Power Up! CQE Prep Workshop at ACE 2011

Featured Workshop:

Power Up! CQE Prep Workshop
Friday, August 19, 2011
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Presenter: Lea Sims, CMT, AHDI-F

What is the CQE? If you are an acute-care MT with more than 2 years’ experience and a desire to sit for the CMT exam, changes in credentialing policy now require you to demonstrate RMT (level 1) competency before moving on to the level 2 CMT exam content. To make this easier for CMT candidates, we are offering a fast track exam option that will allow candidates to sit for both the RMT and CMT exams in a single exam session—the Credential Qualifying Exam (CQE). With new exam blue prints and exam prep materials available for public consumption and candidate preparation, we are pleased to announce a new workshop available at ACE 2011 in Phoenix.

This two-hour interactive workshop is designed to walk CQE candidates through both exam blue prints, take the fear out of exam preparation, and give candidates an organizational approach to studying both the RMT and CMT exams. Workshop attendees will receive tips, strategies, and practice exercises that will give you a better understanding of what to expect on AHDI credentialing exams. In addition, all attendees will receive a "Power Pack" resource kit, filled with exam prep items from either of the two workshop bundle options below. Choose from one of the following:

CQE Workshop Package 1—The Basic Power Pack includes:

• CQE Prep Workshop – Friday, August 19
• RMT Exam Guide
• CMT Exam Guide
• Book of Style Workbook
  
Total = $90 on or before August 1 and $135 after August 1

CQE Workshop Package 2—The Complete Power Pack includes:

• CQE Prep Workshop – Friday, August 19
• RMT Exam Guide
• CMT Exam Guide
• Book of Style Workbook
• CMT Prep CD I
• CMT Prep CD II
• CMT Prep CD III
  
Total = $150 on or before August 1 and $225 after August 1

Don’t miss this phenomenal opportunity for resources and hands-on exam guidance and support. For anyone serious about becoming credentialed, this workshop is a "must see" session at ACE. After the workshop, stop by the AHDI Pavilion to have your products signed by the authors and chat about testing. This workshop is a separately ticketed item not included with Full Registration.

Register Online

Register before the early-bird deadline (June 20, 2011) to secure the lowest registration rate available!

View the Interactive Schedule

Visit ACE365—Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

Payment Plan Option for ACE 2011 Expires Tuesday - Register Now!

AHDI members purchasing a full conference registration may pay for their registration fee in three equal payments over a three-month period. To utilize this special option, you must register using the Payment Plan Registration Form. The payment plan option expires on May 31, 2011 – register today!

Register before the early-bird deadline (June 20, 2011) to secure the lowest registration rate available!

View the Interactive Schedule

Visit ACE365—Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

The MT's Role in Real-Time EHR Documentation at ACE 2011

Featured Breakout Session:

The MT’s Role in Real-Time EHR Documentation
Friday, August 19, 2011
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Joe Weber, MS, MBA


The future for medical transcriptionists is said to be threatened by speech recognition but much more so by EHRs. Physicians dislike point-and-click data entry, and documenting into a computer makes them far less productive, but there are strong market forces pushing them in that direction. This session introduces an innovative approach to clinical documentation within an EHR, introducing a new type of professional called a Medical Coordinator (MC) that leverages the medical language expertise of MTs. MCs listen to clinical encounters from a remote location via a secure audio-transmission system. They are intensively trained in EHR documentation, combining relevant free text for the Subjective and Objective sections with codified input for the Assessment and Plan, with the documentation appearing on monitors in the exam room. MCs can also handle the coding and other important functions. MCs actually determine how the encounter should be documented, thereby migrating into a critical role in the future of health care.

Joe Weber is CEO of Valadoc, The Medical Coordinator Company. During his 40 years in the healthcare industry, Joe has been engaged in medical research, hospital administration, biotechnology, consulting, and marketing – with a heavy focus since the 1980s in dictation, transcription, speech recognition, and natural-language technologies. Joe has published and presented extensively on a variety of topics, mostly related to clinical documentation, is the holder of 3 U.S. patents, one of which was for Smartype. He is a founding member of the prestigious Davies EHR Excellence Award Program of HIMSS and has served on the board of directors of the Medical Transcription Industry Association (MTIA).

Register before the early-bird deadline (June 20, 2011) to secure the lowest registration rate available!

View the Interactive Schedule

Visit ACE365—Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

ACE 2011 - Interactive Schedule Now Available!

The Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) 2011 program committee is comprised of a group of volunteer healthcare documentation professionals that share your passion for this profession. They’ve hand-picked the most pertinent, hard-hitting session topics aimed at meeting your needs as a modern MT. Attend ACE 2011 and leave Phoenix empowered by the knowledge you’ve gained and re-energized by the connection you’ve re-established with your industry and peers. Join us in Phoenix where you, too, can Learn, Evolve and Shine!

Register before the early-bird deadline (June 20, 2011) to secure the lowest registration rate available!

View the Interactive Schedule

Visit ACE365—Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

AHDI Members Volunteer for Transcription Toolkit Workgroup

AHIMA recently put out a call for participation for a workgroup that is forming to advance knowledge and practice of transcription and its role in supporting the EHR. This workgroup is charged with creating a transcription toolkit that will focus on technology to capture structured data for the EHR, operational considerations, policy and procedures, outsourcing guidelines, and transitioning roles and responsibilities.

We would like to recognize the following people who notified us that they had submitted a request to participate in this AHIMA initiative: Cynthia Alder, RHIT, CMT, AHDI-F; Teresa A. Costa, CMT, RHIT; Sherry Doggett; Susan Dooley, CMT, AHDI-F; Loretta Foulkrod; Brenda Hurley, CMT, AHDI-F; Kathy Lengel; Susan Lucci, RHIT, CMT, AHDI-F; Suzanne McKean, RHIT; Brenda Wynn, CMT.

Celebrate MT Week with….Other MTs!!

We know that the at-home nature of medical transcription can often be an isolated, disconnected occupation, with few opportunities to interact and network with colleagues who understand and appreciate your professional experience. There is no better way to “associate” with industry colleagues and build professional relationships than through membership in AHDI. AHDI members all around the country are gathering this week at component meetings and state conferences to celebrate the contributory value of MTs in healthcare and to build and sustain the relationships they’ve made through the association. Won’t you join them?

If you want to make a meaningful investment in your career, consider beginning that journey with AHDI membership. Visit our Why Join AHDI? page to learn more about the value of membership and the benefits you’ll receive as a member. If you join during the month of May, you’ll be eligible to receive the May benefit of the month. AHDI members seeking access to our credentialing exams will have their eligibility fee waived for the month of May. If you’re planning to take an exam, membership means saving money on your exam. Don’t miss out!

Hey, MTs! You Make a Difference!

Very few people truly understand the important contribution you make every day to the safety and well-being of the American patient. The accuracy and integrity of America’s healthcare story is entrusted to your capable hands every day. AHDI salutes your attention to detail, critical thinking, and commitment to regulatory compliance as you preserve these health stories.

Show off your valuable contribution to America’s healthcare story by displaying it proudly on a T-shirt, mug, or keychain. Purchase items with our MT Week slogan: America’s healthcare story is in good hands….Mine. Visit the AHDI Marketplace to place an order today!

MT Week…Make it Count!

How can you make an impact in your corner of the world during this MT Week? Get credentialed. Our healthcare delivery system places a high value on the credentials that testify to your skills and training. AHDI is committed to helping all healthcare documentation specialists realize this goal and want to make it easier for working MTs to make this a reality.

Are you a recent graduate or new to the profession? Set your sights on the Registered Medical Transcriptionist Exam. You can find out more by visiting our Credentialing pages and purchasing the RMT Review Guide: A Walk Through the Blue Print to kick off your exam preparation.

Are you an acute care MT with more than 2 years’ experience at the hospital level? Demonstrate to your employer and/or clients that you have been trained and credentialed in advanced clinical medicine, SRT editing, and regulatory compliance by sitting for the Level 2 CMT exam. Find out more by visiting our Credentialing pages or taking advantage of our special MT Week offer on the CMT Exam Guide (located on the AHDI homepage)

Payment Plan for ACE 2011 Registration Available through May 31

Money is very tight for all of us these days. We have taken that fact into consideration and have developed a payment plan option available for AHDI members purchasing a full conference registration to the 2011 Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) in Phoenix, Arizona. Register before May 31 using the payment plan registration form and pay for your ACE 2011 full conference registration in three equal, monthly payments. We feel strongly that ACE is absolutely critical to the growth and development of today’s healthcare documentation professionals. Given the challenges we face in this industry with the landscape of our profession evolving at a rapid pace, it is the Annual Convention & Exposition that provides us with the forum to showcase all of the industry-related topics, technologies, and information you need to stay ahead of the curve in the healthcare documentation field. Join us in Phoenix where you can Learn… Evolve… and Shine.

View the ACE 2011 Interactive Schedule

Visit ACE 365 – Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

MT Week: Celebrating You!

Medical transcriptionists and editors make a high-impact contribution to patient safety and coordinated care every day by making sure patient care encounters are captured and recorded accurately and securely. But with the evolution of electronic health record systems (EHRs), the traditional role of the MT is transitioning to a hybrid one, where advanced clinical knowledge and orientation to emerging technologies will be critical. One of the most rapidly evolving roles for MTs is in the area of speech recognition (SR) editing. Whether or not you are currently asked to apply your knowledge and skills to the editing of SRT draft documents, it’s highly likely you will be at some point in your career.

Celebrate yourself during MT week by treating yourself to some professional pampering. Give your skills an upgrade by learning SRT editing to enhance your professional portfolio. To support you in this effort, AHDI and TRSi are offering an MT Week special for our SRT Editing Course - $100 off the June SRT course if you register during the month of May.

The History of MT Week - Celebrating 26 Years!

Established in 1985 by proclamation from then President Ronald Reagan, National Medical Transcriptionist Week is celebrated annually in the third week of May to bring public and industry-wide attention to the role and contribution of medical transcriptionists in healthcare delivery and clinical documentation. MTs around the country embrace this week as an opportunity to show their support of each other, and MT employers, managers and clients are encouraged to likewise celebrate their medical transcriptionists in the workplace in a unique and special way as well as by participating in national initiatives that promote the profession. This year marks the 26th year medical transcriptionists have had their profession officially recognized.

Find out more about our MT Week campaign to showcase the work of MTs in preserving America’s healthcare story. Check out our MT Week page! Also check the AHDI Home Page each day this week for more MT week information and special deals!

Advocacy Summit 2011 Recap

Thank you to all who were able to attend the 6th Annual AHDI/CDIA Advocacy Summit last week in Washington, DC. Members, leaders, and business owners came together to deliver a critical message to legislators and their aides on Capitol Hill.

The Summit was kicked off with a welcome reception and a fabulous presentation by Laura Bryan on the Health Story Project and CDA data tagging. This information was a perfect addition to help attendees prepare for their Hill visits. The next day, we set out on Capitol Hill with a total of 53 attendees representing 24 different states. This group participated in 85 legislative appointments and 7 constituent coffees. We delivered several additional packets and letters to legislators as well as the industry petition letter with 1403 signatures. Read more.

How You Can Learn, Evolve, and Shine at ACE!

August 17 - 21, 2011!

Learn…the latest updates and trends in clinical medicine, technology, and professional practices in our industry.

Evolve…your skills with new laptop workshops, a managers/supervisors workshop, a QA toolkit break-out session, a CMT/RMT session, and more.

Shine…bright as you accelerate toward a new level in your career thanks to the knowledge gained, connections made, and information shared at ACE 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona!

Visit ACE365, your headquarters for everything ACE and the home of your online ACE community. View the preliminary schedule of events or view the confirmed speaker list.

Upcoming AHDI Webinars

May 17
Transcription – Continued Relevance in Clinical Documentation Today
Presenter: Lynn Kosegi
Time: 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT
Registration Close: May 16
CEC Given: 1 PD

May 18
Your Association, Your Benefits
Presenter: Miranda Chalabi
Time: 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT
Registration Close: May 17
CEC Given: n/a

June 8
Ensuring Compliance in the Medical Documentation Industry
Presenter: Scott Edelstein
Time: 1 PM PDT/4 PM EDT
Registration Close: June 7
CEC Given: 1 ML

June 14
MT Intelligence: The Value of MTs in HIT Implementation
Presenter: Gary David, PhD
Time: 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT
Registration Close: June 13
CEC Given: 1 TW

June 22
CMT and RMT: Steps to Credentialing - Webinar
Presenter: Lea Sims, CMT, AHDI-F
Time: 1 PM PDT/4 PM EDT
Registration Close: June 21
CEC Given: n/a

Visit AHDI Webinars for full details.

May Monthly Member Bonus - RMT/CMT/CQE Exam Eligibility Fee Waived!

Being a member just got better with our Monthly Member Bonus!

AHDI Membership gives you the power to SAVE with this month’s free benefit. Apply for the RMT, CMT, or CQE exam and we will cover the exam eligibility fee. That’s a savings of $10! It just became easier for you to get credentialed. Sign Up for an Exam.

Learn more about AHDI membership.

May Deal of the Month - CMT Exam Guide, NEW!

What better way to embrace excellence and reward yourself for your commitment to continuing education by getting credentialed! In coordination with National MT Week initiatives regarding credentialing, we are excited to release this eagerly anticipated resource! The CMT Exam Guide for blue print orientation and exam prep is now available for presale purchase! Written under AHDI’s new exam blue print for the Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) exam, this text provides a structured approach to understanding the cognitive assessment (multiple-choice) domains for the exam. For each Level 2 objective, users will find:

• Statement of Objective from the CMT Blue Print
• Recommendations for Focused Study
• CMT Blue Print Checklist
• “BONUS” EHR Glossary
• Sample Questions for Each Objective
• Detailed Appendices
• Complete Start-to-Finish CMT Practice Test

To show you how committed we are to getting and keeping you credentialed, we’re throwing in the digital Medicolegal CEC Bundle for the first 200 people who purchase the book during the presale month of May. The Medicolegal CEC bundle is valued at $20 and worth 3 CECs. Order your copy today, this freebie will not last!

Guides are estimated to ship in early June. Order your copy today and receive the complimentary Medicolegal CEC bundle FREE!

Fee: $35 eligible members / $50 list price

Purchase the CMT Exam Guide NOW!

AHDI Marketplace is Now Open - Get Your MT Week Gear!

The AHDI Marketplace is opening its doors to the public. Shop for tees, home office items, and more that have the AHDI logo or the ACE 2011 logo. It’s also the place to get your National MT Week logo items. You can purchase items for your own MT Week celebrations especially the commemorative MT Week T-shirt. Visit the Café Press Store online and check back frequently for new additions!

Shop Now!

Employers – Don’t miss your chance to order MT Week items to honor and acknowledge your awesome MTs, editors, and QA staff!