eNews from MdHIMA
 
Issue 29 - December 2011
Inside this Issue:

President's Message
ICD-10 Corner
The Minute Mentor
MdHIMA Call for Nominations!
MdHIMA/AHIMA As One
ICD-10 CM/PCS Training
Interested in Speaking at a MdHIMA Meeting
Welcome New MdHIMA Members!
Dates to Remember
Submit Items for the e-Newsletter
Is Your AHIMA Member Profile Current?

President’s Message

As 2011 draws to a close, we all need to take a step back to remind ourselves of our accomplishments this past year. Some MdHIMA members have recently graduated from HIT programs or have received graduate degrees, others have passed certification exams in 2011, while other HIM professionals have helped guide their organizations to success in various HIT projects and implementations. Our HIM profession has embraced and supported many new initiatives and changes this past year. Many healthcare systems and organizations are embarking on EHR implementations which require the skills and knowledge of HIM professionals. 
 
As we look ahead to 2012, we need to make sure that we have the passion to keep pushing the limits and pursuing our goals for Health Information Management. It is important to continue to be engaged and excited about the future of the HIM profession. HIM has evolved in the past few years and will likely continue to change our current roles and responsibilities. Rita Bowen, President of AHIMA, mentions in her President’s Message for November/December 2011 that, “we need to be intrinsically motivated and make an effort to get off of dead center and accomplish something meaningful.” Future success of the HIM field lies with all of us and the passion and commitment we all have for this great profession. 
 
For HIM professionals prepared to face the future with confidence, the sky is the limit. However, we all must step up and be leaders for change. I have found that certain actions make individuals stand out from the pack, and we must take and use these qualities to improve ourselves and guarantee HIM has a role in the future of healthcare.  Some of the qualities are:
  • Be persistent - Step up and make your voice heard. Many times HIM Departments aren’t involved in projects initially, and we are brought in at the very end when the major decisions have already been made. We must convince others that what we have to say is important.
  • Do more than expected - We need to go the extra mile and not just do what is asked of us but do more. Sometimes this is hard to achieve, but enthusiasm and positive thinking yield rewards.
  • Show confidence - HIM Professionals need to think like champions. If you think you can succeed, you usually will. If you think you can’t, you often don’t. HIM needs to take charge and flex our emotional muscles.
  • Keep learning - It is so important to make a commitment to lifelong learning. Healthcare is going through many changes, and so are the professional skills needed to excel in HIM. HIM professionals need to continually read and keep up to date on healthcare legislation and learn new things. Health IT and e-HIM environments present tremendous opportunities for our future. We need to keep up with the pace and continue our knowledge in these important areas of healthcare.
There are no shortcuts to success and being successful in HIM is hard work. I foresee many challenges ahead for our profession, but with dedication and drive and using what we have to our best advantage we will be successful. We can accomplish our goals and as we move into the New Year we need to make certain that we set SMART goals for ourselves and the organizations in which we work. If you are not familiar with the SMART terminology it stands for:
 
            S = Specific
            M = Measurable
            A = Attainable
            R = Relevant
            T = Time-Bound 
 
Setting personal and professional goals is very hard to do, but if they are SMART goals, they can be more achievable and can produce much success and positive change.  So . . . what are your goals going to be for 2012?
 
Until next time . . .
 
Dina Smoker RHIA, CPC
President, MdHIMA

ICD-10 Corner - Sponsored by MdHIMA Data Quality Committee

                                            Comparison of ICD9-CM to ICD10-CM
 
ICD-9-CM ICD-10-CM
Consists of three to five digits
First digit is numeric or alpha (E or V)
Second, third, fourth, and fifth digits are numeric
Always at least three digits
Decimal placed after the first three digits
Alpha characters are not case sensitive		 Consists of three to seven characters
First character is alpha
All letters used except U
Character 2 always numeric
Characters 3-7 can be alpha or numeric
Decimal placed after the first three characters
Alpha characters are not case sensitive

The Minute Mentor


Happy Holidays everyone!  Since it is the season of “whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens,” I thought I’d change up the article a little and list a few of our favorite things about HIM.  With the help of a few “elves”, I’ve compiled a countdown of some of the neat things about working in this awesome career field.

10.  Change, change, change.  The “same old, same old” doesn’t happen very often in HIM.

9.  The variety of jobs is amazing.  Where else can you work in areas as diverse as coding, IT, policy, documentation analysis, legal, finance, research, and birth registration, just to name a few. 

8.  This is one of the best careers with the opportunity for trail blazing.  New branches of HIM are being created all the time.

7.  The assortment of environments HIMers find themselves is incredible: hospitals, rehab centers, research facilities, insurance companies, physician offices, software companies, regulatory agencies, and many, many more.  Some positions even allow you to work from home. 

6.  Instant relationships are made when meeting other HIMers.  Awesome, awesome, awesome support group is at hand from student to retirement.

5.  The challenge of working with physicians makes life interesting.

4.  HIM fits perfectly for those that want to jump into a new career.  Experiences and knowledge gained in other career fields does not go to waste, but are assets that can be further built upon in HIM.

3.  This career path is not prejudice to age.  No matter what stage in life you find yourself, you can find work that is fulfilling and interesting in HIM.

2.  You are part of a community with a voice and interest in improving healthcare locally, nationally, and globally.

1.  You are guaranteed to learn something new every day.
 
Isn’t HIM great?!  All you students out there, you really are making one of the best career choices ever.  Thank you to the “elves”: Monna Nabers, MBA, RHIA, Michele Chiriaco, RHIA, CCS, and Dolores Stephens, MS, RHIT, for your help in compiling our list.  I wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a very prosperous new year.
 
Until next time,
By Laura Hoot, RHIT
 

MdHIMA Call for Nominations!

The Nominating Committee wants you to suggest fellow members and/or yourself as possible candidates for the MdHIMA Executive Board positions for the next fiscal year, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013. Nominations will be open until January 31, 2012.
 
Please Nominate by Clicking HERE

MdHIMA/AHIMA As One

Tasha Green, MS, RHIA has recently been appointed by the President of AHIMA as Co-chair for AHIMA’s House Team on Volunteer and Leadership Development. Congratulations Tasha!

ICD-10 CM/PCS Training

AHIMA ACADEMY FOR ICD-10 CM/ PCS Training in Baltimore!
 
Dates:  May 16, 2012 – May 18, 2012

This is a 3 day course where you can become a Certified ICD-10 CM/PCS Trainer.
 
Details available on AHIMA’s website.

After successful completion of the exam you have the option to serve as an ICD-10 Ambassador for AHIMA. Follow this link for more details http://www.ahima.org/icd10/ambassador.aspx

Interested in Speaking at a MdHIMA Meeting

If you know someone or are interested in speaking at one of our MdHIMA meetings please follow the below link. If you have any questions please contact a MdHIMA Board member.

Complete the online speaker bureau submission form.

Welcome New MdHIMA Members!

MdHIMA welcomes the new and transfer members into our state association!  We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events and welcome your active participation.  Please feel free to contact any of the Board members if you are interested in joining a committee or if you have questions or need information.  Again, welcome!

Ann E Travagline, CCS Philip Ngundam, BBA, MBA, SCSA
Antoinette L Bennett Renee Hall
Barbara D Ogurcak, CCA Robertia Miller
Jacqueline Doughty Roel C Periabras, MHA
Kelley A Squazzo Silvia Nicholson
Kristen Lopez, CPCCBCS Susan Huff, CPC
Kristine Keller Susan Marquis
Latia Jennings Tamika D Shropshire
Lola Okunrinboye Toluwalope Ogunrinde
Maya Onyango, CPC Yolanda Collins
Melody G Taylor  

Dates to Remember

December 21, 2011 – Data Quality Meeting – ICD 10 by Body System – Endocrine/Urinary – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Greater Baltimore Medical Center

January 12, 2012 - Data Quality Meeting - 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Conference Room A at Harbor Hospital

March 8, 2012 - Data Quality Meeting - 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Conference Room B at Harbor Hospital

March 16, 2012 - Quarterly Business Meeting and Educational Session - All Day - Frederick, MD

May 3-4, 2012 - MdHIMA Annual Meeting - Racing to the Future in Health Information - Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

Submit Items for the e-Newsletter

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