PASHRM History

Established in August of 1980 with 25 members, the organization was originally named Delaware Valley Health Care Risk Management Association (DVHCRMA). Over the next five years, membership doubled and meetings went from quarterly round-table discussion sessions to monthly educational presentations.

By1997, there were 150 members, the organization changed its name to Philadelphia Area Society for Healthcare Risk Management (to correct the misapprehension that we were a Delaware organization!), became affiliated with the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM), and won chapter achievement awards six out of 7 years, including the ASHRM Award of Excellence.

Over the years, the group has conducted several salary surveys, participated in legislative initiatives related to living wills, withholding/withdrawing life support, the Health Care Quality Improvement Act, and, most recently, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act (MCARE).

Our members benefit from monthly educational presentations on a wide variety of topics related to all aspects of risk management, professional networking opportunities, periodic and timely updates on critical issues, affiliation with national organizations in healthcare risk management, and regular e-mail correspondence on “hot topics” and job opportunities. Exchange of information and solution to mutual problems may be PASHRM’s most significant benefit—access to a wealth of knowledge from members who are leaders in the field of healthcare risk management.