Remembering Susan Pierce, RHIA, CHPS, CMT, AHDI-F

Shock and disbelief are the immediate emotions commonly experienced when news of the unexpected death of a friend or a loved one is announced. Many of us who knew Susan Pierce were indeed stunned by the news of her death, caused by a massive stroke February 2. It is unbelievable that someone who was so full of life and generous in spirit could be gone so quickly. Because of the many contributions she has made to the association and the profession, it is appropriate that individually and collectively we reflect on our memories of Susan Pierce, our friend and colleague. Read full remembrance.

A Word From Your National Leadership Board

As I was writing this, I received a call from the Red Cross requesting a blood donation to help replenish critically low blood supplies. February is the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day, giving focus and attention to those special people in our lives. Read more.

President's Address

February is American Heart Month, and some of us will recall our 2007 campaign "Change is Everything" in which we promoted heart disease awareness and living a healthier lifestyle, as heart disease is the #1 killer among women. In women it can also be silent in its onset. We must be diligent in keeping stress in check and creating outlets for good health and peace of mind. Read more.

Be the Face of National MT Week!

Save the Date! May 19-25, 2013

During National MT Week, we will be showcasing examples of critical errors AHDI members caught and corrected or flagged. Now is your chance to show the world how you make a difference every day in keeping patients safe.

You could be the face of our National MT Week campaign!

Find out more and submit your entry to be the Face of National MT Week Today!

Your Favorite Things of 2012

In January we asked what your favorite things of 2012 were. Find out what your fellow colleagues liked the most in 2012!

Favorite product… Medical Transcription Tools CEC Bundle! This new power-pack of creditworthy information in the category of MTT is the perfect solution for someone looking for CECs for recredentialing. Coming in a close second was the new CMT Exam Audio Objectives CD, perfect for those studying for their CMT exam.

Favorite issue of Plexus… "Public Speaking, The Art of Communication," July. This issue of Plexus focuses on the difference communication can make, even something as simple as giving thanks and how it's important to make sure we are present in the conversations we have. AHDI members: log in and catch up on how to communicate better!

Favorite webinar content… Preparing for the Future! Everyone wants to know what the future has in store, and though we don't have a crystal ball at our disposal, we have incorporated a new feature in Resource Central called "Future Watch" that will give you an insight as to what lies ahead and will provide information on future-focused webinars, articles, and other websites with similar discussions.

Favorite AHDI Member Benefit… Tied for your favorite benefit are Plexus magazine and Networking through AHDI alliances and components. These are both great benefits that we are proud to share with our members. Don't forget, AHDI members can access archives of Plexus magazine by logging into the website and going to Member Center > My Benefits > Publications. And you can join one of our Special Interest Alliances online or find a component in your area!

Dedicated Student Track at ACE!

Students, we know the concerns you face, demands of your time, and mindfulness of where every penny goes. So this year we are putting together a special track of educational sessions geared toward your needs. Topics planned include:

• Voice/Speech Recognition—an overview of VR/SR software, what it is, how it’s used, what it can (and can't) do. Will include a demonstration.
• Critical Thinking Skills—learn how to think critically, problem-solve, recognize clues, and make good decisions as you transcribe and edit medical reports.
• Electronic Health Record Platform Demo—learn the complete story of what happens with an EHR, how narrative is included in the EHR, and find out where healthcare documentation specialists fit in.
• Finding a Job, Putting Your Best Foot Forward—find out what professional skills recruiters look for, how to craft a resume, prepare for an entry test, what paperwork to expect upon getting hired, professional phone and email etiquette.

Join us Thursday, August 1, for these great sessions as well as the opening keynote speaker, the AHDI Integrity Awards, browse the exhibit hall, and much more!

New Rule Protects Patient Privacy, Secures Health Information

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) moved forward today to strengthen the privacy and security protections for health information established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

The final omnibus rule greatly enhances a patient’s privacy protections, provides individuals new rights to their health information, and strengthens the government’s ability to enforce the law.

"Much has changed in health care since HIPAA was enacted over fifteen years ago," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The new rule will help protect patient privacy and safeguard patients' health information in an ever expanding digital age." Source: HHS.gov

Bridging the Gap—Externship Model for MTSOs Now Available

Healthcare documentation companies looking to start an externship program or expand their existing program now have a helpful resource available that touches on all business and legal aspects for successful implementation, as outlined in this case study developed by industry peers who have already made it happen.

New England Medical Transcription and Sheridan Technical Center first partnered in 2011 to create a unique externship program, one in which the MTSO provides authentic account specifics and audio files for students to work on, with the students’ work still being managed and graded by the teacher on a day-to-day basis. Students who complete the externship and go to work for the MTSO will spend less time in training and mentoring, having already become familiar with the work during their externship.

This case study outlines the partnering process, addresses HIPAA compliance, audio files, how work is to be done, what happens after the externship is completed, and offers practical guidance and assistance for putting a process in place and working through issues that may arise. The myriad benefits to students, companies, and the industry are outlined in the full case study.

Download the full NEMT Collaborative Externship Model today!

Externship Survey for Employers—Please take our short 4-question employer survey.

Preparing Yourself for the Workplace

Finding a job is almost always the ultimate goal of anyone in the healthcare documentation field. However, sometimes the good positions, or any positions for that matter, are elusive. This phenomenon is due, in part, to the emergence and acceptance of speech recognition technology (SRT).

In this article, Brett McCutcheon discusses ways to market your talents as a healthcare documentation specialist/medical transcriptionist, touching on areas such as qualifications, experience, credentialing, preparation, and job hunting.

The full article is available on page 8 of the September 2011 issue of Matrix magazine, an archived member-exclusive publication. Read more.

ACE: 6-Month Payment Plan Available-February Only

To make paying for ACE even easier, we are splitting the registration fee into six payments! AHDI members wanting to register at the early-bird rate can now take advantage of our 6-month payment plan for full registration, available only in February. This breaks each payment down monthly to $43.44 for Student, Associate Student, and Postgrad members; $58.84 for Individual Professional members; and $64.17 for Associate members.

A 3-month payment plan is also available through May 31, 2013. Download the Payment Plan Registration form or go to www.ahdionline.org/ACE to find out what's happening at ACE 2013!

Lower Prices and a New Study Course

This month AHDI is announcing the opening of the CMT Credentialing Study Course and a new lower price on the level 1 specialty courses offered by Oak Horizons. These are both great online opportunities for those interested in preparing for a credentialing exam.

CMT Credentialing Study Course
The new CMT Credentialing Study Course from AHDI was developed to assist you in preparing and studying for the Certified Medical Transcriptionist exam. This 12-week online study course includes weekly reading assignments and exercises along with supplemental quizzes to test your knowledge.

Sign up for the CMT Study Course or learn more.

Oak Horizon Specialty Courses—$15 savings
If you are preparing for your RMT, or just looking for a refresher, the level 1 courses offered by Oak Horizons are the perfect resource for you, and now they’re $15 less than previously published prices. With 20 courses to choose from, these specialty modules provide the opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills, improve your quality and production, and learn timesaving research techniques.

Choose your course and sign up today.

Your Record Speaks: AHDI Public Awareness Campaign

About the campaign
This is a grassroots initiative to reach out and engage individuals (patients) to read their health record and check it for accuracy and completeness. We care about our credit score and will check it often, but what about our health records? It’s time to engage patients to take ownership in checking and tracking their medical history and records. In turn, this will drive demand for the precise capture of patient health stories.

Download the Poster
Visit www.YourRecordSpeaks.org to download the poster. Other materials will be available soon to print and distribute, such as postcards, buttons, and magnets.

Step 1: Check YOUR Health Records
To kick off this campaign, AHDI members and other volunteers are being asked to check their health records first. We will then use those personal experiences to:

• Understand what roadblocks the general public will encounter to develop frequently asked questions (FAQs) for our campaign.
• Create concrete examples about errors found in our own health records to create powerful stories to share with the media.
• Identify and develop channels for the general public to get help in checking their health record.

Step 2: Submit Examples of Errors by March 29
AHDI will collect members' stories and create an online repository that we’ll be able to point to in our campaign. Submit examples of your health record errors (exclude PHI, please!) to YourRecordSpeaks@ahdionline.org by March 29, 2013. Please specially mark any critical errors and what should have been documented.

Step 3: Stay Tuned!
This campaign is being designed so everyone can get involved and information will continue to be shared throughout the year. Please participate and directly contribute to advancing our vision: champion excellence in healthcare documentation and advance patient safety through precise capture of the patient's health story.