History:

The Washington Association of Medical Staff Services, an affiliate of the National Association of Medical Staff Services, was founded in 1979 by enthusiastic medical staff coordinators throughout Washington state. Their objectives in forming the organization were:

• to provide professional and personal development

• networking opportunities

• communication resources

• career advancement

• and education for medical staff professionals in Washington.

From a handful or original members, WAMSS now includes representatives of most hospitals and healthcare insurance plans in Washington State. These organizations benefit by having Medical Staff Professionals who are up-to-date in the aspects of medical staff management.

WAMSS continues to promote the goals and objectives of our founding members by meeting regularly as chapters and collectively at an annual meeting.

 

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Goals:

WAMSS continues to pursue our original goals. Regular meetings and networking opportunities allow for professional and personal development. A quarterly newsletter, Privileged Information, provides information on activities of the Board of Directors, individual chapters and members, and the National Association of Medical Staff Services.

Peer communication, as well as Privileged Information, announce local opportunities for career advancement. The National Association of Medical Staff Services also routinely communicates nationwide career opportunities to its members.

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Chapters/Meetings:

There are currently Eastern and Western Chapters of WAMSS.

Each chapter meets quarterly. Each meeting encompasses some chapter business as well as an educational program directed to continuing the education of individual medical staff professionals. Members are actively involved in suggesting educational topics.

The annual meeting attempts to address current issues in medical staff services. The meeting also includes a session for newcomers to the profession.

 

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Board of Directors:

A Board of Directors, including representatives from each chapter, manages several essential functions of the organization.

The board oversees the annual meeting, is the liaison between the National Association and other professional organizations, and manages the organization's budget.

President

Molly Nagel, CPMSM
Medical Staff Coordinator

Whidbey General Hosptial

101 North Main

Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: 360-678-7656 x4006, Fax: 360-678-3507
nagelm@whidbeygen.org

 

Past President/Membership Committee Chair/Nominating Committee Chair

Cheryl Thomas, CPMSM

PO Box 318

Burlington, WA 98233

Phone: 360-707-0159

wet.cat@verizon.net

 

President-Elect/ 2007 Conference Planning Committee Chair
Renae Hamshar, CPMSM, CPCS

Manager Medical Staff Services
Providence Centralia Hospital
914 South Scheuber Road
Centralia, WA 98531
Phone: 360-330-8529, Fax: 360-330-8970
renae.hamshar@providence.org

 

Secretary
Carrianne Dockter, CPCS
Senior Internal Auditor
Health Net Inc.
Phone: 206-706-2752, Fax: 800-601-9117
Carrianne.L.Dockter@healthnet.com

Treasurer
Lenore Vining, CPMSM

Medical Staff Coordinator

Group Health Permanente

320 Westlake Ave N, Suite 100

Seattle, WA   98109-5223

Phone: 206-448-6170 Fax: 206-877-0649

vining.l@ghc.org

 

Western Chapter President
Kate Brown, CPCS

Medical Staff Services Professional
Good Samaritan Hospital
407 14th Avenue SE

Phone: 253-697-1910, Fax: 253-697-5130
brownka@goodsamhealth.org

 

Eastern Chapter President
Darlene "Dolly" Fluaitt, CPCS

Medical Staff Coordinator

Samaritan Healthcare

801 E Wheeler Road

Moses Lake, WA 98837

Phone: 509-764-2862, Fax: 509-766-7357

dfluaitt@samaritanhealthcare.com

 

Committee Chairs and Chapter Officers:

 

Strategic Planning Committee Chair

Rhonda Bowen, CPCS, CPMSM

rbowen@wavecable.com

 

Scholarship Committee Chair

Colleen McDonald

mcdonald@u.washington.edu

 

Communications Committee Chair

Irene Torres

Irene_Torres@Teamhealth.com

 

Bylaws Committee Chair

Kimberly Kenning

kenning.k@ghc.org

 

Education Committee Chair/Lending Library

Rita Rakestraw

ritar@u.washington.edu

 

Eastern Chapter President Elect

Rosalind Kibby, CPCS

kibbyr@columbiabasinhospital.org

 

Eastern Chapter Secretary/Treasurer

Rachel Wilson, CPCS

wilsor@kadlecmed.org

 

Western Chapter Past President

Renae Hamshar, CPMSM, CPCS

renae.hamshar@providence.org

 

Western Chapter Secretary/Treasurer

Jason Burden, CPCS

jason.burden@nwhsea.org

 

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Certification:
 

Certification as a Medical Staff Services Professional is offered through the National Association of Medical Staff Services.

The medical staff professional is tested on his/her knowledge of:

• Principles of the medical staff organization

• Accreditation knowledge

• Medical staff law and Medical terminology

• Administration and management

You may download certification requirements from the National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) website by clicking the following link and downloading the applicable handbook.

Exam Content Outline