HFMA’s Iowa Chapter Receives Award for Sustained Excellence

The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) awarded its highest chapter honor—the Robert M. Shelton Award—to the Iowa Chapter during HFMA’s annual conference in Las Vegas on June 25. The award is given annually in recognition of five years of sustained excellence.  

“The Iowa Chapter has been in the top tier of chapters nationwide for several years,” said HFMA Chair Kevin Brennan, FHFMA, CPA. “Iowa members report exceptionally high satisfaction with the chapter’s ability to provide connections to others in the field via educational and networking opportunities. Congratulations to the Iowa chapter on a job well done.” 

Brennan presented the award to Iowa Chapter past presidents Deanna Gray, FHFMA, CRCS; I/P, Area Vice President, Specialty Sales, Change Healthcare; Chad Tysdahl, Senior Managing Consultant, BKD; Kara Dunham, FHFMA; Darren R. Osten, FHFMA, CPA, Partner, Seim Johnson, LLP; and Shawn Steffen, Senior Director of Revenue Cycle, Mercy—Cedar Rapids.

The Chapter has earned a total of 32 awards over the past five years, including education, certification, and membership awards as well as 16 Yerger awards for innovation, education, collaboration, improvement, and member communications, including single- and multiple-chapter entries. In addition, they maintained an average of 25.1 education hours per member for the past five years. An average of 17.4 percent of members were certified.

The Iowa Chapter, which has 413 members, previously received the Shelton Award in 2004.

Winners of the Shelton Award demonstrate continuous improvement in all areas tracked by HFMA, including quality and variety in educational programs, growth in membership, and other areas. The winner is selected by a five-member committee appointed each year by the HFMA Chair.