HomeTown Health 2018 Executive Leadership Program

           

HomeTown Health 2018 Executive Leadership Program

Eleven individuals from Georgia rural hospitals and supporting organizations graduated from the HomeTown Health 2018 Executive Leadership Program. This group of individuals was recognized at the graduation and awards ceremony held at the 19th Annual HomeTown Health Fall Conference at Callaway Gardens on October 18, 2018.

The HomeTown Health Executive Leadership Program is designed to equip emerging leadership candidates with the tools necessary to become future Senior Executives, Senior Managers, and Directors. This is the 12th year that HomeTown Health, an organization dedicated to supporting the survival of rural hospitals, has offered the intense year-long training program. Graduates were recognized for their “dedication and devotion to becoming an outstanding hospital executive leader” through the completion of a one year study program designed to identify and strengthen exemplary leaders in healthcare. Graduates included:

• Timothy Brantley – Director of Surgical Services, Effingham Health System
• Leah Cumbie, HR Manager, Miller County Hospital
• Ginger Cushing, CEO, LifeBrite Community Hospital of Early
• Nancy Flemming, Director of Ancillary Services, Effingham Health System
• Jessica Guy, Assistant Administrator, Jefferson Hospital
• Jeff Laird – Vice President Finance, Stephens County Hospital
• Michael Purvis – CEO, Cook Medical Center
• Stacey Smith – Director of Nursing, Jefferson Hospital
• Brian Westberry – Director, Plant Engineering/Safety, Appling Hospital

In addition to hospital participants, a limited number of best practice Business Partners are given the opportunity to nominate a member of their team into the Leadership Program. 2018 Graduates who are members of Business Partner teams are:

• Robert Ball – Client Advisor, Sterling Seacrest Partners
• Angel Malone – Account Representative, Quadax, Inc.

The program was initially started because of the great turnover present within rural hospital CEOs and other executive leadership. This program helps to prepare and train individuals to understand the specific challenges of the rural hospital and develop skills necessary to lead one. Over 117 individuals have completed the program in the 12 years that HomeTown Health has offered it. The individuals must commit to develop personal management skills and to a better understanding of the changing healthcare industry.

Jimmy Lewis, the CEO of HomeTown Health, notes that “the turnover rate in administration and key leadership positions within rural hospitals is staggering and unnerving. We decided that it was valuable for hospitals to identify personnel with leadership skills and capitalize and grow these skills into capable, competent and confident leaders within their facilities who are dedicated to the long-term success of their facilities. We expanded the program to our business partners who also wished to raise up leaders within their organizations as well. Our goal is to strengthen, equip and encourage people to be the best leader they can be within the

organization that they serve.” Along with the HomeTown Health team, the program’s areas of training curriculum is revised each year to keep up with the top needs identified from working with leaders in facilities across the region.

In 2018, the theme of the program was “Leading Yourself, Leading the Business, & Leading Others” and the Executive Leadership Class candidates spent time learning from experts in various fields of Healthcare. Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health, provided the class kickoff, outlining the needs of today’s hospital leaders and reason for the training program.

Throughout the program year the class’s participants also work individually on an online professional development program offered by Harvard Publishing called Harvard ManageMentor. In this program, leading company CEOs and executives and innovative leaders share insights and advice on leading a business and leading others. This year’s participants studied six topical areas including Leading People, Decision Making, Strategy Planning and Execution, Business Plan Development & Closing, Developing Employees, and Delegating. Online training, individual application projects, and monthly facilitated group discussions led by Dan Hiltz, facilitator from Leadership Squared, LLC, helped to apply these topics to their day-to-day roles at rural hospitals and clinics.

In February, 2018 the class participated in a rural hospital CEO Day at the Capitol, and had the opportunity to meet with numerous leaders at the state level that support rural healthcare, including a member of Ways and Means Committee, the House Speaker, House Appropriations Chairman, House Health Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman, Chairman of the Rural Caucus, Appropriations Chairman, Governor Nathan Deal, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, and the DCH Medicaid Chief. Education was provided to learn to work the ropes, visit representatives, and the importance of grass roots as a leader.

An additional “Leadership in Managed Care & Compliance” training was provided on topics that overviewed the top issues for Rural Health leaders, Understanding the Payer Mix, Managed Care, Compliance and board relations from HomeTown Health CEO Jimmy Lewis, Beth Spoto, Spoto & Associates and Michele Madison, Partner with Morris, Manning and Martin, LLP.

Also, in February, the class attended the Rural Hospital Human Resources Virtual Conference “Predictions and Preparations” in order to better understand the issues that affect their employees; top legal issues and employer compliance, unemployment claims, difficult and challenging issues, and best practices for Healthcare Human Resource Professionals.

The class participated in Spring Conference in April, 2018 in Savannah, where they joined over 200 other leaders to discuss “The HeART of Community: Rural Health Artistry.”

The class also participated in an intense two day Leadership Retreat focused around “Personal Development.” In addition to one-on-one career planning and goal setting meetings with CEO Jimmy Lewis, the class also discussed personal development topics critical for leaders, and attributes that make a good leaders in a rural hospital.

The final meeting was hosted and led by Draffin & Tucker, an accounting firm and HTH Business Partner, on “Leadership in Hospital Finance.” This meeting provided training on Medicare Cost Reports, Understanding Hospital Reimbursement, Security Awareness, the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program and 340B Compliance & Accounting.

The final event in the program included participation at the 19th Annual Fall Conference titled “Rural Hospital Survival Skills,” held at Callaway Gardens, where leadership candidates who met requirements were awarded with their plaque and presented to other hospital leaders and conference attendees for graduation.

HomeTown Health’s Director of Business Development, Jennie Price, notes that the organization will continue to be committed to training future rural hospital leaders, as long as there are current hospitals executives willing to support the commitment required of their up-and- coming staff. “We need current leaders to recognize that this is an investment in their hospital’s sustainability, and to look for, nominate, and support those individuals in their hospital that could be successful candidates for the CEO position one day.” Nominations are now being accepted for the 2019 Program, to begin in January.

About HomeTown Health, LLC

HomeTown Health, LLC is an organization of more than 70 rural and small hospitals, located throughout the southeast, which collectively pursue ways to help our hospitals survive in this environment of tremendous budget cuts from the state and federal level. The mission of HomeTown Health is to ensure that rural healthcare is preserved at the local community level wherever possible and that a continuum of care is available to the rural populations. What began as a handful of community hospitals 19 years ago has now grown into an organization of over 70 hospital members and 60 business partners spanning the nation. For more information, visit www.hometownhealthonline.com.

 

For more information contact:

Jimmy Lewis, CEO HomeTown Health, LLC
770-363-7453

theleadershipgrp@mindspring.com

 

“We are very proud of Jessica and Stacy.  Their commitment to developing and improving their skill set reflects the type of culture we are trying to foster at Jefferson Hospital.  Continually improving who we are and how we operate, helps align our people with the ability to achieve our mission.  Quality healthcare for all,”  said Lou Semrad, CEO of Jefferson Hospital.