e-News from MdHIMA

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AHIMA Hill Day - March 21st - Washington, D.C.

AHIMA conducted its annual Capitol Hill Day on March 21st in Washington, DC. This year’s participation included 122 attendees, representing 37 states in 177 meetings with state senators and congressman.

During the meetings, packets containing information about AHIMA and our position on various topics related to health information management were provided to the senators and congressmen.

The following key advocacy issues were discussed throughout the meetings:

1. Improved Quality of Health Data and Coding – We requested that any health information technology legislation this is sent to the President include legislative language providing for the adoption of ICD-10-CM and PCS by October 1, 2011.
    

2. Health Information Management Workforce – “10,000 Trained by 2010 Act” This legislation (HR 1467) authorizes the National Science Foundation to award grants to institutions of higher education to develop and offer education and training programs. We requested co-sponsorship from the House of Representatives and a lead sponsor in the Senate for a companion bill to HR 1467.
    

3. Genetic Nondiscrimination – We thanked the senators and congressmen who support HR 493 and S 358, both titled the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act”. It is critical to enact legislation to prohibit genetic discrimination in healthcare and employment situations and to assure consumers that their information will not be used against them.

MdHIMA was represented by Mona Calhoun, Lori Brown, Dauna Mays, Janice Greenberg and Michelle Engelmann. Meetings were held with the members of the following offices:

• Senator Barbara Mikulski

• Representative Roscoe Bartlett

• Representative Elijah Cummings

• Representative Albert Wynn

• Representative Chris Van Hollen

• Representative John Sarbanes

AHIMA’s Hill Day was a great experience for all participants. Please consider joining in on this opportunity in 2008!

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AHIMA Team Talks - Winter 2007

AHIMA held one of its Winter Team Talks in Washington, DC on March 22, 2007. MdHIMA Delegates, Mona Calhoun, Lori Brown, Janice Greenberg and Dauna Mays were in attendance.

The theme for 2007 Winter Team Talks is “Larger, Louder, Faster”. Some of the topics discussed throughout the day to reinforce this theme included:

 

1. Value of Membership: During this session AHIMA and FORE’s strategic big picture (including the vision, mission, values & key priorities), as well as networking and educational opportunities were discussed.
    

2. Policies shaping HIM Practice This session focused on the many initiatives impacting the HIM world. Topics included:

• The Legal EHR

• The PHR

• Privacy and Security policy

• Health Information Exchange

• Data Collection and Reporting for Quality

• Clinical Terminologies and Classifications

3. Trends, Threats and Opportunities – Future Strategy

At the last national convention in Denver, CO, David Brailer said that AHIMA is doing the right thing, but …We need to do it Faster, Louder, and Larger. This session provided a SWOT Analysis of AHIMA and an opportunity to complete a SWOT Analysis of our own CSA (MdHIMA).

S - Strengths – to Leverage

W - Weaknesses – to Shore up/Mitigate

O - Opportunities to Capitalize on

T - Threats – to Avoid/Mitigate

4. AHIMA’s Leadership Initiatives Topics discussed during this session included:

• The urgency for identifying talent and leadership amongst our members;

• AHIMA’s Change Agent Program;

• A Diversity Resolution proposed from the members of the Diversity CoP; and

• The PHR Consumer Education Campaign

Every AHIMA member is welcome to attend Team Talks – it offers a wonderful time to network and learn what is going on at the national level. If you were unable to participate but would like to learn more about AHIMA happenings, please tune in to virtual Winter Team Talks on March 29th.

For more information visit AHIMA

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Summer Team Talks

Attendees: President: Lori Brown, RHIA; President Elect: Dauna Mays, RHIA; Delegates: Janice Greenberg, RHIT, CCS-P, Virginia Bell, RHIA, and Brian Bennighoff, RHIA,CTR

The MdHIMA delegation was in attendance for the Summer Team Talks which was held July 22-23 in Chicago, IL. Bryan Pickard, current AHIMA President, welcomed everyone and gave the election results for the 2008 Board of Directors.

President-elect is Vera Rulon; Directors are Mark Dietz, Mary Reeves, and Renae Spohn; RHIA Educator is Angela Kennedy; RHIT Educator is Michelle Green; RHIT Professional is Teresa (Terri) Hall; RHIA Educator is Jody Smith

The 2007 FORE Triumph Award Winners were also announced:

Distinguished Member – Leslie Ann Fox; Champion Award – Gloryanne Bryant; e-him Award - Deborah Kohn; Educator award - Sara Grostick; Legacy Award - Anne B.Castro; Mentor Award - Stacie Buck; Research Award - Shannon Houser; Rising Star Award - Amanda S. King

Linda Kloss gave an Industry update; topics included building a network of networks; the goal is to securely connect consumers, providers, and other who have, or use health – related data and services, while protecting confidentiality. Continuing AHIMA Leadership roles in coding and classification; working with WHO, SNOMED, ICD Maintenance Coordination parties, Coding clinic and CPT Editorial Board participation. Having Leadership roles in Privacy and Security on the AHIC work group on Confidentiality, Privacy, and Security, AHRQ/ONC Research project at state levels, and the National Governor’s Association Health Information Protection Taskforce. House passage of the work force legislation was a result of AHIMA’s advocacy, and lastly to continuing building the Body of Knowledge through research.

Wendy Mangin reviewed the AHIMA 2008 Strategy and Planning Cycle and encouraged Component State Associations (CSAs) to follow their framework. AHIMA’s key strategic priorities are e-HIM, Leadership Engagement/Impact, Building Value and Grow & Strengthen AHIMA.

All participants took part in a Focus Group on the Market Research Results of an AHIMA survey from June 2007, lead by the Plexus Consulting Group. The survey was to systematically assess the views of AHIMA members regarding various strategic issues of the organization. One key finding reported overall, the 1,094 respondents were pleased with AHIMA and see it as a leader of organizations tailoring to the HIM Industry.

Sandra Fuller, the COO of AHIMA, discussed the forming of ACE (Action Community for e-Health Excellence) for HIM professionals. ACE members would be leaders in areas such as mentoring, writing, interviewing, speaking, giving testimonials, and volunteer appointments. Another AHIMA initiative is branding. Since everyone is familiar with Coke, McDonald’s, etc, brand logo on their products and in advertisements, AHIMA is investigating branding of their name as well.

The afternoon concluded with an Open Discussion on two proposed resolutions: one on Diversity and the other on HIM Adoption of the Personal Health Record. These proposals can be viewed on the AHIMA State Leader & HOD COP – under Community Resources – select See All Resources. Additionally, Tennessee Health Information Management Association presented a draft Resolution for HIM Professional Standards. The MdHIMA delegates need your feedback on these proposed resolutions.

The last item to note was the schedule for Winter Team talks. There will be two locations in 2008: the East Coast location will be Washington DC – combined with Hill Day and the West Coast location will be in Las Vegas. Also planned are CSA Town Hall Meetings with Board Liaisons.

Access the AHIMA State Leader & HOD CoP

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AHIMA Leadership Conference

Attendees: President: Lori Brown, RHIA; President Elect: Dauna Mays, RHIA; Chairman-MyPHR & Fundraising: Anne Marani, RHIT

AHIMA sponsored a robust 2 day program for this year’s leadership conference attendees. The conference was held in conjunction with Summer Team Talks.

On Saturday, July 21, consultant William Ryan, MPA, from Hauser Center presented a workshop on “Governance as Leadership”. He shared useful information on how boards can more effectively manage their responsibilities. He also gave enlightening concepts and ideas on how to get a board to think and act in a more strategic direction instead of getting bogged down in the details.

Throughout the conference, breakout sessions were held on the following topics:

1. Managing Association Finances

2. Volunteers: Mentoring & Succession Planning

3. Public Relations

4. CSA/FORE Network

5. Designing & Delivering Successful Meetings

6. E-Communications

7. CSA Business Partnerships

8. HIE Activity

9. AHIMA & CSA Strategy

10. CSA Advocacy

11. Supporting Education Programs

12. CSA Alliance Building

On Sunday morning, AHIMA presented awards to a number of CSAs for their numerous “core service” achievements and best practices.

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AHIMA House of Delegates AHIMA 78th Annual Convention & Exhibit October 7 – 12, 2006 Denver, Colorado

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