Working for the HHS

You've probably heard that Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has been appointed as the next HHS secretary. So how do you work for the HHS? Begin by getting involved in politics and lobbying efforts. People are always at Capitol Hill trying to rally and get support for some type of health issue. Stay updated with the reports produced by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). It's critical that you stay current with all the political issues that surround healthcare. You may want to get an MPH so that you can have a better population health perspective.

Joining Government with Industry to Discuss Health Issues

What happens when you combine government with industry to talk about health issues related to quality of care, compliance, cost, and partnerships? You end up with roundtable reports published by the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). They have some recent roundtable reports where industry representatives discussed some important quality and compliance issues with the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG).

The most recent HCCA/OIG roundtable report is titled:

A Report on the HHS Office of Inspector General and Health Care Compliance Association Roundtable on Hospital Board of Directors’ Oversight of Quality of Care
Driving for Quality in Acute Care: A Board of Directors Dashboard

Past HCCA/OIG roundtable reports include:

A Report on the Office of Inspector General and Health Care Compliance Association Roundtable on Long-Term Care Board of Directors’ Oversight of Quality of Care
December 6, 2007

A Summary of the Government-Industry Roundtable on the
Role of Governance in Compliance Programs
June 16, 2004, Office of Inspector General

HCCA/OIG Rountable Report
Building a Partnership for Effective Compliance
July, 2001

HCCA/OIG Physician Roundtable Report
Building a Partnership for Effective Compliance
July, 2000

CIA Survey
August 2001

Obama Picks Kansas Gov. Sebelius for HHS Secretary

I don't like to talk about politics very much, so I'll keep this brief. I think the headline speaks for itself. President Obama picked Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

If you're a clinician and you have a strong interest in politics, it may help to get involved in media campaigns and local public health service projects. If you get recognized, you may find yourself on television and you may even become famous!