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Friday, October 9, 2009

AHDI Advocacy on the Move in Austin

Texas-AHDI recently had the privilege of having Peter Preziosi in Texas this week. Today, Peter, myself, and Laura Bryan met with John C. Wood, North Texas Regional Director for Senator John Cornyn (R) of Texas. We were able to discuss with Mr. Wood the initiatives in our industry and the importance of bringing AHDI and MTIA to the table in the current discussions regarding the current Administration’s healthcare initiatives. I am happy to report that Mr. Wood was very receptive to our ideas and said that he would be happy to take our concerns and suggestions to the Senator. We are already well represented in Washington, DC by Peter and Greg Doggett, and it was beneficial for all of us to know that by speaking out and bringing our concerns to our legislators, we can make a difference. Knowing that, consider attending Lobby Day in Washington, DC next year – every voice counts, and our legislators are happy to listen!

We discussed the importance of the healthcare documentation specialist in the overall framework of a patient’s healthcare record. Mr. Wood listened to our concerns and agreed that we have a vital role in the ongoing process of the advent of the electronic health record. Tomorrow, Peter and I will be going to Texas Health Resources Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas to meet with their HIM Director, Don Carr, and thanks to the wonderful efforts of Jerry Shoemaker, President of the Greater Fort Worth Chapter, Cindy Liesenfelt, President of the Greater Dallas Chapter, and Diana Anderson, President-Elect of the Greater Dallas Chapter, Peter will be interviewed by a local news reporter after our meeting with the HIM Director of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. We are excited about the momentum that seems to be sweeping Texas and all of the nation, and are grateful to everyone who continues to make that happen.

We will be attending the Greater Dallas Chapter of AHDI’s symposium on Saturday, and plan to have an extended round-table discussion among local MTs about current initiatives, and what our national representatives are doing to make sure we are at the forefront of clinical documentation.

I will be happy to keep you posted over the coming days about our initiatives here in Texas, and we hope that it gives everyone renewed vigor to get our message out there, to ensure the continued integrity of the patient health record and our role in that effort.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the ACE event in Austin in 2010 – August 4th through 7th. We really do things bigger in Texas, and we hope the spirit here is contagious!!

Cynthia C. Alder, CMT
President, Texas AHDI 2009-2010
Member, AHDI Ethics Committee 2009
Member, AHDI Compliance Outreach Council 2009

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