Pre-Conference

Additional Fee Required: Symbol indicates additional fees apply for attending the event beyond the Full Conference registration rate. See the conference registration rates for all applicable pricing of all Pre-Conference programming. Attendance for some events is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

12th Annual Golf Tournament
Shotgun Start: 7:00 am
Title Sponsor: McKesson

The conference’s most popular event, this year’s tournament will be held at the Hill Country Golf Club, a championship course set on more than 200 beautiful acres. Ranked the #1 Texas golf destination and #17 worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler, the golf course features rolling meadows, steep hillsides, wooded ravines, and tree-shaded plateaus as well as the tranquil threat of lakes and ponds.

Event registration includes transportation, golf goody bag, driving range access, continental breakfast, lunch, drink tickets, and awards ceremony. Due to the event’s popularity, registration is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. For registration information, please see the Conference Registration Form.

Proceeds from the Annual Golf Tournament benefit charitable organizations, including Project Perfect World Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization founded by AHRMM to serve the medical needs of children in third world countries.

CMRP Overview
8:30 am – 11:30 am

Attend this three-hour refresher course in the morning and become better prepared to take the special laptop CMRP Examination in the afternoon. Taught by peers who have recently become certified, the CMRP Overview session will cover the six core content areas of the examination – Purchasing/Product Value Analysis, Inventory Distribution Management, Support Services, Information Systems, Finance, and Strategic Planning/Leadership – as well as provide helpful test-taking tips. Previous attendees have found it to be an invaluable review tool in helping them succeed on the exam.

The Certified Materials Resource Professional (CMRP) is the premier national credential based on a sound assessment that provides you distinction in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Eligibility requirements include a blend of education and experience in addition to taking and passing the
110-question CMRP Examination which will test your knowledge on the tasks that are performed regularly in practice and are considered important to competent practice in the healthcare supply chain field.

Dave Hinkle, CMRP, MHA, MPA, FACHE
Senior Director, VHA Supply Chain Custom Services
Erial, NJ

Rande Medwed, CMRP
Senior Director, VHA Supply Chain Custom Services
Middleton, MA

Annette Pummel, RN, CMRP
Senior Director, VHA Supply Chain Customer Services
Atchison, KS

Leadership Masterminds Workshop
8:30 am – 4:30 pm

NEW in 2008! With globalization in nearly all aspects of our lives, individuals and enterprises of all types are pursuing leadership excellence in the transformation to peak levels of organizational and personal performance. This session will address the leadership challenges of a new global environment, the changing landscape in which most healthcare organizations must effectively function, and will provide an opportunity to explore leadership skills in the areas of perception, attitude development, interpersonal communication, and relationship building for leaders at all levels. Participants will explore the dynamics of leadership and the interpersonal insights and skills necessary to be effective leaders including: the powers of leadership excellence, the attributes of empowered leaders, successful leadership and management skills, effective team development and conflict resolution, moving from insight to action, and more. It will also provide “lessons learned” from successful individuals and organizations on how to achieve new levels of personalized, value-based performance; levels that are truly rewarding both personally and professionally. Session includes an attendee luncheon.

James T. Lussier
Founder & President, The Lussier Center/TLC
Bend, OR

Lean Six Sigma for the Healthcare Supply Chain
8:30 am – 4:30 pm

There is a growing concern in the healthcare industry that there is an unacceptable level of mistakes and deficiencies in all parts of operations. Organized approaches to create continuous improvement such as Lean Six Sigma (LSS) are required to achieve large-scale, long-lasting, breakthrough improvements. This workshop is a practical and pragmatic session to help you develop basic skills using the key tools in LSS to impact healthcare supply chain operations. Participants will work through one of four supply chain projects designed to give them a feel for the end-to-end process of solving a real world problem using these methodologies. Key takeaways include: understanding core LSS principles and tools, how to apply them in supply chain, and tips for getting started in your organization.

The facilitators for this workshop both serve as adjunct faculty for the Villanova professional education online program in Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (www.villanovau.com). Together they have 50 years of experience in supply chain, LSS, and in the medical industry. Session includes an attendee luncheon.

Ron Crabtree, CIRM, CPIM, CSCP, MLSSBB
President, MetaOps, Inc.
Livonia, MI

Karen Young, MPM, CSSBB(ASQ), MT(ASCP)SC
President and CEO, Strategic Solutions and Associates, LLC
Lithonia, GA

CMRP Certification Special Laptop Examination I
9:00 am – 11:30 am

Get certified and take the CMRP Examination. This is a pre-registered event. Walk-ins will not be accepted. See the CMRP Certification Examination page for more information and registration instructions.

Materials Management 101
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Workshop covers the basics of healthcare supply chain management to prepare professionals who are new the field for educational sessions at AHRMM08. This workshop is also great for the experienced attendee looking for a quick refresher course.

Terry Cox, CMRP
Director, Supply Chain Management, Texas Children’s Hospital
Houston, TX

Amanda Llewellyn, CMRP, FAHRMM, CPM
Assistant Director, Materials Management, The John Hopkins Hospital
Havre de Grace, MD

The Anatomy of Materials Management
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm

This pre-conference session is designed to take the mystery out of physician preference items: those areas of high-end clinical preference that are also the most costly and most often the products that Materials has little if any involvement. Taking the mystery out of how products are utilized is the first step for supply chain professionals to become better informed to assist in financial management and standardization of these high-end procedures. The session will focus on cardiac catheterization, cardiac stents, and cardiovascular surgery products (i.e. pacers, AICDs, valves, graphs, and rings), as well as discuss those involved in hip and knee replacement and spine procedures. The session will also review the anatomy of the human body and how and where the products purchased are utilized. Featuring hands-on demonstrations of products, the session will be led by nurses who are subject matter experts in supply cost reduction.

Dee Donatelli, RN, CMRP, FAHRMM
Vice President, Supply Chain Custom Services, VHA
Newton, KS

Zee Robertson
Senior Director, Clinical Specialty Services, VHA
Newton, KS

Patricia Tyson
Vice President, Clinical Specialty Services, Goodroe Healthcare Solutions
Atlanta, GA

Materials Management 201
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Session geared towards supply chain professionals who have recently become managers or directors as well as those seasoned professionals seeking career advancement. Receive an in-depth look at the six areas of materials management: purchasing, distribution, technology solutions, finance, strategic planning, and support services. Also learn how to understand and prepare Return on Investment (ROI) worksheets, Excel spreadsheets, and realization schedules as well as how to further develop leadership and management skills.

Robert H. Perry, FAHRMM
Senior Consultant, MTS, Inc.
Falls Church, VA

CMRP Certification Special Laptop Examination II
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Get certified and take the CMRP Laptop Examination. This is a pre-registered event. Walk-ins will not be accepted. See the CMRP Certification Examination page for more information and registration instructions.

Converting Your Hospital Data Into SCMetrix™ Format
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Room 217A

This “how-to” session will help train individuals/hospitals on the requirements for converting their facilities’ data into the proper SCMetrix™ format. Developed to assist those who are engaged in the data collection process but require direction on how to estimate department and service line data requirements; involved in the data collection process but need help to streamline/simplify the process; and interested in participating but are unsure of how to translate hospital data into the AHRMM-HFMA supply expense definitions.

Vicki L. Smith-Daniels
Professor, Department of Supply Chain Management
Editor-in-Chief, Decision Sciences Journal
Project Lead, SCMetrix(TM)
Research Faculty, Center for Services Leadership
W.P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University

First-Time Attendee & New Member Orientation
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Marriott Rivercenter

All new members and first-time attendees are invited to meet the AHRMM Board of Directors, volunteer leaders, and AHRMM staff members. This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to become more involved in AHRMM, map out the AHRMM08 Conference, and network with other new members and first-time attendees.

Welcome Reception
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Marriott Rivercenter

Network with colleagues at the “official” welcome event for AHRMM08. Event includes light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.