1. Development
GOAL: To develop the risk management professional in a changing
healthcare environment.
Education
The Patient Safety Curriculum was offered in July in Chicago as two courses
covering basic principles in patient safety and application of these principles.
Using the theme “Connecting Risk Management and Patient Safety,” the faculty
engaged more than 120 participants in a vigorous exploration of best practices.
The Barton Certificate Program in Healthcare Risk Management – comprising
Essentials, Applications and Advanced Forum modules – was a key offering for new
and seasoned risk managers. More than 400 professionals completed modules in
March, August and October.
Answering members’ requests for additional education options, ASHRM added
to its online curriculum. “Principles and Practices of Risk Financing” joined
“Fundamentals of Risk Financing” in what is planned to be a five-part course.
In addition, “Safeguarding Patient Privacy” completed a two-part online course
on “Confidentiality.”
ASHRM audio conferences drew participants at 693 registered sites. Topics
included:
• “Strategies for Preventing Disruptive Clinician Behavior”
• “Applying Simulations & Other Strategies To Reduce Obstetrical Risk”
• “Understanding and Implementing the 2009 Patient Safety Goals”
• “Best Practice Investigation Methods Following Serious Safety Events”
The year ended with an unscheduled free audio conference offered in conjunc-
tion with the AHA titled “Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program:
Impact of the RAC Audits.”
ASHRM programs, including audio conference archives, are posted at
www.ashrm.org/education.
Healthcare Risk Management Week
As it does the third week in June every year, Healthcare Risk Management Week
promoted the profession with logo items, official proclamations and local observances.
The 2008 theme was “Finding Safety in Numbers: How Data Can Help Reduce
Risks.” The two-hour Webcast highlighted ways of using patient care data to
improve safety.
We worked toward our
Strategic Goals
Development
Voice
Impact
Guided by our shared
Vision
Safe and trusted healthcare
Mission
To advance safe and trusted
patient-centered healthcare
delivery, ASHRM promotes
proactive and innovative
management of organization-
wide risk
Values
Integrity
Collaboration
Innovation
Annual Report 2008
Strategic Work Plan Outcomes

2. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEALTHCARE RISK MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2008
2008 Strategic Work Plan Outcomes
Development (continued from cover)
Annual Conference & Exhibition
The 2008 ASHRM Annual Conference & Exhibition was held
Oct. 2-5 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. With the
theme “Leading the Way,” the profession’s premier education
and networking event drew nearly 3,000 attendees, comprising
more than 1,800 paid registrants plus exhibitors, sponsors, faculty
and guests. It focused on new perspectives on, and reflections of,
best practices in a changing risk management environment.
A faculty of 105 healthcare experts led 59 concurrent sessions
on claims and litigation, enterprise risk management, legal and
regulatory, patient safety, risk financing and other topics. The
Leadership Development education track made its debut in
2008, as did Learning Labs, which featured a higher degree
of interactivity to facilitate the sharing of best practices.
Keynotes included Robert Wachter, MD, and “Life is good”
entrepreneur Bert Jacobs.
Pre-conference learning opportunities included the Applications
module of the Barton Certificate Program in Healthcare Risk
Management, a United States Pharmacopeia/Institute for Safe
Medication Practices Medication Safety Workshop and CPHRM
Examination Preparation Course.
The conference was supported by 18 corporate sponsors and
drew 175 exhibitors – 300 booths – maintaining its status as
the profession’s largest trade show.
Annual Business Meeting
In conjunction with the Annual Conference & Exhibition,
the annual ASHRM business meeting and recognition event,
“Celebration of Leadership,” was held Oct. 2.
President Douglas Borg and President-elect Georgene Saliba
highlighted ASHRM’s accomplishments and recognized
ASHRM board members, faculty, committee members,
FASHRM (Fellow) and DFASHRM (Distinguished Fellow)
recipients, CPHRM designees and ASHRM Foundation grant
recipients. They also presented the Distinguished Service Award,
ASHRM’s highest honor, to Peggy Nakamura.
Elizabeth Summy was thanked for her contributions over the
preceding eight years as executive director of ASHRM. (She
is now Vice President, Personal Membership Groups, for the
AHA in November. Her successor at ASHRM, effective Nov. 10,
is Kara L. Clark, formerly Managing Director, Strategy, for
the Society of Actuaries.)
Professional Recognition
ASHRM’s Fellow and Distinguished Fellow designations were
approved by the board to recognize the outstanding professional
achievement of members who attained certain goals in leadership,
publishing and lecturing. Four DFASHRMs and three FASHRMs
were added to the honor roll in 2008.
All DFASHRM, FASHRM and DSA recipients are listed at
www.ashrm.org/education (under “Professional Development”).
Certification
The Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management
(CPHRM) credential – independently administered by the
AHA Certification Center – continued to be valued by risk
management professionals and prospective employers. In 2008,
153 individuals earned the credential, bringing the total of
CPHRM certificants to 1,243 as of Dec. 31 (the most among
all AHA groups that participate in AHA Certification Center
programs). ASHRM’s CPHRM Examination Preparation
Course was hosted by ASHRM in Chicago and Boston and
other cities by nine affiliated chapters and four private clients.
Certification details, including a list of all CPHRMs, are at
www.aha.org/certificationcenter.
Interest Networks
To meet members’ specialized interests, ASHRM offered the
Risk Financing & Claims Interest Network and Patient Safety
Interest Network as optional membership supplements. At the
end of 2008, Interest Network membership totaled 917 in
Patient Safety and 601 in Risk Financing & Claims.
Interest Network details can be found at www.ashrm.org. Archives
of past newsletters are available to current IN members.
Compensation Survey
In early spring, ASHRM rolled out an online compensation
survey, enabling participants to monitor everything from the
base salary for risk managers at various levels of experience to
summaries of typical supervisory risk management responsibilities.
As of December, more than 700 healthcare risk management
professionals contributed to this dynamic tool.
The Compensation Survey can be accessed via www.ashrm.org/survey.
Publications/Communications
ASHRM publications maintained their position as highly valued
member benefits. The bimonthly Forum newsletter – augmented
electronically each Friday by eNews – kept members updated
on ASHRM initiatives and industry developments.
The Journal of Healthcare Risk Management completed its
28th year as the only peer-reviewed publication of the AHA.
The Journal Author Excellence Award was given to Geraldine
Amori for “Preventing and Responding to Medical Identity
Theft” (Vol. 28, No. 2 issue).
A series of monographs released in the first half of 2008
explored the interrelated concepts of patient safety taxonomy,
development of adverse event reporting systems, benchmarking
and actionable knowledge. Later in the year, another series of
monographs explored various aspects of alternative risk financing.
ASHRM communications are archived at www.ashrm.org.
The 5th edition of the Risk Management Handbook for
Healthcare Organizations, introduced as a three-volume set plus
CD-ROM in November 2006, surpassed previous editions in
first-year sales. It capitalized on its position as the only handbook
written and edited by healthcare risk management professionals.
Also, work was completed on a student edition to be made
available to schools in 2009.

3. The Pearls series of risk management booklets continued to
grow with an update of Risk Management Pearls for Obstetrics
and Risk Management Pearls To Enhance Communication in
Healthcare Settings. Additionally, ASHRM again collaborated
with Aon on the annual Hospital Professional Liability and
Physician Liability Benchmark Analysis with information for
budgeting liability costs. Added to the 2008 edition are data
on CMS non-reimbursable events and frequency of indemnity
claim payments.
Details and free previews of ASHRM publications are available
at www.ashrm.org/store.
Voice
GOAL: To advance the risk management profession
through advocacy and collaborative relationships.
Advocacy
ASHRM supported the patient, the healthcare risk management
profession and public policy with a strong advocacy effort,
as outlined in an Advocacy Agenda. The agenda was published
at www.ashrm.org/advocacy.
In addition to continually tracking pertinent laws and regulations,
ASHRM:
• Submitted comments regarding the Patient Safety
Organization Rule to the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality.
• Submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid on proposed changes to the hospital inpatient
prospective payment systems and fiscal year rates, specifically
the hospital acquired conditions list.
• Participated on the Joint Commission Professional and
Technical Advisory Committee. ASHRM submitted comments
on 2009 National Patient Safety Goals, Medical Staff Standard
(MS 1.20) changes, the Provision of Care, Treatment, and
Services Standard, and the Restraints and Seclusion Standard.
Collaborative Partnerships
ASHRM developed a variety of relationships to advance the
profession and leverage the knowledge and resources available
to members. Collaborative relationships included:
• Participation in the Association of peri-Operative Room
Nurses Executive Symposium on perioperative safety issues.
ASHRM President-elect Georgene Saliba, continuing
ASHRM’s fourth year of this collaboration, represented risk
managers in discussions about surgical safety.
• Participation in two pre-Institute for Healthcare Improvement
annual conference programs in Nashville. The programs,
hosted by the Texas Medical Institute of Technology, looked
at National Quality Foundation safe practices. ASHRM
President Douglas Borg highlighted safe practices including
disclosure and hospital-acquired conditions.
• Participation with ECRI Institute and Health Care Compliance
Association on a Webinar and two audio conferences in
advance of the Patient Safety Organization Rule. ASHRM’s
Brenda Wehrle, Douglas Borg and Theresa Zimmerman
served as panelists.
• Collaboration with the National Association for Healthcare
Quality on National Quality Week Oct. 19-25. ASHRM
Past President Monica Berry led a Webcast on “Using Data
To Drive Patient Safety.”
• Promotion of a “Fundamentals of Health Law Conference”
with the American Health Lawyers Association held in
Chicago.
• Development of content specific to healthcare for the Bermuda
Captive Insurance Conference, held in Southampton
(fourth consecutive year of participation).
Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship
ASHRM partnered with the AHA’s Health Research &
Educational Trust to support the Patient Safety Leadership
Fellowship (PSLF) program. The uniquely intensive program
combines instructional modules and action learning for seasoned
practitioners to enhance their safety leadership skills.
The 2007-2008 PSLF class included four ASHRM members,
one of whom was the recipient of a scholarship award from
the ASHRM Foundation.
Learn more about the PSLF at www.hretfellowships.org and
scholarships at www.ashrmfoundation.org.
Impact
GOAL: To ensure the growth and advancement of ASHRM.
ASHRM Foundation
The ASHRM Foundation facilitated the advancement of the
profession in 2008 by awarding $37,767 in educational grants
and scholarships to qualified individuals.
Several educational and scholarship grants were awarded to risk
management professionals seeking higher education and continuing
education opportunities in the risk management profession.
Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has granted $91,727.
To augment financial support from ASHRM and memorial
gifts from individuals and chapters, the foundation held its
second fundraising event Oct. 3 in Boston and raised $9,150.
Details can be found at www.ashrmfoundation.org.
Membership and Chapter Relations
In December, ASHRM membership number reached 5,296
for the year. Two orientation conference calls led by President
Douglas Borg were held during the year to brief new ASHRM
members on the opportunities available to them.
(continued on next page)
A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y F O R H E A L T H C A R E R I S K M A N A G E M E N T A N N U A L R E P O R T 2008

4. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEALTHCARE RISK MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2008
2008 Strategic Work Plan Outcomes
Impact (continued from prior page)
Membership and Chapter Relations
An online membership survey was conducted in the spring to
identify members’ views and expectations. A remarkable 95
percent of respondents said they were likely or very likely to
recommend ASHRM to their peers. Survey results, highlighted
at the Annual Business Meeting and in the November/December
Forum, were used in August by ASHRM leadership to formulate
the 2009-2011 strategic plan for programs and products.
ASHRM welcomed the newest of its 48 affiliated chapters,
the Puerto Rico Association for Healthcare Risk Management.
A chapter workshop on leadership development was held Oct. 2
in Boston and attracted 65 leaders from nationally and interna-
tionally affiliated chapters.
Additional information for chapters, including a directory, calendar
and resource handbook for leaders, can be found at www.ashrm.org.
Web Site
ASHRM on Dec. 15 re-launched its Web site, www.ashrm.org,
to make it an even greater resource for members and the general
public. It more effectively accommodates the content that has
been added since the 2003 re-design, provides clearer navigation
to make things easier to find and can accommodate the Web 2.0
community features that will be introduced in 2009. The new
look better reflects ASHRM branding conventions – principally
with the font and color palette.
Revenues and Expenses
Numbers indicate that ASHRM delivered high-quality products
and programs in a cost-effective manner while contributing to
a healthy operating reserve fund.
The operating budget for ASHRM in 2008 was:
Operating Revenue: $3,600,940
Operating Expense: $3,442,069
Operating Margin: $158,871
Foundation Contribution $0
The actual budget for ASHRM in 2008 was
Operating Revenue: $3,957,395
Operating Expense: $3,302,239
Operating Margin: $655,156
Foundation Contribution $76,787
ABOUT ASHRM
The American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM)
is a personal membership group of the American Hospital
Association (AHA) with over 5,200 members representing clinical,
insurance, law and other related interests.
ASHRM promotes effective and innovative risk management
strategies and professional leadership through education, advocacy,
publications, networking and interactions with leading healthcare
organizations and government agencies.
2008 Board of Directors
The board met throughout the year to make strategic decisions on
behalf of ASHRM. They were guided in their decision-making by
information provided by staff and input from the membership.
President
Douglas J. Borg, MHA, ARM, DFASHRM, CPHRM
President-elect
Georgene Saliba, RN, BSN, CPHRM, FASHRM, HRM
Immediate Past President
Paul English Smith, BA, JD, FASHRM, CPHRM
Directors
Sharon L. Groves, BSN, MHSA, ARM, FASHRM, CPHRM
Susan Chmieleski, BSN, APRN, JD, FASHRM, CPHRM
Ann Gaffey, RN, BSN, CPHRM
Ben Gonzales, Ph.D, CPHRM
Kathleen Murray, RN, CPHRM
Gregory L. Terrell, MS, CSP, ARM, FASHRM, CPHRM
Theresa Zimmerman, RN, JD, FASHRM, CPHRM
ASHRM Staff
ASHRM staff worked with the board and ASHRM volunteers
to develop and deliver a variety of useful programs, publications
and products. They worked with task force and committee
members who identified area subject matter expertise in the
2008 Call for Volunteer Participation.
Executive Director
Elizabeth Summy, M.Sc., CAE
Kara L. Clark, FSA, MAAA (effective Nov. 10)
Program Coordinator, Meetings and Education
Grecelda Buchanan
Director, Operations and Development
Joann Ciatto, MPS
Program Coordinator, Communications and Membership
Erin Kato
Manager, Meetings and Exhibits
Sara Giannoulias, CMP
Director, Risk Management Resources
Krishna Lynch, BSN, RN, MJ, CPHRM
Manager, Membership and Technology
Nancy Neff
Manager, Communications and Publications
Joe Pixler
Administrative Assistant
Tori Rutherford