The Nashville Medical Group Management Association recently announced the 2017-18 board. Nashville Medical News had the opportunity to sit down with the organization's new president Joy Testa, CPC, Nashville Family Foot Care, to learn more about her and about NMGMA's goals for the coming year.

NMN: How did you get involved in NMGMA and what are your goals for the organization this year?

Testa: About 11 years ago I got my first job in the healthcare field and my manager told me I would be joining the NMGMA and attending meetings monthly. Little did I know then how beneficial I would find these meetings since I was new to the field.

I faithfully attended each month, met some great people along the way, and soon decided I wanted to be more involved. I expressed interest in joining the board and wanted to just get my feet wet. I was tasked with being Membership Chair, which I later realized was quite a big job! What was great about that was I got to know so many more members and began putting names and faces together.

The mission of the NMGMA is to improve the effectiveness of medical group practices and the knowledge and skills of those who lead them. Our goal for the year is to continue with this mission and build on our opportunities as members to meet, learn and grow. We plan to reach out to as many medical group administrators as we can so they are aware of the value of our organization.

NMN: Who can join NMGMA and what are the benefits?

Testa: Anyone who is actively involved in the management of a medical practice or who represents a product that would be of benefit to a medical practice can be a member of NMGMA.

When I came on board with my current physician employer, he wanted to know "How does NMGMA benefit me?" A valid question since there is time involved in attending meetings and other events that take time away from the office. The honest answer is that there is a direct and measureable benefit to membership.

Relationships with other medical practice managers are invaluable as we work together through this maze known as healthcare. There are compliance concerns, new quality reporting requirements, staffing issues and financial obstacles lurking around every corner. At our monthly meetings we have wonderful speakers who give useful information on these topics and more that affect our day-to-day operations.

Building connections with our affiliate members proves to be financially savvy, as well, because not only are you meeting awesome people you can trust, but it allows you the opportunity to compare services and pricing for the office.

Membership in MGMA also brings the opportunity to grow in the field through the CMPE (Certified Medical Practice Executive) credential. This credential, and ultimately reaching Fellowship status, is a benchmark that can single you out and put you in full view of top physicians and executives throughout the healthcare industry.

NMN: When and where are meetings? If a Nashville Medical News reader would like to learn more at the November NMGMA meeting, how would they go about registering?

Currently the NMGMA is meeting in Midtown in the event center at West End United Methodist Church, located at 2200 West End Ave. We have a large meeting space with ample parking. We typically meet the second Tuesday of every month from 11:30 am-1 pm. Registration can be done on our website www.nmgma.com or by reaching out to me or any board member. We would love to have as many guests as will fit in our current meeting space.

NMN: Tell us a little bit about your background and practice.

Testa: Making the shift into a healthcare career has been a journey that started initially with many years in retail management, a degree in Management and Business Administration from Belmont University and a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) credential that kicked off the whole transition. I certainly would not be where I am today without the early healthcare employers and mentors who gave me a shot and who taught me so much about this business.

I have been working as a practice manager at Nashville Family Foot Care for over six years and just love our small group practice located on the campus of Centennial Medical Center. We specialize in the treatment of all foot and ankle conditions with an emphasis on diabetic foot care for the prevention of pedal complications. Our staff and physicians are truly dedicated to helping our diabetic patients remain healthy and happy.

NMGMA Announces New Board

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