Paul L. Usher

"Our expanded partnership with South Bend Medical Foundation to provide a new donor center brings their knowledge and expertise to the community and enables us to focus resources on providing other critical services for our Healthcare Community," said Marion General's President/CEO, Paul Usher.

Paul Ushervice president, finance765.662.4684paul.usher@mgh.net

Usher earns HFMA recertification

Marion General Hospital's Paul L. Usher, chief financial officer, was recently recertified as a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.HFMA, with more than 34,000 members, is the nation's leading membership organization for health care financial management executives and leaders.

Usher is a former president of the Indiana chapter and has been a member of HFMA for 38 years.He has served as MGH's chief financial officer for 25 years of his 38-year health care career.
...
A Marion native, Usher earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Ball State University.He is a certified public accountant and is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Indiana CPA Association.

Paul UsherMarion General Hospital's Paul Usher, chief financial officer, was given the Stanley A. Pressler award at the Indiana Pressler Memorial Chapter of Healthcare Financial Management Association's president's reception on April 6.Usher is just the seventh recipient of this award in the chapter's 52-year history and received the award for outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the chapter during his tenure as an officer and as a member of HFMA for 37 years.

HFMA, with more than 34,000 members, is the nation's leading membership organization for healthcare financial management executives and leaders.

Usher is a former president of the Indiana chapter.He has 37 years of healthcare experience with 24 years at MGH.Usher is a certified public accountant, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Fellow of HFMA.He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Indiana CPA Association.He has been active in the community, serving the United Way, his church and as past president of the Family Service Society Inc.

County and hospital officials are negotiating with Paul Usher, MGH's vice president of finance, proposing in September that the hospital keep the current rate of $49,000 for 2003, but raise it to $150,000 in 2004, which would be three times the current contract.

Usher told commissioners in August that the increase is needed because of higher costs, including legal fees, consultations, utilities, dispatching, training and computers.MGH allows county paramedics to transfer life-threatened patients to hospital ambulances -- staffed by hospital paramedics with more advanced training -- after riding to the city line.

Grant County EMS, a group of volunteer ambulance services that provides assistance to several rural areas in the county, doesn't have advanced life support equipment.The coverage area includes Fairmount, Gas City, Upland and Center Township.

The hospital's Vice President of Finance Paul Usher, who didn't attend Monday's meeting would not discuss the bid, saying he's waiting to have a conversation with commissioners.

MGH is typically the only bidder for the project, which allows county paramedics to transfer life-threatened patients to hospital ambulances -- staffed by hospital paramedics with more advanced training -- after riding to the city line.County paramedics are volunteers and don't have advanced life support equipment.

"We just don't have much paper anymore in the whole patient accounting function," says Paul Usher, CFO and vice president of finance.The result has been financial efficiencies and time savings for staff, illustrated by a significant reduction in outstanding receivables.Prior to the automation push, MGH was seeing average accounts receivable days outstanding in the mid-60s to mid-70s.Since 1998, averages have ranged in the 50s.
...
Paul L. Usher

President: Paul Usher (American Studies and Politics)