Fox-Acosta Appointed to Fill Vacant At-Large Position

The National Leadership Board appointed Karen Fox-Acosta, CMT, AHDI-F, to fill the open At-Large Director position vacated by Tammy Moore in February. Fox-Acosta will complete her current term on August 31, 2014, and begin the new At-Large Director term on September 1, 2014, through August 31, 2015.

Featured Member Benefit: Virtual Alliances Connect You to Like-Minded Professionals

Never underestimate the value of your professional network. It's one you can rely on for answers to your toughest questions, advice on how to handle situations, and insight on best practices, tips, or reviews. Your professional network can also be the source of your next career move and where you discover new business ideas.

As an AHDI member, you have access to a vibrant network through our virtual Alliances. These are special interest groups that have been formed for the purpose of information exchange, networking, and addressing the common needs and interests of the group.

Joining an Alliance is easy and it's included in your membership so there's no extra cost. If you're not already part of an AHDI Alliance, you're missing out on a valuable membership benefit!

Get connected now by visiting the Alliance webpage. Log into the AHDI website and click "subscribe to an alliance" in the right column. Select the groups you'd like to join and you'll be automatically forwarded to the Google Groups sign-up page. Once you're approved to join, your network will be available to you via the Google Groups website and by email.

AHDI Conference: Early Bird Registration Ends April 30

Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference
July 23-26, 2014
The M Resort ♦ Las Vegas, NV

At AHDI's Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference, July 23-26, you will find engaging, credit-worthy continuing education that is content-rich and focused on current issues facing the profession today. Register by April 30 to save $50!

Download the full conference brochure for complete session descriptions, speaker biographies, and conference information.

  

Think of attending AHDI's Conference as your own mini sabbatical—carving out "me" time to nurture your mind, explore what's changed, and learn what lies ahead. A place where great minds think alike, uniting you with fellow healthcare documentation specialists who share your commitment to excellence in documenting patient care.

Start planning your trip by visiting the website to plan your educational experience, download the justification kit to seek your employer’s approval, and register to secure your place. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

Upcoming Events

See all available webinars on the AHDI website at www.ahdionline.org. View the AHDI Events Calendar to learn about AHDI component events and other industry-related events.

AHDI Events Calendar

May 7
Shorthand Advanced for Windows (Version 10)
Presenter: Amy Potter
Time: 2 PM PT/5 PM ET
CE Credit: 1 MTT or 1 TW

May 29
Offshoring Transcription: The Pros & Cons to Utilizing Global Labor Resources
Presenter: Shaw A. Rietkerk
Time: 12 PM PT/3 PM ET
CE Credit: 1 PD

June 11
AHDI Model Job Descriptions for Emerging Roles in Healthcare Documentation
Presenters: Melissa Harper; Sheila Guston, CHDS, AHDI-F; Lisa Woodley, RHIT, CHDS, AHDI-F
Time: 11 AM PT/2 PM ET
CE Credit: 1 PD

It’s Never Too Early to Start Planning for National MT Week, May 18-24

For the 29th year, we are celebrating National Medical Transcriptionist Week (NMTW) the third week in May. Join us in spreading the word on the important role you and the entire healthcare documentation workforce play in patient care and safety. The 2014 "Guardians of Health Record Integrity" flyer is available on the AHDI website for download in three different sizes:

• 8 ½" x 11" (color .pdf)
• 11" x 17" (color .pdf)
• 17" x 11" (color .pdf)

On the website, www.ahdionline.org/NMTW, you can also find desktop wallpapers in various sizes, the Guardian of Health Record Integrity shield, and more. As you promote NMTW, don't forget to tell people about our campaign—Your Record Speaks—on the importance of accurate health records!

2014 AHDI National Leadership Board Elections

The NLB candidates for this year's election will be announced very soon, along with the dates and times of our Meet the Candidates webinars, so stay tuned!

Book of Style Development Team—Call for Volunteers

AHDI is issuing a call for volunteers to serve on a development team for the next iteration of the Book of Style. Volunteers should be very familiar with The Book of Style for Medical Transcription, 3rd edition, and will discuss layout, current content, and trending topics for potential inclusion. The development team should be comprised of professionals of varying backgrounds, knowledge, and experience with regard to styles and standards, health information management, and technologies such as NLP and EHRs. Volunteers should be available for biweekly/monthly meetings, as decided by the group; provide input and feedback; and conduct research as necessary.

Interested parties should email Kristin Wall (kwall@ahdionline.org) by April 30 with name, credentials, biographical information to include pertinent knowledge and experience that you can contribute to this project, and why you would like to serve on the Book of Style Development Team.

2014 AHDI Integrity Awards Nominations—Last Chance!

Every one of us knows someone who has made a professional impact over the last year. Be a proactive colleague and take the time to nominate that person or organization for one of the AHDI Integrity Awards. AHDI’s Integrity Awards program is designed to shine a spotlight on those individuals, organizations, and volunteer groups who are truly making a difference in our industry. Not only does this recognition program impact the individuals who are nominated and chosen for these awards, but it generates visibility around best practices and drives recognition of our industry in a public way. Take the time to nominate today.

• Hall of Fame Award
• Employer of the Year Award
• Membership Impact Award
• Rising Star Award
• Excellence in Credentialing Award
• Innovation through Technology Award
• Educator of the Year Award
• Advocate of the Year Award

Nominations should be submitted electronically and are due no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2014. Nominees will be notified of nomination after committee vote and winners will be announced at the Integrity Awards session at the 36th AHDI Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit the AHDI Integrity Awards page for more information.

A Word from Your National Leadership Board

At the NLB meeting on Wednesday, 4/9/14, the Board had its own "debate" about The Great Debate topics to be presented and discussed at the Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference in July. We had a lively, interactive conversation about which topics would serve our attendees the best and be most interesting and beneficial. In the end, these are the topics we decided on:

Book of Style: Obsolete or Awesome?
QA of Clinician-Created Documentation: Luxury or Necessity?
Healthcare Documentation Entrepreneurs: Go For It or Forget About It?

We're calling all attendees to put your thinking caps on ahead of time and help make this year's Great Debate the best so far! Read more.

President’s Address—The Beauty of Boring

The other day my son and I went to Denny’s for dinner. We ordered our food and within seconds of the waitress walking away from the table, my son was asking to play a game on my phone. “But I’m bored!” he whined, when I told him no. I rolled my eyes as I tried to remember the last time I said I was bored, and then I thought wistfully of how glorious it would feel to not have anything on the to-do list for a few minutes. It seems that these days our brains are conditioned to want to be doing something all the time, regardless of whether the activity is worthwhile or not. Read more.

From the Library: Keyboarding Techniques for Fast and Efficient SRT Editing

This presentation will cover keyboard shortcuts in MS Word and Word-based speech recognition editing platforms. Learn little-known keystrokes and techniques that will make editing effortless and efficient, including tips on creating editing macros and remapping shortcut keys that will supercharge your keyboard. Increase productivity, efficiency, and your income with these fun, clever approaches to editing.

Visit the Online Learning Library to download this recorded webinar presentation (valid login required; available to AHDI Individual Professional members only).

10 Roles for Healthcare Documentation Specialists

AHDI has published a flyer featuring 10 roles that healthcare documentation specialists are qualified to perform in the EHR. The flyer includes a section presenting the value proposition of the workforce and briefly summarizes the Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) body of knowledge to give employers a quick snapshot of the breadth of knowledge a CHDS brings to the table.

AHDI began circulating this material at HIMSS14 and we will continue to reach out to employers to share it. We encourage you to download the flyer to use as a tool to position yourself and your talent in the ever-changing healthcare marketplace and circulate it to your professional network.

Related Resources:

• Mastering the EHR (hands-on practice on an ONC-certified EHR)
• Why Get Certified?
• 5 Instant Benefits of Credentialing

"Bring It On—MTs Welcome Documentation Roles"

The latest issue of For The Record features an article written by AHDI President Jill Devrick called "Bring It On--MTs Welcome New Documentation Roles." The article features medical transcriptionists who share their experience in transitioning to new documentation roles. Provider organizations are realizing that MTs are a natural fit for EHR documentation roles and that MTs play a significant role in finding and addressing documentation issues that can impact patient safety and compliance.

Devrick notes, "HDSs who have confronted the uncertainty of moving outside of their comfort zones overwhelmingly are positive about their experiences." Read the full article here.

Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline is April 30

At AHDI’s Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference, July 23-26, you will find engaging, credit-worthy continuing education that is content-rich and focused on current issues facing the profession today. Register by April 30 to save $50!

Think of attending AHDI's Conference as your own mini sabbatical—carving out me time to nurture your mind, explore what's changed, and learn what lies ahead. A place where great minds think alike, uniting you with fellow healthcare documentation specialists who share your commitment to excellence in documenting patient care.

Be inspired with excellent keynote presentations by:

Opening Keynote
Ronald M. Wyatt, MD, MHA
Director, Division of Healthcare Improvement
The Joint Commission

Closing Keynote
Zubin Damania, MD (AKA ZDoggMD)
Director of Healthcare Development
Downtown Project Las Vegas

Choose from more than 30 sessions developed with you in mind, including:

• Conan the Grammarian (1 PD)
• Your "Hitchhiker's Guide" to Medicine's "Tower of Babel" (1 TW)
• Standing and Active Workstations: Novelty or Disruptive Technology? (1 CoM)
• How HDSs' Role Can Stay Relevant in the EMR (1 PD)
• Robotic Surgery in Gynecology (1 CM)
• Strengths Finders Workshop (1 PD)
• HDS to Scribe: Using Your Skills to Keep Doing What You Love! (1 PD)
• Shoring Up the Printer/Copier HIPAA Hazard (1 ML)
• Updates and Audits in Maternal Fetal Medicine (1 CM)

Download the full Conference brochure

Don't delay in registering for AHDI's 2014 Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference. Complete information is posted online, www.ahdionline.org/ACE. Early bird registration ends April 30!

Know Someone Deserving of a Nomination? Don’t Delay!

With the demands and challenges facing our sector, we hear so much about recognition of our workforce and the need to acknowledge the outstanding work being done by so many across the industry and within the association. AHDI's Integrity Awards program is designed to shine a spotlight on those individuals, organizations, and volunteer groups who are truly making a difference in our industry. Not only does this recognition program impact the individuals who are nominated and chosen for these awards, but it generates visibility around best practices and drives recognition of our industry in a public way. Do you know a CMT or CHDS who has a passion for credentialing and helping others get credentialed? What about an MT educator who really made a difference to you as a student? Do you belong to an AHDI component that has done something innovative and engaging this year? Is your employer creating a corporate culture that has inspired you to excel? Every one of us knows someone who has made a professional impact over the last year. Be a proactive colleague. Take the time to nominate that person or organization for one of these awards:

• Hall of Fame Award
• Employer of the Year Award
• Membership Impact Award
• Rising Star Award
• Excellence in Credentialing Award
• Innovation through Technology Award
• Educator of the Year Award
• Advocate of the Year Award

Nominations should be submitted electronically and are due no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2014. Nominees will be notified of nomination after committee vote and winners will be announced at the Integrity Awards session at the 36th AHDI Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit the AHDI Integrity Awards page for more information.

From TEDMed 2013: Are Zombie Doctors Taking Over America?

Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference
July 23-26, 2014
The M Resort ♦ Las Vegas, NV

Hot Off the Press! Conference Closing Keynote Announced
Saturday, July 26
Zubin Damania, MD

Zubin Damania, MD, is the founder of Turntable Health and the director of healthcare development for Downtown Project Las Vegas, an ambitious urban revitalization movement spearheaded by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh. Formerly a hospital doctor at Stanford, he maintained a shadow career making videos created under the pseudonym ZDoggMD. Over a million views later, he continues to focus on educating patients and providers alike while mercilessly satirizing our dysfunctional healthcare system.

In Downtown Las Vegas, Zubin is moving from satire to actionable change with Turntable Health, a membership model primary care ecosystem focused on promoting wellness at both the individual and community level.

Enjoy a preview of Dr. Damania's energetic, innovative approach to health care by watching his talk "Are zombie doctors taking over America?" from TEDMED 2013.

Think of attending AHDI’s Conference as your own mini sabbatical—carving out "me" time to nurture your mind, explore what’s changed, and learn what lies ahead. A place where great minds think alike, uniting you with fellow healthcare documentation specialists who share your commitment to excellence in documenting patient care.

Start planning your trip to the 2014 Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference by visiting the website to see the schedule at a glance, current list of sponsors and exhibitors, and to download the justification kit.

AHDI Files Comments to FTC Regarding GMR Transcription Services, Inc.

On the heels of the Federal Trade Commission’s recent decision regarding GMR Transcription Services failure to adequately safeguard the personal information of thousands of consumers, which was exposed on the Internet, AHDI has submitted comments on the proposed agreement.

AHDI has long advocated for and promoted privacy and security compliance in healthcare documentation to healthcare providers and institutions. FTC’s proposed solution of close attention to security and privacy concerns provides many takeaways that transcription service organizations can implement, particularly those who utilize subcontractors. Read AHDI’s full statement to FTC.

ICD-10—A True Future Roles Opportunity (live webinar)

April 9, 2014, 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. Eastern)
Speaker: Ava Marie George, MBA, CHDS, AHDI-F
CEC: 1 PD

This presentation will give a historical view of the ICD evolution, the unexpected career lattice opportunity, and the need to be ready for our collective futures in HIM. Solutions to the question of where our profession fits into the process will be discussed; as well, pathways through experience and education will be outlined. An example using Loyola University Health System will be highlighted.

Ava Marie George has worked in the health information management, documentation, and medical transcription sectors since 1993. Ava owned and operated a small MTSO and consulting firm before working as an MT in an acute care level 1 trauma center and teaching hospital in Lansing, Michigan. She subsequently worked as a transcription supervisor for two years before leaving to serve primarily as a professor at Davenport University in Lansing, Michigan, from 2005 to 2013. Ava has served as a medical documentation consultant, working with physicians who need assistance with documentation that will withstand ICD 10 challenges. Ava currently works for Loyola University Health System as ICD-10 Coordinator/Project Manager.

Click for information and to register online. If you cannot attend the live webinar, you may register to receive the recording following the event.

More Upcoming Live Webinars:

• Offshoring Transcription: The Pros & Cons to Utilizing Global Labor Resources – April 22
• Shorthand Advanced for Windows (Version 10) - May 7 or
• AHDI Model Job Descriptions for Emerging Roles in Healthcare Documentation - June 11

10 Roles for Healthcare Documentation Specialists

AHDI has published a flyer featuring 10 roles that healthcare documentation specialists are qualified to perform in the EHR. The flyer includes a section presenting the value proposition of the workforce and briefly summarizes the Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) body of knowledge to give employers a quick snapshot of the breadth of knowledge a CHDS brings to the table.

AHDI began circulating this material at HIMSS14, and we will continue to reach out to employers to share it. We encourage you to download the flyer to use as a tool to position yourself and your talent in the ever-changing healthcare marketplace and circulate it to your professional network.

Related Article: Don't miss "Bring It On - MTs Welcome New Documentation Roles," by AHDI President Jill Devrick in the latest issue of For The Record. The article features medical transcriptionists who share their experience in transitioning to new documentation roles.

National Leadership Board to Fill Vacant At-Large Position

Following last month’s announcement of Tammy Moore’s resignation from the National Leadership Board, the remaining directors voted to fill the vacancy at their March 12, 2014, meeting. The open At-Large Director position will be filled by a board member upon completion of their current term on August 31, 2014. The candidate’s new term will begin September 1, 2014, and go through August 31, 2015. AHDI President Jill Devrick is accepting nominations from current board members with terms ending on August 31. The board will vote in late March/early April to select the At-Large Director.

President’s Address—Small Fish, Big Pond

I often feel like I'm a small fish swimming along in the really big pond of life. All of the hustle and bustle, the busyness, the multiple priorities…and the feeling of being lost in the shuffle. For the past several years, healthcare documentation specialists (HDS) have been struggling along in health information management’s (HIM) sea of uncertainty, as well as the increasingly "ginormous" ocean of change in health information technology (HIT). Truth be told, I can't ever remember a time when the documentation function was ever considered a "big fish" in health care, and it probably never will. However, our lack of "big fish" status does not mean we are not essential to the health care ecosystem. Read more.