We have just concluded the “Leadership Seminar” in Tampa.

Our 22 hospitals leadership teams;

come together to exchange thoughts and ideas… and learn what are the latest issues that are affecting our system.

The “first presentations of the seminar" were on the new models of “Care Presence” at some hospitals (Item 18 on San Antonio’s call)

We then moved into an… open “Brainstorming Forum”… similar to last year's “Associations Meetings” around the country…we discussed

Such as leasing areas of our structures (to medically related organizations)…that we are not currently using.

One other subject that preceded the “Main Seminar Topic” was “Cost Reduction of Patient Transportation for our Shrine Temples”.

In December, I formed a new committee, Chaired by Bob Smith…with the mandate

This “Committee” is made up of all the disciplines that are involved in this procedure: from Hospital Chairman, to Administrators, to our Doctors, to our Nurses, and to our Care Coordination Managers.

The main recipients of this information, as it develops, will be our Potentates and Chief Rabbans of our Shrine Centers.

And now…the “Main Event”

3rd Party Pay…Revenue Cycle Group

On Tuesday July 7th, 2009…Item 27 on the Call of the 135th Annual Shrine Meeting relating to 3rd Party Pay, was brought forward for consideration.

After discussion…this legislation was overwhelmingly passed…and Shriners Hospitals for Children was to begin a new era.

The question was then asked of all the voting representatives…

Do you want to… “Study this for a year”…or… “Go for it…now”…

The response was very clear… “Go for it Now”…

The Chairman of this new “Revenue Cycle Committee”, Imperial Sir Alan Madsen is doing exactly that.

The Goals of Imperial Sir Al’s committee for a successful… Revenue Cycle… were stated as;

The Revenue Cycle Committee is initially divided into three Main Sub-committees:

The Front End Committee…Chaired by Portland Administrator Rick Cagen…is responsible for setting up areas like;

The Middle Committee… Chaired by Spokane Administrator Gene Raynaud… is responsible for;

The Back End Committee…Chaired by Philadelphia Administrator Ernie Perilli… is responsible for;

These Three “Lead Committees” have determined that this Revenue Program should;

The Committee feels that Short Range initiatives should not come at the expense of the better long range solutions.

And also… strategic “Outsourcing Opportunities."

The Revenue Cycle Committee is on a path to begin our first “Billings” in 5 months … July 1st, 2010 for our Phase 1 group

And the remaining eight U.S. Hospitals will be in Phases 4 & 5, starting during 2011.

With this Plan of Implementation… the projected Return on Investment (ROI) as calculated by our Consulting Group… “Price Waterhouse Cooper”

After seeing this ROI analysis

Our new Executive Vice-president at HQ Keith Gardner, stated “I’m very Optimistic for the future of Shriners Hospitals for Children."

With what we have done in this area of “Revenue Enhancement” And our exploring of new “Care Models” for some of our locations I echo Keith’s sentiments of being very “Optimistic."

By providing this “New Revenue from Insurers” and “by Reducing the Demand on our Endowment Fund” It should allow us “new opportunities” for helping children. If we do this well the hope is that it will help reduce the current deficit between “Traditional Revenues and Expenses” and allow us in the future to be able to help additional children.

As your Chairman of the Board of Trustees I look forward to traveling to many of our Spring “Regional Shrine Association Meetings” and give you updates on the “Changing Face” of SHC.

Yours in the Faith,
Doug Maxwell
Chairman of the Board of Trustees