eNews from MdHIMA
 
Issue 25 - February 2011
Inside this Issue:

President’s Message
Call for Nominations
The Day in the Life of a DIRECTOR
Professional Practice Questionnaire – Student Practicums
MDHIMA Annual Meeting May 19 – 20, 2011
Data Quality ICD-10 by Body System Series
Welcome New MdHIMA Members!
Dates to Remember  
Submit Items for the e-Newsletter
Is Your AHIMA Profile Current?


President's Message

The first month of the new year is almost over and I am reflecting on how fortunate we are to be health information management professionals. Our future is bright and there are opportunities for our profession to continue to grow within our present economy.  

As we work together in support of our profession, I hope that our members will consider running for officer positions with AHIMA and MdHIMA. Members can view the AHIMA and MdHIMA websites for information on the nomination process. If you are unable to serve this year, I hope you will consider the following year.  

We look forward to the strong support of members in our upcoming events.
  • The Data Quality ICD 10 by Body System training sessions offered by Data Quality. (February 16th, March 16th, and throughout the year)
     
  • The Quarterly Business Meeting scheduled for March 11th in Frederick, Maryland.
     
  • The Winter Team Talks and Hill Day are scheduled for March 28th and 29th in Washington, DC.
     
  • Our Annual Meeting will be May 19th-20th at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Please register early and we look forward to seeing you at these events. We are constantly looking for topics for our meetings. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please feel free to contact me. (akeyjr@comcast.net)   

Sincerely,  

Albert M. Key, Jr., MS, RHIA
President, MdHIMA  

Call for Nominations  

The Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for the following positions for 2011 – 2012 year:  

President Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
Director
Delegate (2)  

In an effort to give the membership a better understanding of the responsibilities for each of these roles, the Nominating Committee will highlight one of these offices each month in the October through February newsletters in a section called, "The day in the life of _______".   We have asked each of the current officers to give a brief statement of their position.  This month we are highlighting the Director’s position. If you would like to nominate someone for one of the above positions, please click here.

The Day in the Life of a DIRECTOR
  1. What does your day, week or month look like as it relates to the execution of your duties as the Delegate? 

    As a Director most of our focus is leadership of planning the Annual Meeting.  We participate in the monthly board meetings and are to attend the Quarterly Business meetings.  We are to be available to the membership and act as a liaison between the board and the membership.  
     
  2. What skills are required to do your job effectively and what skills do you wish you had coming into the position? 

    A Director should have several years of experience in the profession and be current on relevant issues that affect the profession.  We need good communication skills both written and verbal.  Individuals need to be comfortable in a leadership role, organized, responsible and sensitive to the needs of the membership.  In addition you need to be able to assess the total picture and offer suggestions that are in the best interest of the whole.
     
  3. Are there any requirements or aspects of the position that others don't see but are necessary to execute the duties of your job (time or financial commitments)?

    The one thing that most people may not see is the time commitment.  You need to  be available to attend meetings of the association in addition to taking/making the time required to be prepared for these meetings.
     
  4. What words of wisdom do you have for those who are aspiring to hold this office? 

    Get involved in volunteering on committees to become familiar with how the association operates.  The Annual Committee is a good one to start with given as Director you will chair this committee.  Attend meetings and conferences so the membership gets to know you.  Offer to chair a committee, no matter how small.  The Director position is a good stepping stone to becoming a delegate, because you will have had the opportunity to serve on the board, become familiar with operations and get to know the membership. 
     
  5. What do you enjoy most about your role/position? 

    Working with the committee members to plan the Annual Meeting.  While it is hard work, it is good to see the fruits of our labor at the culmination of the Annual Meeting.  We also get work with other members of the board and get a better understanding of the overall operations of the association.
Professional Practice Questionnaire – Student Practicums  

The educational institutions are experiencing some wonderful challenges as programs experience exponential growth.  Not only are we seeing the traditional student straight out of high school, but increases in the number of non-traditional students and persons getting second degrees or have worked in the profession for years and are looking to advance.  One of the greatest challenges is assuring the students meet the entry level requirements and expectations of potential employers.  As a part of their learning experience students are sent to various healthcare facilities to get hands on experience and put into practice what they have learned in the classroom.  But not only are our educational institutions experiencing growing pains, but with the changes and continuous evolution of technology and healthcare reform our healthcare organizations are learning different ways to operate.  HIM departments are becoming more HIGHTECH and tasks that were traditionally performed in the office can now be done from home.   In addition, new positions are being created and old ones being reshaped to meet these new demands.   

So where do we go from here?  How do we meet the need of the student and be sensitive to the challenges facing the HIM facilities.  Faculty  are being creative in their approach to giving students these experiences by taking students on tours of facilities and simulation, but nothing can replace the student being able to do the actual work.   This is not a local problem but institutions around the nation have to address this as well.  Our accrediting body is also sensitive to this issue and is not requiring a specific amount of time in the professional practice site, but that they students do have some experience in the real environment.  In an effort to try and come up with a “win win” for everyone, we need to hear from you.  Please click on the link below and take a few minutes to respond to this very short survey.  The results will be shared in an edition of the newsletter.   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HLFS9GZ  

MDHIMA Annual Meeting May 19 – 20, 2011 at the Baltimore Convention Center – Registration is now open  

Registration for the MdHIMA Annual Meeting is now open.  The conference will be May 19 & 20, 2011 at the Baltimore Convention Center.  To learn more and to register online click here or visit mdhima.org.  Registration will close end of business day on May 13, 2011. Onsite registration will not be available.  Payment must be received by the meeting date.  

Rooms have been reserved at the Sheraton.  The group rate is $179 and available through April 18, 2011.  The hotel has set up a personalized Web site for MDHIMA Annual Conference attendees to book, modify or cancel a reservation beginning September 8, 2010, so reserve your room today! 

Below you will find the appropriate link(s) to access the site:
Maryland Health Information Managment Association (OR copy and paste the following link into a web browser)
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1009084072&key=3028

Data Quality ICD-10 by Body System Series

We will be focusing on ICD10 by body system.    Please visit the MdHIMA website for registration details.     

Meetings will be held at GBMC from 1 to 3:00 pm.  

February 16, 2011 - Digestive 
March 16, 2011 - Circulatory /Cardiac       
April 20, 2011 - Central & Peripheral Nervous System      
May  10, - Ortho  (Meeting will be at Harbor Hospital Center)   
June 15, 2011 - Male/Female Reproductive System        
July 20, 2011 - OB    
August 17, 2011 - Respiratory System    
September 21, 2011  - Neoplasm     
October 19, 2011  - Infectious Disease   
November 16, 2011 - Subcutaneous & Fasia/Skin & Breast     
December 21, 2011 - Endocrine/Urinary  
January 2012  - Hemodialysis, Chemotherapy, and Other    

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!

Abayomi Agboola
Atena Artenie
Robert Branch, IV
Gloria Boyd, CCS
Michelle Cole
John Cox
Lakesha Cromwell
Kimberly Dorsey
Monique Ferguson
Susamma Franklin
Angel Gaino
Brianna Gaudioso
Samatha Gomez
Janice D. Greene
Veronica Hill
Caprice Jones
Frances C. Lawhorn, CCA
Carmen Maggi
Sanjeev Malik
Arumani Manisundaram
Rosaline Mbongo
Melissa K. McLeod, CPC
Peg Mellen
Denis Mermod, MCP, NSAIAM
Roxane Rose
Robin Scott
Toyin Sotola
Heather Whisman
Jayne Winton
Gladys K. Wynn

Dates to Remember 

March 11, 2011 – MdHIMA Quarterly Business Meeting – Frederick, MD – details to be released
March 28, 2011 – Winter Team Talks – Washington, D.C. 
March 29, 2011– Hill Day – Washington, D.C. -
May 13, 2011 – Last day to register for the MdHIMA Annual Meeting
May 19 – 20, 2011 – MdHIMA Annual Meeting


Submit Items for the e-Newsletter

Please remember that this e-Newsletter belongs to you and is an excellent source of communication!  If you would like to submit information to be included in the next publication or if you would like to let the membership know what is going on with you or your facility and employees, please don’t hesitate to send a submission to Kathy Mulford, Chair of the e-Newsletter at the following email:  kmulfor1@jhmi.edu.

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