History - 1955

Bob Newell remembers a meeting he co-chaired with Richard Anderson at the Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis.  He has placed the data at May 7, 1955 by connecting it with a major fire in downtown Minneapolis on that date.  This then was the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Minnesota managers.

Three new medical groups were born in Minnesota in 1955:  Comprehensive Medical Care in Coon Rapids; Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology; and St. Paul Radiology.  The Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology was formed out of the Minneapolis Clinic of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1985 when the neurologists purchased the assets of the group and the psychiatrists continued their practices under other arrangements.  The entire group was formed in 1955.  William Botnan, their first Administrator, served until his retirement in 1984.  Ellis "Bud" Olson was employed in 1980 and became Administrator in 1985.

NACM's membership totaled 342 people.  Minnesota's 22 MGMA members put Minnesota in a tie for third place with Texas (behind California and Illinois).

A committee composed of four past presidents including Harold Heberlain who was its Chairman, recommended activation of the American College of Clinic Managers which the NACM had incorporated in Minnesota in 1953.  The recommendation was adopted with one dissenting vote from the membership.

NACM's agenda for this conference included:

• New organization chart for NACM with committees reporting to various officers;
  
• Big issue regarding section rotation of presidency; and
  
• The election of Archie McFarland of Canada for the position of Second Vice President established a rotation in fact.
  
  

The Western Section's first institute was held in Los Angeles in February 1955 with a registration of more than 90.  This was a replication of the "ABC's of Clinic Organization" previously presented at Michigan State College of 1954.

For the first time the national association co-sponsored a second Institute in the same year, this one at the State University of Iowa on "Financial Framework of Clinic Organization."