Join us April 24-26, 2008 in Chicago!

To register now for our 2008 Annual Meeting, click here.

Accommodations
Meeting Agenda
Keynote Speaker
Guest Speakers
Events For Saturday Evening, April 26th




Accommodations
Intercontinental Chicago
505 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
1-800-593-5434
When calling to make reservations, indicate you are attending
the NERVES meeting in order to receive the conference rate of $259.

Meeting Agenda

Thursday, April 24th
10:00am – 1:00pm Board of Directors Meeting
12:00pm - 3:00pm Pre-Conference Meetings (Optional)
Large, Diverse Practice Discussion Group - Contact Tim Roberts or Michael Gilligan
Academic Practice Discussion Group - Contact Jessica McAllister
5:00pm – 6:00pm Early Registration
6:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome Cocktail Reception
Friday, April 25th
7:30am – 8:30am Continental Breakfast and Registration with the Exhibitors
8:30am – 8:45am

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Johanna Hartigan, NERVES President

8:45am-10:15am

Keynote Presentation
“The Three Burning Questions” - James Lloyd

10:15am – 10:45am Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
10:45am – 11:45am Legislative Update   Tresa Sauthier PhD
11:45am – 12:45pm Networking Lunch with Exhibitors
12:45pm- 1:45pm General Session – "Spine Coding and Reimbursement" - Teri Romano, RN, MBA,  Karen Zupko and Associates
1:45pm – 2:45pm Breakout Sessions

a. “The Outlook for Neurosurgical Core and Advanced Training:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” - Hunt Batjer, MD

b. “Managed Care Contracting:  How to Negotiate the Agreement You Deserve!” - Heather Cook Skelton, Attorney

c. “Practice Enhancement Options” - Yvonne Bokelman, Director, West Region Healthcare Economic Strategies, Medtronic

d. "Demystifying RVU’s – Putting RVU to Work for You." - Cindy Jones, Medtronic

2:45pm- 3:15pm Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
3:15pm – 4:15pm Breakout Sessions

a. "Neurosurgical Program Development:  How to Pay for Research."
Issam Awad, MD

b. “Managed Care Contracting:  How to Negotiate the Agreement You Deserve!” - Heather Cook Skelton, Attorney

c. “Practice Enhancement Options” - Yvonne Bokelman, Director, West Region Healthcare Economic Strategies, Medtronic

d. "Demystifying RVU’s – Putting RVU to Work for You." - Cindy Jones, Medtronic
4:15pm – 5:15pm Round Table Discussions
Saturday, April 26th
8:00am – 8:45am Breakfast
8:45am – 10:00am  Business Meeting
NERVES Survey Review
10:00am – 10:30am

Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

10:30am – 11:30am General Session – "Financial Planning – Budgeting and Performas"
Karen Zupko, President, Karen Zupko and Associates
11:30am – 12:30pm

"Spine Center Development"
Jay Williams, Director, Southwest Region, Healthcare Economics Strategies, Medtronic

12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch and Exhibitor Recognition
1:30pm – 2:30pm

General Session – "Billing and Collections" - Karen Zupko, President, Karen Zupko and Associates

2:30pm – 3:00pm  Closing Remarks - Johanna Hartigan, President
3:00pm – 4:00pm (Optional) Roundtable Discussions
Keynote Speaker

James Lloyd has captivated and inspired audiences for the past twenty-five years as both a corporate trainer and motivational speaker. Lloyd’s presentation “Life’s Three Burning Questions,” is based on the concept that every person asks themselves the same three questions at the end of their life, and that the secret to happiness and productivity is to begin answering them now. This presentation is personal and powerful, and is among his most requested.

Guest Speakers

Issam Awad, MD, is Vice-Chairman for Research and Program Development in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a recognized expert in the treatment of neurovascular disease, hemorrhagic stroke and neurosurgical critical care, while championing a model of multidisciplinary integration of scientific discovery in clinical programs.

Hunt Batjer, MD, is the Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and current Chairman of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He is recognized internationally as a leading cerebrovascular surgeon, especially for complex aneurysms, vascular malformations and brain ischemic states.

Yvonne Bokelman, Director, West Region, Healthcare Economic Strategies for Medtronic has over two decades of healthcare experience in both hospital operations and consulting and offers expertise in P&L, sales, operations and strategic business development, quality and performance improvement.

Cindy Jones, MBA, FACMPE, Regional Director, Healthcare Economic Strategies for Medtronic has worked in the healthcare field since 1988. Her training and background has included all aspects of operations, marketing, management and finance in both the hospital and physician practice arenas.

Teri Romano, RN, MBA, of Karen Zupko and Associates, has over 25 years of consulting and teaching experience in the healthcare field, combining a background in clinical systems with solid approaches to operational and organizational problem solving.

Tresa Sauthier, PhD, is currently the Administrator of the Neuroscience Institute of Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, TN, where she is responsible for the advancement of care in the neurological sciences. As a healthcare consultant, Dr. Sauthier assisted clients in large-scale system implementations, improving reimbursements and maximizing organizational efficiency.

Heather Cook Skelton is the owner of a dedicated healthcare law practice, and offers specialized expertise in the managed care arena having drafted and negotiated agreements with physicians, hospitals, groups, PHOs, carriers and a wide variety of ancillary providers.

Jay Williams, Director, Southwest Region, Healthcare Economic Strategies for Medtronic has served as CEO of a large community hospital, and assisted physicians and hospitals with center of excellence development, managed care contracting, physician practice development and mergers and operational improvement.

Karen Zupko, founder of Karen Zupko & Associates in Chicago, is a seasoned, senior advisor whose depth of experience has made her a sought-after expert by physician practices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, health systems and other healthcare companies.


Events for Saturday Evening, April 26th
Choose from two great evening events to enjoy our time together in The Windy City.
For both events - groups will gather at the hotel and take a cab to the destinations.

MAKE YOUR CHOICES THIS WEEK – space is limited!

Option 1
CHICAGO WHITE SOX BASEBALL GAME
Saturday evening  6:05 pm 
Cherie will be gathering  names to buy a group of tickets. Approx cost is $40.00 -$50.00 each
Please get in touch with Cherie by email at Cherie_Rynerson@URMC.Rochester.edu  or by phone 585-275-5175

Option 2
ODYSSEY DINNER CRUISE
Saturday evening boarding at 6:30PM
Dinner and cruise 7:30 pm to 10:30 PM
www.odysseycruises.com/chicago

To order your ticket, call Odyssey Cruises 1-866-826-3463. Press #4 for group under 20, then remain on line for operator. Tell operator that CONFIRMATION  is # 451746 under the name Linda Griffin. The total price for a four course dinner and cruise is $149.46. (Cash bar extra)
 
It is imperative that you order your ticket as soon as possible. They are holding the reservation but your ticket is not confirmed until you pay for it by phone. They will then reserve a table based on the number in our group. We will pick up the tickets the day of the cruise.
 
If you have questions, email Linda at lgriffin@regionalneurosurgery.com or phone 919-479-4188. Please email Linda after you have paid for a reservation so she can keep a count.