Shawntea (Taya) Moheiser, MBA, CMPE, CMOM

Volunteer Roles: Online Events Production Assistance

Why did you decide to get involved with MGMA?  

When I really first interacted with MGMA, at any level, I was fairly new to the industry in general and I was looking for ways to network and stay up to date on changing legislation which seemed to be impacting our practice more and more every day.

What do you find most rewarding about volunteering for MGMA?

There are so many beautiful things that come from volunteering with MGMA. The most rewarding for me is probably all of the long-term friendships. MGMA employees and members across the nation and even outside of the nation have become very close friends. When the pandemic first hit, we were all looking for operational strategies and financial support but for most of us, it was commiserating with individuals that were in similar trenches that really got us through.

How did you decide that practice management was the career for you?  

Honestly as soon as I knew the position existed. I was always looking for a career that would be challenging and diverse while still allowing me to find ways to help people. If you boil practice management down to just a few words that’s really what it is. You spend day in and day out problem-solving across a host of departments. The idea of constant solutioning was very exciting to me.

What is the best tip you give to people who are just starting a career in practice management?  

Two things spring to mind, network and read the source document. Information comes at practice managers through a fire hose. Lean on your peers and develop those strong networks that will help you when you get into a pinch (like when thousands of us needed the same PPE at the same time). Finally, read the source documents, when you hear about a change that is going to impact your practice go out to the Federal Register, go to CMS.gov, read what they actually said. Often you will identify resources there or additional context behind the change.

What is your favorite book or website or resource for practice managers?  

Great question but how do I choose just one? I have three that come top of mind: The Emerging Healthcare Leader by Laurie Baedke, Small Brave Moves by Nicole Bianchi, and of course The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande… of course, the book I wrote for MGMA with my colleague Kem Tolliver also comes to mind but seems self-serving.
 
Notably, she and I have been teaching, writing, and consulting together now for over a decade and we met at the Maryland MGMA conference where we later both served on the board before getting involved nationally.

How do you relax after a busy work week?   

Writing, painting, movies, cooking, all the arts really. Even just kneading dough for a good pie can be so relaxing and gives you somewhere physical to put tension that has built up during the week.

What is your top tip for maintaining work/life balance? 

I’m not positive that any practice managers have this 100% nailed down :) but what works for me is reserving dinner time and weekends for my family while seeking constant growth in my time-blocking skills. My kids, my fiancée, my parents and friends, they all know I may be working until the late hours of the evening during the week. But they also know that I will be at the table for dinner to hear about their day and that they will have my full attention all weekend. That means on the weekend my computer is only out for them to show me a funny video, my phone is only out to record their sports, etc.