Lynn Walton presided over the meeting. Allen Anderson provided the opening prayer and Tyler Gravley led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Lynn led the club in the Four Way Test. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn in Hattiesburg and via Zoom.
Lynn thanked those who helped with the wine tasting event. She also thanked the sponsors including Horizon Professional Services, Landy & Newell, Landry, Lewis Germany, Burson Entrekin Orr Mitchell & Lacey and A. R. Lab. She noted that as of today the event has netted $5,652. Another $4,000 is possible as members pay for their tickets.
Jerome Brown then introduced today’s guest speaker, Dr. Jude Haney. He is originally from New Orleans and has over 15 years of experience in Public Health and Health Informatics. He is the program director and associate professor of Health Information Management at William Carey University.
L-R: Jerome Brown and Dr. Jude Haney.
Dr. Haney noted that almost all medical records in Mississippi are now electronic. The records require a higher level of security to protect patient confidentiality. He stated that health care is a business. It is subjected to revenue cycle management, including getting insurance and government payment and reimbursement. Having this information available electronically allows professionals to look at medical trends across the state and to decide what treatments are needed.
He challenged club members to think about health care as a business but health as a series of personal choices by individuals. Individuals make their health choices constantly by watching what they eat, getting enough sleep, etc. Individuals know what they need to do to make good health choices.
Several rural hospitals across the state have had to close in the last few years. There simply wasn’t enough money available to keep them in operation. Mississippi has one of the lowest-ranked health care systems in the nation. Many hospitals are faced with uncompensated care and must rely on tax dollars to offset these costs. Mississippi is one of 13 states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid, limiting the amount of federal medical reimbursements available to health care providers.
He challenged members to find out what is being done about hospital closures, what is our state’s status in diabetics and hypertension. He maintains that education is the cornerstone of what is needed to improve our health care system.
Lynn thanked Dr. Haney for his02 presentation. There being no further business to come before the club, she adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”