAHCOM has added incredible value as Karen and her team makes sure they stay current on what is happening on the healthcare landscape! With so much information overload and our time so limited I appreciate that PAHCOM has positioned themselves to be the one reliable source for nearly everything we need.

When I am not working, I enjoy camping and boating with my husband of almost 30 years since that means we are able to get away from our busy lives and relax a while. I also love spending time with my grandson and his parents who live near us and when I can, traveling to Richmond, VA to visit my daughter who just finished law school there.

My husband and I are also active "fitness freaks" since that is such a great way to burn off stress and is something we can do together during the week. Above all, I still receive a tremendous amount of satisfaction in what I do at AgeWell and am excited to be a part of the changing way valuable healthcare services like ours will be recognized and reimbursed!

 

One of my favorite quotes a friend shared with me, I will leave with you:

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly" - Buddha