President’s Message
As I write this final message to you, I can hardly believe how quickly the year
has flown by! Thank you very much for the opportunity to serve as President of
MdHIMA for 2008-2009. It has been an exciting year with many activities at both
the state and national level.
In our Annual Report, which was distributed at the MdHIMA Annual Meeting in May
and is also posted on our website (www.mdhima.org)
for your review, our many accomplishments in 2008 and 2009 are described in
detail. Without the teamwork and dedication of the board members and committee
members, the progress of our Association could not be realized. They have done
an outstanding job!
Listed below are several of this year’s highlights:
- Delegates
represented MdHIMA on a national level at AHIMA’s Summer Team Talks
and Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL, the Annual AHIMA Meeting
and House of Delegates in Seattle, WA and at AHIMA’s Winter Team
Talks and Hill Day in Washington, DC.
- Three (3)
Quarterly Business Meetings and Educational Sessions, Coding
Roundtables, a CPT Update Session, a CCS Prep Course, and an Annual
Meeting, which included three educational tracks, were offered to
our membership.
- MdHIMA partnered
with PHIMA again this year to offer our members several one-
hour/one-CE, lunch time web-conferences.
- MdHIMA sent a
letter to Secretary Leavitt at CMS providing support and comments on
the proposed regulation for the adoption of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS
as published in the August 2, 2008 Federal Register (CMS-0013-P).
- The ROI Task
Force completed the revisions and released the newest version of
MdHIMA’s A Guide to the Disclosure of Health Information. A
corresponding educational session was offered in November and again
in May at the Annual Meeting.
- Personal Health
Record (PHR) Committee Co-Chairs attended the AARP Conference in
Washington, D.C. in September and distributed PHR information at the
AHIMA booth.
- For the first
time at this year’s Annual Meeting an HIM Student Projects area was
featured. Students had the opportunity to discuss their projects
and network with conference attendees.
- MdHIMA along
with DCHIMA members met with congressmen and their staffs during
AHIMA’s Hill Day in March to discuss key national legislative topics
impacting health information.
- The HIM Programs
Directors Group met on a regular basis with an MdHIMA board member
serving as liaison. The group worked on the development of
additional pages for the MdHIMA website to highlight the six (6)
health information programs in Maryland.
As you can see, the MdHIMA Board was very dedicated to serving you over the past
year. It has been a pleasure working with all of the board members on our many
endeavors.
I wish to extend my best wishes to Brian Bennighoff, RHIA, CTR, incoming
President, and his 2009 - 2010 Board. I am confident that with Brian’s
leadership skills, enthusiasm and commitment to our profession, MdHIMA will
continue to progress.
My heartfelt thanks for the confidence you have placed in me to serve as
President of MdHIMA for 2008-2009. It has been an honor and privilege serving
you.
Sincerely,
Dauna
Dauna
Mays, RHIA
MdHIMA President 2008-2009
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CMS Offers Free ICD-9/ICD-10 Sessions
 At the Winter Team Talks held in Washington, D.C on March 23, 2009, Sandy Fuller
presented Key 209 Initiatives. During this presentation, Ms. Fuller discussed
ICD-10 preparation and mentioned that there will be mandatory ICD-10 CEUs in
addition to existing CEU requirements. Even though ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS
won’t be implemented until October 1, 2013, the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are
preparing now.
CMS continues to host ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meetings
twice a year. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
(“procedure” day) and Thursday, September 17, 2009 (“diagnosis” day) at the CMS
Baltimore Complex located at 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore (Woodlawn), MD
21244.Beginning with this meeting, the first two hours of the first day will be
devoted to discussion of ICD-10. The rest of the two-day meeting will be
devoted to ICD-9-CM matters. As always, parking and admission to CMS are free,
and lunch is available on site at the cafeteria. CEs are free, but the number
of CEs given at each meeting are not known in advance
Pre-registration is mandatory; this link will allow pre-registration after
August 14, 2009:
https://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/events/. The meeting begins at 9:00 AM.
Additional time should be allowed as all vehicles will be inspected by Security
Personnel at the gate and attendees and their possessions will pass through a
metal detector when entering the building. A picture ID is required for
admission. Cameras are not permitted in the building and smoking is not
permitted on the campus. Laptops for note taking are permitted, but the
attendee will be required to secure a property pass from CMS Security.
This is right in your own back yard – think about attending this free
ICD-9/ICD-10 session!
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VOTE in the AHIMA National Election
 AHIMA’s 2009 election is fast approaching. Polls will be open from June 8
through June 26, 2009. Log onto
www.ahima.org and click on “Communities of Practice.” A reminder to vote
will pop up. You will be able to review the candidates’ biographies before
casting your vote.
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MdHIMA 2009 – 2010 Election Results
 The results of the
2009-2010 MdHIMA Executive Board were announced at the Annual Meeting held
at the Baltimore Conventions Center. Of the 807 eligible voters, total of
181 votes were cast which is a response rate of 22%. Thanks to all who
voted and to the volunteers who ran for office. The results are as follows
(winners are in bold):
President-Elect
Albert M. Key, Jr.,
RHIA 167 votes (unopposed)
Delegate (2 elected)
Dina Smoker, RHIA,
CPC 86 votes
Sallie Tyner, RHIT,
CCS 56 votes
Zakevia Green, MSHA, RHIA,
LHRM 37 votes
Director
Mona Calhoun, MS,
RHIA 130 votes
Vanessa Williams, BS,
RHIT 48 votes
Secretary
Jacqueline Stanfield, MHA,
RHIA 69 votes
Monna Nabers, MBA,
RHIA 105 votes
Treasurer
Lori Brown, RHIA,
CHC 116 votes
Tiffany Edwards, RHIA 63 votes
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MdHIMA Annual Meeting
The MdHIMA 79th Annual Meeting, with the theme “Health Information
Management – It Takes a Team”, was held on May 7th & 8th
at the Baltimore Convention Center. Attendance this year hit a record high with
more than 320 registered attendees and more than 30 vendors renting a booth in
the exhibit hall! In addition to a special half day session on Maryland
Confidentiality of Medical Records, attendees selected sessions to attend from
interesting and informative topics in both the General and Data Quality tracks.
A key note speaker was featured on each day of the meeting and the AHIMA update
was provided by Beth Just, 1st Year Director.
Thanks and
acknowledgements were offered to the outgoing MdHIMA Board while the new 2009 –
2010 Board was welcomed. The evening social event featured a “Tailgate Party”
theme with good food, dancing and some friendly competitions. Important
knowledge was shared, CE credits were earned, excellent networking opportunities
were available and a lot of fun was had by everyone who attended this year’s
meeting. Plans will now begin for the 80th Annual Meeting of MdHIMA
in 2010!
View the photos from the Annual Meeting!
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MdHIMA Distinguished Member – Mona Calhoun, MS, RHIA
 The Distinguished Member Award is MdHIMA’s highest
award of honor. This award celebrates an individual with a long,
exceptional history of HIM contributions. Qualified individuals are HIM
professionals who have made significant contributions to the HIM field
through innovative professional practice, education, dedicated volunteer
service, research or publishing.
MdHIMA presented this year’s Distinguished Member
Award to Mona Calhoun.
Mona began her HIM career back in 1987 in Dallas, Texas
as a Medical Records Clerk. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at
Texas Women’s University in Dallas in 1988 and her Master’s Degree in Health
Care Administration at Texas Women’s University in 1992.
She worked as an Assistant Director of Medical Records
and a Director of Medical Records at several hospitals in the Dallas/Fort
Worth area until the mid 1990’s when she moved to Maryland. Here in
Maryland she has been an HIM Director at several facilities including
Montgomery General Hospital, Prince George’s Hospital Center and Washington
Adventist Hospital. She has also served as an HIM Director with Precyse
Solutions.
Mona has taught medical terminology courses and been
very active in MdHIMA. She was President of MdHIMA in 2006-2007 and
Delegate in 2005 and 2006. She has also previously chaired the Education
Committee, Public/Relations & Marketing Committee, Annual Meeting and served
on the Nominating Committee.
Mona is also very involved in her national sorority and
in her church.
Most recently, Mona has become the Chair of the Health
Information Management Program at Coppin State University. A huge
undertaking, Mona has been instrumental in developing the HIM Program at
Coppin from its infancy and this is the first 4 year program in the state of
Maryland since the U.S. Public Health Program decades ago.
Mona has been meticulous to every detail in
establishing this program including curriculum development, text book
selection, recruitment of students & faculty, establishment of an Advisory
Board, and preparation for CAHIIM inspection. When the program began in
Fall of 2007, there were just 7 students. Today the program has grown to
over 70 students!!! They will be graduating their first class on May 17th!
Congratulations to you Mona on the fabulous program at
Coppin.
Those who nominated Mona for this award agree that she
is an extremely dedicated HIM professional. She has contributed a great deal
to our profession. She inspires her students and she is admired by her
peers.
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Volunteer Champion – Dina Smoker, RHIA, CPC
 The Volunteer Champion Award for 2009 was presented to
Dina Smoker, RHIA,CPC at the MdHIMA Annual Meeting.
The Volunteer Champion Award honors those individuals,
groups or corporations whose long-term and enthusiastic support of MdHIMA
has advance the organization in achieving our mission.
Volunteers are truly the key to the success of
our organization.
Dina is the HIM Director at Union Memorial Hospital in
Baltimore, MD. Dina has been a dedicated member of the MdHIMA Board since
2001. She has served on the Data Quality Committee, Nominating Committee,
Silent Auction Committee and has chaired the Public Relations and Annual
Meeting Committees. She has also served as Director and, for the past two
years, has served on the Board as Secretary. That’s a lot of work in just 9
years!
Dina, who is also the busy mother of two small
children, never misses a beat or a detail.
Even while she was on maternity leave last Fall, she
always attended meetings, sent cards and flowers from the Association when
needed, and always had the meeting minutes completed and distributed. Dina
is often the first to volunteer to help out wherever and whenever needed ---
for example at the Registration Desk and MdHIMA Booth at our Annual Meetings
--- and she always does it with a SMILE!
She is a dedicated professional who exemplifies
dedication and is truly a great role model.
Congratulations and THANK YOU, Dina!
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Student Scholarships Awarded
 MdHIMA is pleased to announce the student scholarship
award winners, Prerna Dahiya and Marlene Payne.
Prerna Dahiya joined the Community College of Baltimore
County (CCBC) in the Fall of 2007. She had an Information Technology
background and decided to pursue her degree in IT, but deep in her heart,
she was thinking about changing her major to something in the healthcare
field. Luckily, she met Celia Lange, the HIT Program Coordinator at CCBC.
Celia shared information with Prerna about the program and suddenly Prerna
felt this was exactly what her heart was looking for. She started the
program and began plotting the course of her career accordingly. She is
planning to acquire her certification as a CCS and CCS-P as soon as possible
and she is also considering pursuing a four-year degree once she has
graduated from CCBC. Prerna is optimistic and enthusiastic that the HIM
field is the perfect career path for her.
Marlene Payne is a member of the Honors Program at
Prince George’s Community College.
She became interested in the field of Health
Information Management while working at the Wisconsin Avenue Nursing Home in
Northwest D.C. She was working as a clerk in the Business Office and was
later promoted to Administrative Secretary to the Administrator of the
facility. When workloads were heavy, she was often asked to assist in other
departments, one of which was the Medical Records Department. The Manager
of Medical Records at the time had her Bachelor’s Degree and that peeked
Marlene’s interest in the field. After experiences in the past with
lay-offs from various jobs, Marlene sought to update her skills. She wanted
an edge in the workplace and a job that would be in high demand. After
reviewing the U.S. Government’s website and researching the HIM field, she
made the decision to pursue an Associate’s Degree in Health Information
Management at Prince George’s Community College.
Marlene enjoys working with her peers and she is very
excited to be in this program and on this career path.
Congratulations to Marlene and Prerna!
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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!
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Meron H. Abbai
Andrea N. Carroll-Alleyne, CCS
Jennifer Clinkscales
Dustin Cord, CCA
Christine M. Deady
Jim Eaton, Sr.
Ruth M. Fleishman
Nora A. Fyffe, CPC, CPC-H
Karen J. Harvey
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Diana Kinnie
Carol Lannen
Arletha Norris, CCA
Amy N. Rill
Maria A. Sekar , LPN
Sandra J. St. John, CCS
Tonya M. Taylor
Lisa Vernon
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Dates to Remember
June 23, 2009 -
Transitional Board Meeting - The Rose Restaurant, Baltimore, MD
September 16 – September 17, 2009 -
ICD-9-CM
Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting – Baltimore, MD
https://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/events/
September 25, 2009
– MdHIMA Quarterly Business Meeting – The Rose Restaurant, Baltimore,
MD
October 3 – October 8, 2009 - 2009 AHIMA
National Convention - Dallas, TX
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kmulford@medquist.com.
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