MANAGER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Norma J. Miller Manager of Excellence Award is awarded to an individual who demonstrates excellence of management through communication, leadership and has made a significant contribution to the field of patient healthcare access. The recipient has to have a minimum of three (3) years of Access Services Management experience, a certified healthcare access manager (CHAM), and been a member of NORTEX for at least one year.
Norma Miller began her prestigious career in Patient Access Services in a small town hospital as an Emergency Department Admission Registrar. Early on she recognized many opportunities for improvement in registration processes and had a vision of a time when all functions of the registration would be automated and seamless for the staff, as well as, the patients.
Upon moving to Texas, Norma obtained a management position at the now closed St. Joseph’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. She was then recruited by Arlington Memorial Hospital to oversee their Admitting Department. Norma brought her once perceived idealistic concepts to fruition during her tenure at Harris Methodist Hospitals Incorporated now known as Texas Health Resources.
Norma’s mission in life was to ensure that Patient Access Services was recognized not only as an entry level clerical position, but as valued professional resource directly affecting the bottom line in the hospital Revenue Cycle. She strived to communicate the importance of Patient Access Services throughout the Healthcare Industry. Norma also believed in the, “One call does it all” concept to registration which includes Scheduling, Pre-admission, insurance verification, and the financial clearance of the patient prior to arrival. She was adamant about the fact that this process would not only be beneficial for the Organization, but the Patient as well.
This trailblazer was ahead of her time in her teaching and mentoring style of management. Many Patient Access Services Directors, Managers and Access Staff have benefited from the knowledge she has shared for so many years. Norma was one of the original pioneers of Nortex until her retirement in 2005.
Norma passed away on December 19, 2013.
