Why Get Certified?

Certification in healthcare documentation makes a difference—to the patients whose care depends your on precise documentation, to employers who must hire highly qualified and trusted healthcare documentation specialists, and to yourself for the satisfaction for attaining certification. The four letters that will follow your name will make a powerful statement about the expertise you bring to the table. Ultimately, becoming credentialed will:

• Prepare you for new healthcare documentation positions in the EHR.
• Validate your breadth of knowledge and skills to employers, which may give you access to preferential hiring/employment practices.
• Demonstrate that you are trained and certified in HIPAA compliance.
• Send the message to healthcare delivery that healthcare documentation specialists are an allied health profession with an accountable scope of practice.
• Demonstrate you take initiative and go above the minimum requirements.
• Distinguish you from those without a credential.
• Raise employer's confidence in you when introducing new technologies or services.
• Keep you marketable in the event of cutbacks or mergers.
• Get your foot in the door as a new graduate.

Ready to pursue credentialing? Get started here: Types of Credentials and Exam Preparation

AHDI Model Job Descriptions for Emerging Roles in Healthcare Documentation (live webinar)

June 11, 2014, 11:00 a.m. Pacific (2:00 p.m. Eastern)
Speakers: Melissa Harper; Sheila Guston, CHDS, AHDI-F; Lisa Woodley, RHIT, CHDS, AHDI-F
CEC: 1 PD

This webinar will provide an in-depth look at some of the emerging roles for healthcare documentation specialists today. We'll review the AHDI Model Job Descriptions for positions such as EHR documentation trainer, health record integrity auditor, and EHR technician/HIM analyst. Learn what skill set is required for each and what, if any, additional training or education is required to be successful in these roles.

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

Coming Soon:

• QA for Clinician-Created Healthcare Documentation (1 MTT) – September 24

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

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!

Occupational Outlook Handbook Updated

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced the release of the 2014-2015 Occupational Outlook Handbook, providing career information and employment projections. The listing for medical transcription has been updated, and much of the feedback contributed by AHDI has been incorporated.

Read the full news release.
Read the updated MT summary.

E-book on Compliance and Business Best Practices in Healthcare Documentation

The Compliance & Operations Best Practices in Healthcare Documentation Organizations: The EBP Manual is now available as an e-book at a new, affordable price of $400 for AHDI eligible members. For a limited time, when you purchase this e-book with online access, you’ll receive a free organizer (binder & tabs) to print a copy for your library!

Compliance and best practices in business operations are priorities for business owners, independent contractors, HIM directors, and all of those who seek services from medical transcription organizations. This comprehensive e-manual will guide you through many of these complex issues and give you downloadable policies and procedures that you can customize for your own business needs (they are Word documents). AHDI and CDIA have worked with expert legal counsel to develop this skillfully written material to save your valuable time and money.

After purchasing the e-manual, the electronic files will be accessible through the "Member Center" and clicking to "My Account" in approximately one hour. Past purchasers of the printed EBP Manual received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Log onto the AHDI website to access it through your account.

Read more about the e-manual and buy your copy today!

Save the Date!

AHDI Annual Convention & Expo: ACE 2012
August 8-11
Indianapolis, IN

FINAL CALL! Take the 2011 Survey of Medical Transcriptionists

If you have not yet taken the 2011 Bentley University Survey of Medical Transcriptionists, please do so now as the survey will close September 7, 2011. This survey is part of a larger academic project seeking to understand the work experiences of medical transcriptionists as well as the value they add to production of accurate and reliable medical records. This survey is a continuation of the 2007 Survey of Medical Transcriptionists. A primary goal of the project is to provide a better understanding for those involved in medical records production regarding the work and value of MTs. Click here to take the survey.

From Your Board of Directors and House of Delegates

Learn. Evolve. Shine. At this year's Annual Convention and Expo, the world comes to you! ACE 2011 begins Thursday evening, August 18, with an "All Around the World" welcome reception. This is the introduction to what promises to be an exciting three days of speakers and presentations, covering creditworthy topics in clinical medicine, industry trends, workforce development, and our new laptop workshops. It isn't too late to commit to attending so you, too, can brush up on your knowledge and skills, learn more about what's happening in the industry, and network with like-minded professionals. Join us for the Fun Night Out at Casino Arizona on Saturday, or explore the beauty and comforts of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa.

The AHDI Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, August 17. Gallery seating is available and we wish to extend an invitation to each attendee to join us. The Board has limited its face-to-face meetings this year in the interests of being fiscally responsible with our resources, so the opportunity to meet and interact in person is especially significant. The board meeting agenda will include presentations by the at-large and district directors who wish to be elected board officers. This ACE is certainly a landmark event with the next evolution of the National Leadership Board (NLB) and newly elected district directors sitting as one with the existing BOD. The House of Delegates meeting Thursday also has gallery seating available.

You won't find another event focused specifically on the healthcare documentation professional that offers such a comprehensive mix of educational sessions, business development opportunities, and professional networking activities. Join us for ACE 2011 and take the next step toward professional growth and success. It's not too late to get in on the excitement!!

It's Not Too Late To Learn, Evolve, and Shine at ACE 2011

We will be accepting pre-event registrations online and by mail or fax through Monday, August 15. If registering by mail or fax, we must receive your registration by 5pm pacific on 8/15 for it to be accepted. Otherwise, we will be taking registrations on-site at the AHDI registration desk in the JW Marriott Desert Ridge - Phoenix, Arizona. The AHDI registration desk will open Wednesday, August 17, at 4:00 p.m. Make 2011 your year to achieve professional growth and success and join us in Phoenix. We'll see you there!

View the Interactive Schedule
Register Now!
Visit ACE365 - Your ACE Headquarters

What's on Your Mind?

A month ago we invited members to ask questions and receive personal answers from directors at large, staff, or other leaders. We received almost 30 questions ranging from district location assignments to our partnership with CDIA. The most popular questions centered around substandard pay/decrease in hours, overseas transcription (including outsourcing and HIPAA requirements), certification (both RMT and CMT), how to effectively participate in AHDI and MT growth, and getting a job in the industry. Every question submitted has been answered, and we invite further conversations using the What’s on Your Mind contact form.

We sponsored a series of open letters this year, tackling many of these same issues in a broader arena and invite you to read these association position pieces at your leisure. Those open letters were followed at the time of publication with discussions on the AHDI Lounge, another forum where we encourage discussion, questions, and opinions. AHDI is also on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter—surely representing opportunities to fit any agenda. Want to talk? Let us know!

What We've Been Up to Since Advocacy Summit

AHDI and CDIA members on Capitol Hill in May were eager to get the support of our nation’s leaders around the importance of a comprehensive, accurate health story. In addition to sharing our collateral materials around Capturing America’s Healthcare Story, advocates on the Hill sought specific support from legislators. Members of Congress were asked to submit a letter to Dr. Mostashari, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, with the request that ONC take the patient narrative into account in developing standards for EHR systems. Over 74 legislative offices indicated an interest in providing this level of support, all of whom have now been provided a draft letter for review and signature, and early feedback is very promising. We’re excited to announce that Congressman Bob Filner, 51st District, California, was the first to submit a letter to ONC in support of our message:

Filner Letter to Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM

Congratulations to the AHDI/CDIA members from California whose advocacy efforts with this office led to such an immediate statement of support.

Legislative Tracking
AHDI/CDIA advocacy staff is diligently tracking all outgoing and inbound emails and phone calls to ensure that consistent communication with these legislative offices continues. Keeping our organizations and key messages on the "radar" of legislative contacts is an important part of what we are doing in followup to our Advocacy Summit. To that end, we are now using Basecamp, a web access project management platform, to track all legislative contacts and will be coordinating these efforts with the Legislative Leaders for each state.

Legislative Issues Group (LIG):
Now the Advocacy Alliance!
Given the strong participation of our new Legislative Leaders Program, we are migrating our Legislative Issues Group to an alliance format. The new Advocacy Alliance will be open to anyone in either AHDI or CDIA who wants to stay connected to advocacy information or engage in advocacy dialogue. You do not have to be a Legislative Leader or an active advocate to join or participate in discussions. Regular monthly meetings will now be held by the Legislative Leaders Program (see below) and the leaders who chair that steering committee:

AHDI Chair: Sheryl Williams, CMT, AHDI-F
CDIA Chair: Steve Gaus
Board Liaison: Karen L. Fox-Acosta, CMT, AHDI-F
Staff Liaison: Lea M. Sims, CMT, AHDI-F

Legislative Leader Program
On the heels of Advocacy Summit, interest and participation in the Legislative Leader Program is growing. If your state does not currently have a Legislative Leader assigned and you have an interest in fulfilling this role, check out our Become an Advocate page for more information about the role as well as resources available for those who participate and contact Miranda Chalabi (mchalabi@ahdionline.org) to get connected to the program. Look for information about our Legislative Tracking Training webinars for Legislative Leaders in the next week or two.

Not Too Late to Follow Up!
If you participated in legislative visits at the Advocacy Summit and have not yet sent a followup/thank-you letter to your legislator or legislative aide, please do so as soon as you can. A personal followup from a constituent is an important part of establishing long-term, productive relationships with our legislative offices. If you need some help drafting your followup, use the template below:

Advocacy Summit Followup Letter to Legislators

District Connections
Meeting with your Senators and Representatives when they return to their districts will be critical to spending more one-on-one time with those officials and connecting our advocacy messages to what’s going on in your local area. Check out the dates for Senate and House recess coming up soon:

Senate Recess Dates
July 4-10, 2011
August 8 – September 5, 2011
September 26 – October 2, 2011

House Recess Dates
June 27 – July 5, 2011
July 18-24, 2011
August 8 – September 5, 2011
September 26 – October 2, 2011

Begin making plans now to secure face time with your legislator during these recess periods.

Featured Breakout Sessions at ACE 2011

What Every MT Should Know About Privacy & Security Rules and Requirements
Friday, August 19, 2011
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Barbara Perrett, RHIA, CCS, CHP, CHC

This session will update your knowledge of the privacy rule and the HITECH Act’s more stringent requirements for enforcement. You will gain the knowledge to be prepared to meet privacy rule requirements. Government regulations often seem like an alphabet soup: HIPAA, PHI, TPO, NPI, BAA, HITECH. What are the distinctions between Privacy/Confidentiality; Passwords/Encryption; Breach/HIPAA violation; Business Associate/Business Associate Agreement? Can you define these terms? Should you care about them? Do you know how or if they impact you? Do you need a BAA? What are the penalties? What is included in the HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and the additional elements in the HITECH act? Having the knowledge about privacy regulations in health care is critical with the increasing government emphasis on enforcement. Come hear the answers to these questions and more as Barbara helps you to navigate the sea of government privacy regulations and to learn how to protect yourself.

Barbara Perrett, RHIA, CCS, CHP, CHC, is a corporate ethics & compliance consultant for University Physicians Healthcare in Tucson, Arizona. She has previous compliance experience with University Medical Center and was the compliance and privacy officer at Tucson Medical Center. Her credentials are in management, coding, privacy, and compliance. She has 25 years’ experience in acute care and rehabilitation hospitals in Georgia and Arizona as director of health information management. Barbara served as the regional HIM advisor for 13 rehab hospitals in the western U.S. She was also the HIM consultant for 5 renal dialysis centers in Atlanta, writing policies and procedures and monitoring compliance with documentation regulations. Barbara has been a speaker for state HIM conventions in two states, a national audio conference for HCPro, and two World Research Group seminars. Her innovative solutions to health information management issues have been published in a number of healthcare newsletters.

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Emerging Therapies in the Treatment of Low Back Pain
Saturday, August 20, 2011
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Presenter: Susan Sorosky, MD

The objectives of this lecture are to provide a background concerning low back pain, examine the disc as a pain generator in low back pain, review the diagnostic tools for discogenic low back pain, discuss the biomechanics and pathology of the intervertebral disc, review the current interventional treatments for discogenic low back pain including IDET and disc injection, and focus on the emerging therapies for low back pain including gene therapy and stem cell therapies.

Dr. Sorosky is a board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist with additional board certification in Pain Management. She is the co-owner with her husband, Brad Sorosky, MD, of Desert Spine and Sports Physicians located in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. Her practice is dedicated to the nonsurgical diagnosis and treatment of spine, sports, and musculoskeletal pain and injury. She has consistently been recognized by her peers as a "Top Doc" by the Phoenix magazine for the last five years.

Register now!
View the Interactive Schedule
Visit ACE365—Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

New Merchandise Available!

Proud to be an MT? Stop by the AHDI Marketplace to see all of the great new merchandise available for MTs, credentialed MTs and Students/Postgrads. Pick up something for yourself or one of your coworkers!

ACE 2011 Early-Bird Rate Ends Soon--Register Now!

If you’re considering attending the 2011 AHDI Annual Convention & Expo (ACE) in Phoenix, don’t wait too much longer. The early-bird deadline is Monday, June 20. After that date registration prices will increase. Join your peers at ACE 2011, where we’ve designed a dynamic professional development and networking environment that will put you on the path to success. 2011 is your year to Learn, Evolve, and Shine.

View the Interactive Schedule of Events

Register Today

Visit ACE365 – Your ACE 2011 Headquarters

June Monthly Member Bonus Available Now!

You won’t want to miss this month’s member bonus benefit! We've put together four must-read articles on changing roles and best practices to empower your knowledge of the industry. Click here to view the articles. Note: Members must be logged into the AHDI website to view. Not a member? Join today!

Upcoming AHDI Webinars

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
Presenter: Lea Sims
Time:1 PM PDT/4 PM EDT
Registration Close: June 21
CEC Given: n/a

July 6
Book of Style Boot Camp Series, Part 3: Specialty Standards & Technology
Presenter: Lea Sims
Time: 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT
Registration Close: July 5
CEC Given: n/a

June Deal of the Month--Huge Discounts on our Ethical Standards!

For the entire month of June, we are blowing the doors off our Ethical Best Practices Standards! Not only are we offering over $25 off the price of the Resource Guide, but we’re offering Educational and Corporate members the opportunity to purchase the full manual at discounts ranging from $250 - $450 off the member price! If you have not purchased these guides, this is the time to do it. We may never have a deal this great again. Don’t let it pass you by.

The Resource Guide for Healthcare Documentation Specialists contains all content from the original Ethical Best Practices Manual for the Healthcare Documentation Sector that relates specifically to best practices for our workforce. Practice guidelines related to at-home HIPAA and regulatory compliance, compensation, employee vs. independent contractor status, and provision of services are all included in this resource guide for the working MT. Sample agreements and contracts, including business associate and noncompete/nonsolicitation agreements are included.

Note: This is a smaller supplement designed for medical transcriptionists and does not contain all contracts, guidelines, and customizable forms contained in the full Manual. MTSOs and independent contractors should refer to the full EBP Manual.

Fee: $49.99 for all AHDI members (Savings = $25.01 off regular list price)

Purchase Resource Guide!

AHDI congratulates those organizations that have incorporated the Manual of Ethical Best Practices for the Healthcare Documentation Sector into their business practices. For those who haven’t, there’s no time like the present. This vital standard includes the following:

• Best Practices Checklist
• Statement of Ethical Best Practices
• AHDI Code of Ethics
• CDIA Code of Ethics
• Best Practices in Operations
• Best Practices in Billing
• Best Practices in Compensation
• Best Practices in Marketing and Solicitation
• Employee vs. Independent Contractor Guidelines
• Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Guidelines
• Production Location Transparency Guidelines
• Sample Non-Solicitation & Non-Compete Agreement
• Best Practices in Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• Sample HIPAA Policies and Procedures
• Sample Business Associate Agreement
• Guidelines for Establishing a HIPAA-Compliant Home-Based Office
• U.S. 50-State Data Privacy Survey

Program documents included in this guide will help medical transcription companies ensure they are compliant with the new HIPAA regulations and operating in a manner consistent with ethical best practices. In addition, the program will help demonstrate to the healthcare industry and government officials that AHDI members are committed to safeguarding the privacy, security, and integrity of patient health information.

View a sample of the content Included in the manual. This sample shows the HIPAA Policy & Procedure Table of Contents and one of the actual policy documents. The HIPAA Policy & Procedures alone encompass over 170 pages of content out of the 18 sections within this manual.

This program carries a value that could easily cost a company tens of thousands of dollars. Click here to order your copy of the manual today.

Fee: $500 Educational/Corporate members (Savings = $250 - $450 on member pricing. This guide retails for $4000.)