The MGMA Focus | Financial Conference was held in San Diego from April 24 to 27. While the winds were a little breezier than expected in "usually" sunny San Diego, those in attendance didn't seem to mind. Over the three days, attendees enjoyed deep dives into billing, coding, payer contracting, and financial strategies, all while networking with industry peers. If you missed it, you can find more details on the conference here. Below are a few highlights from the show.
Powerful Keynotes
Debra Fine, an expert in the art of small talk, kicked off the event. Fine emphasized that conversing effortlessly isn’t merely a personality trait—it’s a learnable skill. Here are some golden nuggets from her session:
- Small Talk as a Superpower: Fine underscored that small talk isn’t just idle chatter; it’s a powerful tool for forging connections and leaving a lasting impact.
- Genuine Curiosity Matters: To ace small talk, genuine interest in others is paramount. Authentic curiosity opens doors to meaningful conversations.
- Preparation Pays Off: Adequate preparation—whether it’s knowing a bit about the other person or having conversation starters—sets the stage for smooth-flowing dialogues.
- Listen Actively, Ask Open-Ended Questions: Fine’s advice? Listen actively and ask questions that invite deeper exploration. It’s the secret sauce for engaging interactions.
The closing keynote speaker was Andrew Tarvin, a renowned comedian and humor expert. Here are some valuable takeaways from his session:
- Authenticity Wins: Be true to yourself. Authentic humor resonates with audiences.
- Perfect Timing: Understand the context and deliver humor at the right moment.
- Practice Playfulness: Cultivate a playful mindset. Experiment with witty comments and anecdotes.
- Learn from Comedians: Observe stand-up comedians’ techniques. Study their timing and delivery.
- Shared Experiences: Use relatable situations or everyday experiences to create humor.
Immersive Workshops
- Develop Your Strategic RCM Workplan:
- Taya Gordon, Kem Tolliver, and Jodi Gill led an interactive session, creating a comprehensive Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Strategic Workplan. Think of it as our roadmap for financial success. They explored strategic planning concepts and how to adapt to ever-evolving trends in healthcare, reimbursement, technology and regulations.
- Leveraging Tools and Data:
- Adrienne Palmer Lloyd, Liz Gurley, and Andrew Hajde led this workshop. Their mission? To equip attendees with actionable strategies for revenue growth. The presenters shared hands-on tools like SWOT analysis and the MGMA DataDive Procedural Profile. It was all about turning data into action—practical, no-nonsense stuff.
- Payer Contracting Workshop:
- Doral Jacobsen and Kim Wallin walked attendees through payer contracting, offering a step-by-step approach. Attendees experienced a crash course on developing and implementing a robust payer contracting strategy. Jacobsen and Wallin also covered data gathering, contract evaluation and negotiation skills.
Networking for Success
Networking was the heartbeat of the event at the recently concluded MGMA Focus | Financial Conference. Medical practice leaders, revenue cycle experts, and financial wizards converged, each with a business card in hand and a story to share. Conversations sparked in hallways, during coffee breaks, and even at the hotel bar. It was more than just swapping contact information; it was about forging connections, learning from peers, and planting seeds for future collaborations. Whether huddled around a table or standing by the ocean view, attendees seized every opportunity to exchange insights, swap success stories, and build relationships. The conference wasn’t just about numbers but about people—connecting, learning, and growing together.
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