Board of Directors
Terry Closson, B.S., CHAM, CRCM
CAHAM President
With 25+ years of Executive Management within the Hospital and Healthcare systems, Terry has proven to be an exceptional and respected leader in these areas. Her vast knowledge in Revenue Cycle, Hospital Admissions, Process Improvements and Strategic Planning has proven to be both beneficial in her internal and external associations. Being the President of CAHAM (California Association of Healthcare Admissions Management) with designations of CSCR and CHAM have led her to produce consistent “Best-in Class” patient experiences, while in tandem spearheading successful projects on cash control and retention.
Recently married last winter, Terry enjoyed a safari throughout Africa. Residing in Newport Beach, she enjoys reading, hiking, and enjoying the beach with her husband and two adult children.
Business: Executive Director-Revenue Cycle, Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Email: terry.closson@choc.org
AC James
CAHAM Vice-President
AC James is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Since 2013, she has been serving as a Senior Revenue Cycle Consultant with the Otani Consulting Group. In her role, AC has demonstrated exceptional versatility, taking on various responsibilities including Financial Alignment Executive at Oracle (formerly Cerner) Corporation.
AC has successfully executed system conversions on multiple platforms, led revenue cycle transformations, implemented denials management processes, and redesigned end-to-end Patient Access, Patient Financial Services, and Case Management for numerous hospital organizations and clients. She has also served as interim Revenue Cycle Director at several clients when needed.
AC is renowned for her ability to seamlessly integrate with and inspire collaboration among the teams and organizations she supports. Prior to joining the Otani Consulting Group, she held various leadership roles in Revenue Cycle at Tenet HealthSystems, Southern California Kaiser Permanente, and Prime HealthCare at both hospital and regional levels.
AC loves spoiling her grandkids, bike riding and basketball. She also enjoys traveling with her musician husband, family and close friends to exciting places.
Business: Otani Consulting Group, Inc.
Email: AC.James@otaniconsulting.com
Lynn Otani
CAHAM Treasurer
Lynn Otani began her career as a weekend ER Patient Access Representative while attending college. After earning a degree in Management Information Systems from California State University, Long Beach, she advanced her career by working for two large hospital corporations in various roles, ranging from hospital and regional positions in Patient Access and PFS to National Director of Patient Access Technology. In this role, Lynn developed and implemented nationwide systems, policies, and training programs.
In 2010, Lynn established Lynn Otani Consulting with the goal of providing hands-on assistance to hospital revenue cycle departments. In 2012, LOC became OCG, Otani Consulting Group, when she was joined by several like-minded individuals with staff to corporate level experience. Despite continuous changes in systems, reimbursement processes, and regulations, OCG's mission remains steadfast: to collaborate closely with our partners, who now include clinics and vendors, to achieve their objectives.
Outside of work, Lynn treasures spending time with family, traveling, hiking, and shopping. She often combines these interests by exploring local scenic trails, traveling for marathons and hikes while discovering unique shopping spots along the way. Her adventures are enriched by the close-knit friendships she's built through these shared experiences. With her family, who do not enjoy hiking, she enjoys school events, shopping and ice cream. She's adaptable.
Business: Otani Consulting Group, Inc.
Lena Watts
CAHAM Secretary
Lena is an accomplished healthcare professional with over four decades of progressive experience in service and administration. Currently serving as a Consultant for the Local Member Services team at Kaiser Permanente, Lena plays a pivotal role in enhancing customer service and operational efficiency across the Northern California region.
Lena began her career with Kaiser Permanente in 1983 as an Admit Representative and has steadily advanced through a variety of leadership roles, including Assistant Manager, Site Coordinator, Capital Service Area Manager, and Associate Director of the NCAL Revenue Cycle. Her dedication, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving operational improvements and elevating patient service standards. From 1989 to 1992, she also served as the Emergency Room Registration Supervisor at Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, expanding her expertise in patient access and emergency care workflows.
Lena holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of California, Davis, and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of La Verne. Her academic background complements her professional achievements, strengthening her ability to lead with empathy, communicate effectively, and drive meaningful changes in complex healthcare environments. She is also a STAR Leadership co-facilitator and holds certifications as a Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM) and Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR).
Outside of her professional endeavors, Lena leads a vibrant and active life. She enjoys playing coed softball, working out at the gym, volunteering with a local theater company, officiating for USA Track & Field events, reading, and spending quality time with her family.
Business: Kaiser Permanente
Email: Lena.Watts@kp.org