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I can't believe it's already November and the holidays are right around the corner. It's been a whirlwind of activity since the incoming board and the standing board held our strategic meeting in June. We've had several face to face meetings as well as several phone conferences since then. In July Emily and I went to Chicago to attend Team Talks and the Leadership Conference. In September we had a Business and Educational Meeting in Hartford. We had great speakers for both the general sessions and the coding and EHR roundtables.
In October, several of us were off to Grapevine, Texas, which is between Dallas and Fort Worth, for AHIMA's annual convention. Myself, Emily Macko, Thelma Grant, and Marty Cohen represented you at the House of Delegates. There were several items on the floor this year. For more info see the article in the issue.
Congratulations, Karen! At the convention our own Karen Lawler was honored as the recipient of the Triumph Award in Mentoring. Karen's mom was there to see her daughter receive this wonderful award and was clearly very proud of her daughter. Karen is a natural at mentoring, whether it is as a peer, co-worker or as an instructor. We are very fortunate to have Karen in as an active member of our CSA.
We've been busy putting together the program for the December Business and Education Meeting which is being held on December 8th at the Courtyard by Marriot in Waterbury.
The board makes every attempt to have informative and interesting speakers and they do a great job. If you haven't been attending the meetings I strongly recommend you come check one out. The speakers we are able to obtain are often also at AHIMA's convention. For instance, Kelly McLendon spoke to us at the September meeting and also spoke in October (on the same topic) in Grapevine. Do I have to point out that we had him first?
Also, in December is our annual Holiday Party. On December 11 please join us at the Aqua Turf in Southington to celebrate the holidays. This is a great chance to get together socially, enjoy a good meal and do some dancing.
The coding roundtable committee is planning a roundtable in January and in March we will be having the spring Business and Education Meeting. The plans are well under way for the New England States Conference (formerly known as 6 State) to be held in Manchester, New Hampshire in May. Keep an eye on the calendar on the website for event announcements.
The board works for you and we need to hear from you. You are always welcome to join us at a board meeting. Check the calendar for details. We only ask that you let us know you're coming so we make sure we have enough space. We have has several members join us at meetings and it's great to have everyone involved. You can always contact any of the board members via our website.
One of the things we learned at the NBC Fair was that individuals who are not members did not know they could attend our Business and Education meetings. Everyone is welcome at these and if you know of someone that would be interested please pass the information to them. The fee schedule is established with a separate fee for non-members.
Speaking of fees. The board is very much aware that in this economic climate funds, whether they be your personal funds or your employers, are tight. The board works very hard to give you the best educational programs available while keeping the cost of the programs reasonable. Members of the board seek out vendors to sponsor parts of the day, work extremely hard to get the best speakers for reasonable fees or none at all. In September the location at Hartford Hospital was free and the employees that arranged this for us attended for free. If you have a location at which we could have free space three (3) employees at that location can attend the program for at no cost.
As we head into this busy time of year stay safe and enjoy the holidays.
Sincerely,
Linda H. McKone, RHIT
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Greetings!
In this world of escalating cost and an ever changing health care environment isn't it comforting to know that you can reach out and find resources that are available to you, your staff and even family and friends.
Did you know that AHIMA has a web site that provides information and resources for your professional use?
Do you need help in finding resources for project management, policy development or staff development?
Do you or your staff want to obtain further education or just want to see what AHIMA is.. If you didn't know or haven't had a chance to check it out, go to the AHIMA web site. You'll be surprised what you will find.
Do you know that as a member of AHIMA you are automatically a member of your state association? Find out more by logging into the CTHIMA web site. Feel free to contact any member of CTHIMA, we want to be your resource to expanding your knowledge in Health Information Management.
Remember each time you share your knowledge it helps you grow as a person.
Please share this newsletter and any of our emails or other information with your staff, friends, and colleagues. Maybe have it as an agenda item at your next staff meeting.
" The improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others."John Locke
" A resource for all "
AHIMA and CTHIMA
Submitted by Carolyn S. Horton, RHIA; Director
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HOUSE OF DELEGATES REPORT
Submitted by
Marty Cohen, RHIT
Past President, CTHIMA
As a delegate to the AHIMA House of Delegates, I am reporting on the OCT. 3rd 2009 Meeting. While there were several Motions to the HOD, which I will explain, there were also several Action Forum Item sessions that involved all the delegates present, and gave us a chance to voice our opinion on key issues that are facing all of us as well as the association.
First there was a motion to change the Bylaws Amendment on Delegate Apportionment. This would have changed the number of delegates from each state based on voting membership in each state. CT would have gone from the current four delegates to 2 delegates under the new apportionment. The rationale was that due to the growth in AHIMA and CSA membership, the HOD has grown. Ten years ago there were 185 delegates, now there is 227. So the proposal was to consider distribution based on CSA membership with an overall reduction in the number of delegates and related costs to the CSAs. After much debate before and during the HOD meeting the motion was brought to the floor. Again, after discussion and counter motions, it was determined to send this back to the House of Delegate Operations Committee for further work.
The next Action Item was a proposed resolution for Professional Guidelines/Best Practices for Electronic Documentation. This was proposed by the Tennessee HIM Assoc, and endorsed by Missouri and
Pennsylvania. They are looking for AHIMA to take the lead in adopting and standardizing professional guidelines. They resolved that AHIMA should provide authoritative resources to develop and standardize guidelines/ best practices for e-HIM documentation by:
Identifying and prioritizing volunteer workgroups and practice councils to create best practices for electronic documentation; invite vendors and documentation /compliance specialists form our alliance groups to participate. Promoting the recognition/adoption of best practices by EHR developers and certifying organizations.
Developing a plan for disseminating the best practices through regional extension centers established by ARRA. Issuing a call to action for our volunteers and aligned organizations to advocate for and support the dissemination of the best practices.
Leveraging the AHIMA Foundation to increase research of evidence-based best practices for e-HIM documentation.
This Action Item was voted on and Approved by majority vote.
The last item up for vote before the HOD was a motion to accept the Resolution on Volunteer and Leadership Development which was proposed by the HOD Team on Volunteer and Leadership Development. This is designed to set up volunteer and leadership models and education for our members.
· It was resolved that the leadership model matches the needs of the volunteer positions with the knowledge, skills and desires of potential volunteers.
· Resolved that AHIMA develop the implements succession planning for its volunteer leadership positions and communicates core competencies for volunteer positions for all levels of leadership and governance volunteer positions.
· Resolved that training is available for volunteer opportunities and volunteer recognition and rewards are appropriate and meaningful.
· Resolved that AHIMA embraces inclusion and diverse volunteer leaders.
· Resolved that students are valuable resources and are considered when filling volunteer positions.
· Resolved that AHIMA's volunteer leadership opportunities are publicly announced, easily available, and transparent to interested individuals with sufficient information provided about each opportunity.
· Resolved that AHIMA members take advantage of volunteer leadership opportunities to support AHIMA and their own personal and professional growth, take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities, and mentor tomorrow's leaders.
This motion was voted on and approved by a majority vote.
In addition to these action items there were focused discussion groups which met before the HOD convened. These included:
"Future-focused HIM Workforce". The rationale was with government initiatives focused on healthcare reform, electronic health records used by all healthcare providers, the need for many more trained specialists to implement and manage EHRs, and with increased efforts to provide various training certificates for broader, diversified healthcare information technology workforce, what where and how can HIM secure its best and strongest role and voice.
Another discussion group was "ARRA Funded State Level HIE Initiative Providing CSA Leadership. The rationale was State and local Health Information Exchanges are gearing up to advocate rapidly as part of HITECH funding in the ARRA Act. HIM professionals and their local and state associations are actively engaged in a number of states. This Action Forum will ensure that all delegates have the latest information about HIE programs and resources. This is also an opportunity for delegates to consider how this affects AHIMA's products and services and its advocacy positions.
The Next group was "Organizational Future Project". The rationale was setting a direction and strategy for the association is a key responsibility of the Board of Directors. Team Talks and Action Forums present the opportunity for the delegates to have a strategy discussion that is very helpful to the AHIMA Board and is hopefully also helpful to delegates as they shape strategy for component state associations.
There was a discussion group on "ICD-10 Implementation & Training". While there is much discussion and debate on ICD-10. the fact is that it is coming in 2013. How will we be prepared and what needs to be done now. AHIMA has recommended to postpone training of working coding professionals until 12 months before the OCT 2013 implementation date. Some of the discussion topic's that must be answered are:
What is the role of the CSA in ICD-10 workforce training?
How can AHIMA and CSA's best collaborate to ensure a trained workforce?
How can CSA's engage their members to earn the ICD-10 Trainer Certificate, in order to assure that the state workforces are adequately trained?
Share your CSA's strategic goals related to ICD-10.
So as you can see there was a lot of interesting information and discussions going on at the HOD. This is an exciting time to be in HIM, although very busy and uncertain in some areas, If AHIMA and all the CSA's work together and raise one voice hopefully we can make an impact on how healthcare is delivered in the future, and how our organization and CSA will position itself in the future as well.
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NBC30 Health & Wellness Festival
CT Convention Center
October 17 and 18th
Respectfully submitted,
Linda H. McKone
Again this year the NBC Health Fair was a success thanks to our wonderful volunteers who spent a few hours at this event to talk with public about MyPHR. A special thank you goes out to: Yvette Gauthier, Penny Deotte, Carolyn Horton, Emily Macko, Alison Nicklas, Sara Pritchard, Jane Philion, Sue Clark, Tania Hazley, and Thelma Grant.
We had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of individuals about the importance of maintaining their own records or the records of others as a caregiver. We also offered to do presentations to any groups or organizations they belong to. It was amazing how many people already were aware of the importance of maintaining their own records. They told us (and showed us) the little pieces of paper they carry around in their wallets with critical information to thumb drives they had on a chain around their neck.
A gentleman shared with me his story about how his thumb drive saved his life. This man has a chronic condition which requires many medications and each time he goes to his physician his thumb drive is updated. Driving to work he lost consciousness, it turns out he had a seizure. He was convinced that because the emergency personnel used the thumb drive he wears around his neck to check for his medical history they were able to treat him quicker and correctly. He truly believes he would not have survived had it not been for his thumb drive.
The health fair offered many activities for all ages, some health related, others plain old fun. (I didn't get a chance to do the bungee ride, but, it looked like a blast.) Flu shots were given out, chiropractors were doing spinal checks, you could get a mammogram, pick up some health related info, or give blood at the American Red Cross blood drive (which several of our volunteers did), and the list goes on and on.
We were fortunate enough to have our booth located across from one of several entertainment stages and were able to enjoy everything from police dog demonstrations, belly dancing, Zumba, karate and many other activities.
We made contacts to follow-up for doing presentations. We met members of CTHIMA that were surprised to see us there. We met coders that are not members of CTHIMA and invited them to check out our website and join us for our coding roundtables.
If it sound like we had fun, we did. Next year when the plea goes out for volunteers to man our booth, I hope you'll consider spending a few hours at this worthwhile event and have some fun while doing it with us.
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Other News and Announcements
submitted by
Penny Deotte, Central Office Coordinator
In keeping with our theme of sharing information, I just want to remind everyone of the the resources that are available for free on the CTHIMA website:
Consultant's Page - If you are a CTHIMA member who provides consulting services, consider listing your info here - If you are in need of consulting services, please check out the listings of our members.
Calendar of Events - Current listings of all CTHIMA events and meetings as well as some AHIMA events.
Education Page - Here you will find links to all CTHIMA sponsored educational events as well as some events sponsored by other organizations that may be of interest to our members and associates
Publications - Here you will find our newsletter archives as well as other newsworthy items by or about our members
Resources Page - Links to other websites that may be of interest or use to you
Job Bank - Listings of positions available in CT and the region
Remember that as an AHIMA member you also have access to the Communities of Practice - we are looking forward to the new version of the CoP that is due in the new year. I'll keep you posted with hints and tips to enhance your user experience. In the meantime, remember that any member can post a resource or a discussion thread - it is not only open to the board members.
We would also like to let our members know that necklace that was donated to the AHIMA Foundation (FORE) Silent Auction at the Convention raised $170.00. A donation of $200.00 was made to the Linda Kloss Scholarship on behalf of the members of CTHIMA. |
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AHIMA Convention Recap
submitted by
Thelma Grant, MBA, RHIA, Director
The AHIMA 81st National Convention & Exhibit was held in Grapevine, Texas, on October 3rd thru 8th, 2009. The venue was the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, located about 20 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport it provided 'Texas-style' space and amenities. Considering that the weather was rainy and/or overcast for the duration of the convention, we were grateful for the attached/enclosed meeting rooms and dining and social attractions.
Saturday, 10/3/09:
For the CTHIMA delegation, convention activities began with the 'Delegate Orientation' on Saturday afternoon, where we were given a preview of the proceedings in the House of Delegates the following day. The House is the formal governing body of the association; sessions are very formal, delegates must follow the prescribed rules of conduct for making motions, offering comments and voting.
Immediately following the orientation, delegates attended the invitation-only Volunteer Reception in the Yellow Rose Ballroom. The highlights were the wonderful roast beef carving station - this was Texas, afterall - and the dessert table loaded with 'shots' of strawberry shortcake, crème brulee and other succulent morsels.
Sunday, 10/4/09:
The House of Delegates was in session all day Sunday. In the morning, all the HOD teams had their face-to-face meeting; delegates are assigned to specific teams which meet regularly in conference calls throughout the year, one face-to-face meeting is held each year at the convention.
Following the HOD team meetings, the Action Forums got underway; motions and resolutions being brought before the House are discussed and refined in these informal discussion sessions where any delegate's comments are voiced. Action Forums continued during the hour immediately after lunch, the same items from the morning were discussed, affording each delegate the opportunity to offer detailed comments on at least two of the action items.
At 2:30 PM, after all sitting delegates had been registered and their credentials verified, the 2009 House of Delegates was called to Order. The following action items were brought before the House -
The Bylaws Amendment on Delegate Apportionment was sent back to committee.
The Resolution for Professional Guidance/Best Practices for Electronic Documentation was adopted.
The Resolution on Volunteer and Leadership Development was adopted.
At the end of the day, the business of the HOD having been concluded, the session was adjourned.
Monday, 10/5/09:
The general convention and exhibits began on Monday and continued through Wednesday. (Pre-convention meetings and workshops had been held on Saturday and Sunday, and post-convention sessions continued on Thursday). The morning, 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon, was devoted to general session speakers with motivational and educational topics that were relevant to all the attendees. Monday's topics & speakers began with Doug Keeley, on the topic of The Mark of a Leader. Mark Leavitt, MD followed with CCHIT's New Era: Certification under ARRA. Gail Graham, Director of Health Data and Informatics for the VA's all-electronic health record, inspired and encouraged the audience with her topic E-HIM Forges Ahead. The morning concluded with Harry Reynolds, VP of IS Planning and Information Compliance at BCBS of NC, expounding on Leadership and the ICD-10 Strategic Advantage.
The afternoon offered six tracks for attendee choice, from 1 to 2:00 PM, and 3:30 to 5:45 PM. Tracks ranged from Electronic Document Management, through the hot topics and legal issues of the day, to old favorites like Release of Information. On Monday and Tuesday, the time between 2:00 to 3:30 PM were dedicated to the exhibitors, for vendor presentations and demonstrations; no formal educational sessions were scheduled during this period.
Tuesday, 10/6/09:
Tuesday's general sessions began with a Secondary Data Use Panel moderated by Don Mon, AHIMA vice president of practice leadership. The three panelists, Justine Carr, MD, Floyd Eisenberg, MD, MPH and Rachel Richesson, PhD, MPH, conducted a lively discussion of the challenges of secondary data use. The areas discussed are familiar to all of us, problems in data collection, privacy, confidentiality, data standards and technical standards. After the panel discussion, incoming AHIMA president, Rita Bowen, MA, RHIA delivered a stirring Incoming Presidential Address. She recounted her own 'accidental' entry into the profession and encouraged HIM professionals to embrace the opportunities for progress embodied in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. That was not the end of the morning. AHIMA CEO Linda Kloss, RHIA then took the stage, and in 15 minutes of HIM Unplugged, presented our profession and a history of our role in the march toward e-HIM to the next speaker. The last speaker of the morning was David Blumenthal, MD, the new National Coordinator for health IT. After only six months in his new role, the previous director of the Institute for Health Policy at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners HealthCare System in Boston, MA, spoke knowledgeably about the current initiatives underway at the federal level to advance health information technology, and about the key role of health information management in achieving success. On the subject of Meaningful Use, he spoke about the progress that has been made in defining the concept and expected that a notice of proposed rulemaking will be published by the end of the year.
Tuesday afternoon's breakout sessions again offered a smorgasbord of educational opportunities, three hour tracks on a variety of topics including the hot and new, as well as the tried and true: Advocacy and Legislation, E-HIM, Long Term Care/Care in the Community, Personal Health Record/Patient-Centered Care, Revenue Management and Security.
Wednesday, 10/7/09:
The third and last day of the general convention is usually upside down - the breakout sessions are in the morning then everyone is brought together in the afternoon for the general sessions and closing ceremonies. Wednesday's educational tracks, 8:00 AM to 12:15 PM, covered Coding/Clinical Documentation Improvement/Technology, Informatics, Medical Identity Theft, Performance Improvement, Physician Practices, Project Management and a tract for Specialty topics that included transcription standards, cancer registry and the complexities of HIM in correctional institutions.
Jeffrey Zaslow, columnist for The Wall Street Journal and co-author of the current national bestseller The Last Lecture, headlined the afternoon. He was followed by Mark Chassin, MD, president of the Joint Commission on the subject of Physician Adoption of EHRs.
The convention ended with a rousing tribute to Linda Kloss, who steps down from her position as AHIMA CEO at the end of this year. The association is grateful for Linda's inspired leadership during the past decade of change and growth in our profession and the healthcare industry. An endowed scholarship for HIM education has been set up in Linda Kloss' name in appreciation for what she has contributed to our profession and the association during her tenure. Vera Rulon, the current president of AHIMA, closed the 2009 convention and invited all participants to Orlando, FL for the 2010 gathering.
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"Health Information Management - Ever Changing, Ever Evolving"
Quarterly Business and Education Meeting
December 8, 2009
Courtyard Marriott, Waterbury CT
This meeting will cover topics: Patient Centered Care and HIPAA, CT Health Policy Project, Copy and Paste and other eHR Issues, Recent legislative limits on copying charges with a Coding Roundtable in the afternoon focused on ICD-10. The Coding Roundtable can be attended as a stand-alone session for $40 ($50 non-members) or as a breakout session included in the full day price.
Member Price: $70.00
Non-Member Price: $80.00
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