Fe b r uar y 2 0 1 4 | Vol u me 19 | N o . 1
A D VA N TA G E
VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR UPDATE
PAGE 9
| AHIMA’S ONLINE LIFE
PAGE 10
| 2013 TRIUMPH AWARD WINNERS
PAGE 12
Building Momentum Around Information Governance
As healthcare organizations prepare for value-based care, they
require trustworthy data and information from the electronic
health record (EHR) as well as their cost accounting, supply
chain, and staffing systems. But it is not just the environment
that is changing—so are the tools. Today, many organizations
are implementing new analytics software and other technologies
that can “marry” disparate data sets, such as clinical and financial
data, to create meaningful information.
“How we are using data today is very different from how data
was used five years ago,” says Lorraine Fernandes, RHIA, global
healthcare ambassador for IBM, San Ramon, CA. Take financial
data, for example. “In the past, we may have collected financial
data for payments based on fee-for-service or DRGs [diagnosisrelated groups] for Medicare or commercial payer patients, but
now we have more risk-based contracts than we did five years
ago.” Assuming risk puts more pressure on organizations to
collect timely, accurate, actionable data on costs and clinical
outcomes so they can effectively manage population health and
ensure a healthy bottom line, Fernandes says.
In such an environment, information is power, and increasingly,
healthcare executives recognize “they need to more effectively
leverage their information as a true business asset,” says Carole
Okamoto, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA, principal at C.O.
Concepts, Inc., in Seattle, WA. To that end, many forwardthinking organizations are developing a formal governance
structure with processes and policies to ensure the integrity of
their data and information. Despite facing competing priorities
such as ICD-10-CM/PCS, meaningful use, and ongoing EHR
projects, these organizations recognize that making information
governance a priority actually helps support these other strategies.
Collaborating on Information Governance
AHIMA has been supporting healthcare organizations as
they embrace information governance as an enterprise-wide
strategy for maintaining the integrity of their information. (See
sidebar on page 4.) In November 2013, AHIMA led a webinar,
hosted by Becker’s Hospital Review, on how C-level executives
can implement an information governance structure at their
organizations. That momentum continues in 2014, as AHIMA
plans to offer more webinars, books, a practice brief, and Journal
of AHIMA articles on information governance. In addition
to creating more awareness of information governance, these
resources will help to underscore the need for collaboration
across the healthcare enterprise.
HIM practitioners can play an important role in this
collaboration, Okamoto says. “As HIM professionals, we
are academically trained as information managers, and are
therefore well prepared to serve as strategic thought leaders
in the organizational planning for information governance and
enterprise-wide information management (EIM) initiatives,”
she says.
Using the EHR as a Springboard
University Hospitals (UH) of Cleveland, OH, is one
organization that is integrating information governance into its
culture. It began in late 2012 when leaders established a clinical
documentation oversight committee following the rollout of
the system’s new EHR. “The goal of the committee is to help us
understand where all of the information resides and to make
sure we have a group that oversees it,” says Jim White, MBA,
RHIA, corporate director of health information services. White
continued on page 3
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COVER STORY CONTINUED
CONTENTS
MEMBER PROFILE
5
Member Exemplifies the Art of HIM
FOR YOUR BENEFIT
6
AHIMA at Work For You
AHIMA FOUNDATION 8
AHIMA Foundation Welcomes
2014 Chairs, Volunteer Leaders
STUDENT MEMBER UPDATE 9
Second Virtual Career Fair
Planned for March
AHIMA’S ONLINE LIFE10
likens the committee to a new, improved version of UH’s medical record committee. “Any
suggested documentation changes to the EHR must come through this committee,” White
says. Committee members include White, the chief quality officer, and the chief medical
officer as well as representatives from the medical staff and quality, nursing, legal, and
compliance departments.
The committee also includes two taskforces:
n A
medical/legal taskforce, which focuses on documentation risks, such as information
“copied and pasted” in the EHR
n A
documentation education taskforce, which shares best practices between UH’s
tertiary care center and its six community hospitals
Having this framework has created greater awareness of the need for better documentation
across the system, White says. This will likely help UH as it develops its three accountable
care organizations, which are focused on managing the health of children, employees, and
Medicare beneficiaries.
AHIMA Engage Online
Community is a Success
CERTIFICATION UPDATE11
Strong Growth Anticipated
in Clinical Documentation
Improvement Profession
REAL WORLD12
2013 AHIMA Triumph Award
Winners Honored
Launching an information governance strategy at the same time as an EHR rollout is
not uncommon. Some organizations are using other strategic projects, such as health
information exchanges, as the impetus for information governance.
Incorporating Governance into the Curriculum
Academic programs also recognize the increasing importance of information governance,
and schools across the country are revising their curricula to prepare current and
future HIM practitioners to work on these initiatives, says Mervat Abdelhak, PhD,
RHIA, FAHIMA, department chair and associate professor of HIM at the University of
Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA.
For instance, Pitt has added more coursework on data mining and data analytics so
that students understand the tools and technology. Pitt has also increased the emphasis
on team projects in several courses to help students develop more leadership and
collaborative skills, Abdelhak says.
The work experience that students gain during their internships is also changing. “We
have about 250 to 300 sites where we place students for internships, and every year, we
add more settings in IT environments, administrative units, telemedicine units, and the
like, and with that comes a change in the types of projects that students are completing,”
Abdelhak says. For example, students are working on more projects that are enterprisewide and are led by innovation officers and chief medical information officers.
A D VA N TA G E
AHIMA ADVANTAGE STAFF: Jewelle Hicks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Laura Ramos Hegwer
© Copyright 2014 by the American Health
Information Management Association. All rights reserved.
Share your feedback on AHIMA Advantage via e-mail
at advantage@ahima.org
continued on page 4
AAHIM
HIMA
A ADVANTAGE
ADVANTAGE
3
s
COVER STORY C ONTINUED
How to Get Involved
As organizations work on information governance,
it should not become an “IT project” but rather an
enterprise-wide initiative, says Rita Bowen, RHIA,
CHPS, MA, SSGB, senior vice president of HIM
and privacy officer at Healthport in Alpharetta,
GA. “The challenge is when you have technology
people trying to govern without the understanding
of the information they are trying to control,”
Bowen says. Information governance needs to be a
foundational, collaborative project involving all of
the key players: IT, HIM, finance, human resources,
quality, compliance, risk management, and research,
to name a few.
To help jumpstart information governance at your
organization:
The specification of decision rights and an accountability
framework to ensure appropriate behavior in the valuation,
creation, storage, use, archiving, and deletion of information
n The processes, roles and policies, standards, and metrics that
ensure the effective and efficient use of information in enabling an
organization to achieve its goals
n According to AHIMA, data governance is the responsibility of the
business unit. It is the policies, processes, and practices that address
the accuracy, validity, completeness, timeliness, and integrity of data
(data quality).
Appoint a project lead. This well-respected
individual could be from IT, HIM, or another
area. “It should be a person who is seen as a good
collaborator and project manager,” Bowen says. It
could even be you.
Learn More
AHIMA offers resources to build your knowledge about data and
information governance. You can find them in the AHIMA Body
of Knowledge (BoK), the AHIMA Store, and online at ahima.org.
(Some are free, while others are available for purchase.)
Prepare an “elevator speech” to get a seat at the
table. Be ready to list five to seven reasons why
you need to be part of information governance
at your organization, says Okamoto of C.O.
Concepts.
AHIMA’s Information Governance web portal—Visit this portal for
an overview on information governance, frequently asked questions,
and links to articles.
n n Find an executive champion. A CFO, CMIO,
or other C-level executive should lead the effort
to secure funding and garner enterprise-wide
support for information governance initiatives. If
your senior leaders are in the dark on information
governance, consider developing a short slide
presentation, Okamoto says.
n Make governance a standing agenda item for key
committees, such as those focused on quality
and operations. “This helps you weave governance
into your standard operating procedures and dayto-day operations, not just the strategic initiatives
that your organization is undertaking,” says
IBM’s Fernandes. “It also helps you share success
stories to create higher visibility for information
governance.” v
n Plan to Attend
AHIMA is sponsoring a Twitter chat on information
governance February 20 at noon central. Plan to
attend and use the hashtag #IGNow
4
Understanding Information Governance
AHIMA has adopted Gartner’s definition of information
governance as:
Journal of AHIMA Articles—The BoK includes many articles on data
and information governance, including the series on “Information
Governance 101.” Other articles include “Keeping Information
Clean,” “Keeping Your ‘I’ on Information Governance,” and “Getting
Serious About Information Governance.”
Webinars—AHIMA will host several webinars on information
governance in 2014.
Health Information Integrity Summit—This event will be held in Fall
2014 and will cover information integrity and data governance.
E-Learning Courses—Learn how CDI programs can be a
springboard for data and information governance initiatives in
AHIMA’s Clinical Documentation Improvement courses.
2013 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit—This weeklong event
will be held September 27–October 2 at the San Diego Convention
Center in San Diego, CA, and will highlight best practices in
information governance.
HIMSS Annual Conference—This event, which will be held
February 23–27, 2014, will include AHIMA speakers on information
governance.
Engage—Get involved in AHIMA’s Engage Community on
Information Governance and Standards.
Practice Council—Volunteer for the Enterprise Information
Management Practice Council.
A H IM A ADVANTAG E
s
MEMBER PROFILE
Member Exemplifies the Art of HIM
When Leigh Ann Braswell, RHIA, CHP,
CCS, graduated from high school, she says
she wasn’t sure what she wanted to study in
college, but her father had some ideas.
“At first I wanted to be an art major, but my
dad said ‘I won’t pay for you to go to college
and be poor,’” Braswell recalls with a laugh.
He recommended a career in the healthcare
industry. So she initially embarked on a
degree in medical technology when she
started at Southwestern Oklahoma State
University.
Braswell admits that her first HIM job
after college (she graduated in 1996) was
a challenge. Her first job was at St. Francis
Hospital in Tulsa, OK, as an inpatient coder.
“What you learn in coding in college is the
bare bones. What you get in the real world
is a lot different,” Braswell says. “Back when
I learned coding, it was literally from a
textbook—the scenarios were perfect. We
had all the descriptors we needed to code a
case.” In the hospital world, this of course
was not the case, she adds.
“St. Francis was a burn center and a level 1
trauma center. So you’re going from these
little dummy charts to learning how to find
that documentation. In college, you knew
what a query was but you never had to write
one, so that was very important too.”
Currently Braswell serves as the director
of HIM project management for LifePoint
Hospitals, in Brentwood, TN.
HIM Point Person
At LifePoint, Braswell’s duties include
evaluating HIM technology to streamline
and standardize HIM processes within Life
Point’s 60 hospitals, planning and deploying
the ICD-10 coder education rollout,
overseeing the development of LifePoint’s
legal health record guide and policies,
and project management for transcription
vendor consolidation.
The role of director of HIM project manager
was newly created when Braswell’s managers
asked her to take it on.
“Our leaders felt the need to have an HIM
subject matter expert really focus in on
HIM processes and standardization. Like
many other companies, we have to be
competitive and work to retain strong HIM
professionals,” Braswell says.
One key initiative she’s working on is
helping LifePoint provide remote coding to
all 60 sites in a standard way.
Braswell’s job with LifePoint is rewarding
and challenging as she has been tasked
with overseeing a lot of change. She loves
being seen as a HIM resource for the HIM
departments at all of LifePoint’s hospitals.
The toughest part has been “supporting and
creating standardization for 60 hospitals
that are on over six different IT systems,”
says Braswell. “Our company is growing and
acquiring more hospitals. At this time, we
are not converting these sites to a standard
IT system. I haven’t mastered it yet, but
hopefully the technologies we’re evaluating
will help minimize the challenge.”
Leigh Ann Braswell, RHIA, CHP, CCS
She has also held multiple positions for
Sisters of Mercy Health System in Oklahoma
City, and as a consultant for HCA before
joining LifePoint.
“As an HIM leader you have to stand up and
fight for your profession. In my role at the
corporate office, I’m fighting for 60 different
HIM departments,” Braswell says. “I stand
up and say ‘No, that’s not going to work for
the HIM department, what about this?’”
She adds that the “meaningful use” EHR
Incentive Program has dramatically boosted
EHR adoption in her time at LifePoint.
From the time she made the decision to
pursue HIM in college, through all points
in her professional career, Braswell has
benefited from great advice along the way.
Warrior and Mentor
The job also gives her a chance to advocate
for her profession and for the other HIM
professionals in her health system—
especially when HIM is missing from key
technology initiatives, such as meaningful
use implementation.
As a result, she’s tried to do the same. When
she worked in hospitals, health information
management students cycled through her
departments and Braswell says that’s one
of the things she misses in her current
corporate environment. “To be a good
mentor, you have to be passionate about
what you do”, Braswell says.
Braswell is well aware of how decisions
made by management and IT officials affect
the day-to-day lives of HIM professionals in
every department.
“I kind of look at it as an evangelistic
approach,” Braswell says. “Preach the gospel
of HIM. If you’re passionate about it, and
have that desire, it’ll be an easy thing that’ll
come to you.”v
hile Braswell retains a deep appreciation for art, she’s enjoying a thriving HIM
W
career. Currently Braswell serves as the director of HIM project management for
LifePoint Hospitals, in Brentwood, TN.
A HIM A ADVANTAGE
5
s
FOR YOUR BENEFIT
EVENTS
Upcoming Meetings
February 13
Electronic Content Management
(ECM)-A Game Changer for
Healthcare
February 17—19
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10-CM/
PCS: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
Las Vegas, NV
February 20
Using Data and Analytics to
Improve Quality and Financial
Outcomes Across the Healthcare
Continuum
March 5—7
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10-CM/
PCS: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
Boston, MA
March 11
Managing Big Data in Healthcare
March 12—13
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10CM: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis Coding
Chicago, IL
March 17—18
Leadership Advocacy
Symposium and Hill Day
Washington, DC
March 20—21
Clinical Documentation
Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)
Exam Prep Workshop
New Orleans, LA
March 20—22
Certified in Healthcare Privacy
and Security (CHPS)
Exam Prep Workshop
New Orleans, LA
6
Save the Dates: 2014 Advocacy and
Leadership Symposium
The 2014 Leadership Advocacy Symposium
and Hill Day will be held March 17–18 in
Washington, DC. Learn more here. A
detailed agenda will be posted to the State
Leaders and House of Delegates community
on Engage. The deadline for meeting
registration is February 10. Due to security
policies, we cannot accept registrations after
the deadline or allow onsite registration.
Confirmed registrations are non-transferrable
(no exceptions) and complimentary meals at
the meeting are for attendees only. And it is
not too soon to begin planning for the
summer Leadership Symposium, July 11–12
in Chicago, IL. More details will be available
at www.ahima.org/events this spring.
Volunteer with AHIMA
AHIMA is on the hunt for the next great
volunteers to serve in 2015. You can apply
through the AHIMA Application to Serve.
You have a lot to offer and yes, you can do
this. Opportunities for elected positions—the
Board of Directors, Commissioners and the
Speaker-elect of the House of Delegates—
are currently available through March
31. Review the descriptions of available
volunteer positions on the Volunteer page
of the AHIMA Web site, under the Elected
Positions tab. Before you apply, assess
your leadership skills and abilities with the
AHIMA Volunteer Leadership Competencies
Self-Assessment tool.
Apply to Become an AHIMA Fellow
Fellows of AHIMA are members who have
earned recognition for their significant and
sustained contributions to the profession. The
AHIMA Fellowship Review Committee meets
quarterly. The Fellowship Review Committee
recently awarded Fellowships to:
n B
arry S. Herrin, JD, CHPS, FACHE,
FAHIMA
n L
isa C. Paige, RHIA, FAHIMA
n K
aren S. Scott, MED, RHIA, CCS-P,
FAHIMA
n M
elinda A. Wilkins, PhD, RHIA,
FAHIMA
The first 2014 Fellowship application
deadline is February 28. Learn more about
eligibility requirements and complete the
fellowship application. You can also view a
full list of current AHIMA fellows.
Plan to Attend the Year’s First
Career Prep Webinar
Please join us for AHIMA’s first Career Prep
webinar of 2014, “The Courage to Network:
Setting Yourself Up for Success,” on February
19, from noon to 1 p.m. CST. This webinar
will be facilitated by AHIMA’s Manager of
Profession Governance, Anna Desai, MHA.
Desai will identify techniques and strategies
to help you build positive relationships. To
register, click here. Contact Jessica Heraty
with any questions.
On-Demand ICD-10 Webinars
Now Available
Refreshing Your ICD-10-CM/PCS Knowledge
These webinars are for individuals who have
completed an AHIMA ICD-10-CM/PCS
Academy or other forms of ICD-10-CM/PCS
training. Although we are currently in a code
freeze, there were changes made to the ICD10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code sets prior to
the freeze. These webinars provide up-to-date
information. Refreshing Your ICD-10-CM
Knowledge and Refreshing Your ICD-10-PCS
Knowledge are also available separately.
One Year to ICD-10-CM/PCS
Implementation: Prioritize CDI Now!
How can you jump-start your program with
only one year to implementation? Learn how
from one community hospital’s CDI journey!
Speakers share best practice tactics to start
anew or fine tune current efforts, and discuss
documentation audits, financial impact
analytics, and the need for a multipronged,
multidisciplinary approach to CDI. ICD-10CM/PCS can change CDI-coder-physician
relationships significantly and for the better.
Clinical Documentation for ICD-10
Training Supports Time-Pressed
Physicians
AHIMA’s online Clinical Documentation for
ICD-10: Principles and Practice provides an
overview and bite-sized, self-paced training
modules that doctors can access anytime,
from a computer, tablet, or mobile device.
Written by physicians, CDI specialists,
and medical coding experts, the program
customizes learning by delivering threeto five-minute modules that cover each
physician’s 10-20 most billed diagnoses and
conditions, making the learning targeted and
highly relevant.
A H IM A ADVANTAG E
Test Your ICD-10 Readiness with
AHIMA Post-Training Assessments
You and your employer need to know your
level of preparation for the 2014
transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS. AHIMA
post-training assessments show where
you’re at. Earn four CEUs.
Post-training assessments are available for
ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and
ICD-10-CM/PCS.
New From AHIMA Press
ICD-10-PCS Code Book, 2014 Draft
ICD-10-CM Code Book, 2014 Draft
AHIMA’s Countdown to ICD-10-CM/PCS
2014 Calendar App
AHIMA’s Countdown to ICD-10-CM/PCS
2014 Calendar
Basic Current Procedural Terminology/
HCPCS Coding, 2014 Edition
Basic Current Procedural Terminology and
HCPCS Coding Exercises, Third Edition
AHIMA Members—Save with Wirefly
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today. Learn more.
Back by Popular Demand: AHIMA
Virtual Career Fair March 25
A recent article in Becker’s Hospital Review
cited Bureau of Labor Statistics that jobs
for medical records and health information
technicians are expected to grow 21 percent
between 2010 and 2020, with 37,700 jobs
projected to be added during the decade. It’s
a great time to be looking for a job in HIM.
By popular demand, AHIMA is hosting
an online Career Assist Virtual Career
Fair, March 25, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. You’ll
have the opportunity to meet with large,
small, regional, and national employers
during this online event. It’s a great way
for you to engage directly with employers
about their current and future HIM career
opportunities. It’s free and easy to register.
See page 9 for more details on the event.
AHIMA’s iShare Member
Referral Program
Support the growth of our association and
industry by encouraging your colleagues to
join AHIMA. Enter AHIMA’s 2014 iShare
Contest by encouraging others to join
AHIMA and having them provide your
name or e-mail address on their online
membership application. Each year we hold
a raffle to award three participants with
AMEX gift cards. If your name is drawn,
you'll win a great prize. The first place
winner wins a $1,000 AMEX gift card, the
second place winner gets a $500 AMEX
gift card and the third place winner gets a
$250 AMEX gift card. The 2013 winners
are Beverlee Jackson, RHIT, in first place,
William Limp, RHIT, CHTS-TR, in second
place, and Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P,
in third. There is no limit to the number
of people you refer. The more referrals you
have, the more likely you are to win. v
In Memoriam
Peggy Starks, RHIA, MA, of Richardson, TX, died in December. A
long-time medical records administrator, she also served on the board of
directors for the Texas Medical Association.
s
AHIMA AT WORK FOR YOU
March 22—23
Certified Health Data Analyst
(CHDA) Exam Prep Workshop
New Orleans, LA
March 25
Understanding Encephalopathy
March 26—28
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10-CM/
PCS: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
Orlando, FL
March 27
Business Associate Agreements:
The Basics
April 2—4
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10-CM/
PCS: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
Indianapolis, IN
April 3
The Five Most Dangerous
HIE Practices
April 9—11
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10-CM/
PCS: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
Los Angeles, CA
April 22—23
AHIMA ICD-10/CAC Summit
Washington, DC
April 22
The Anatomy of a
Preventable Breach
May 14—16
AHIMA Academy for ICD-10-CM/
PCS: Building Expert Trainers in
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
Columbus, OH
June 6—7
Clinical Coding Community
Meeting/East Coast
New Orleans, LA
Arleen Rios, RHIT, CCS, of Pico Rivera, CA, has died. She was a coder
at Fountain Valley Regional Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.
A HIM A ADVANTAGE
7
s
AHIMA FOUNDATION
AHIMA Foundation Welcomes 2014 Chairs, Volunteer Leaders
The AHIMA Foundation welcomes the 2014 Chair and new
members of the Board of Directors.
Warren Jones, MD, FAAFP, is the 2014 Chair of the Foundation
Board Directors. Jones is a family physician and retired Captain
in the US Navy and currently the director of Healthcare Quality
and Disparities for Provider Resources, Inc.
And ex-officio member of the Board, Council of Excellence in
Education (CEE) 2014 Chair Ellen Shakespeare, MBA, RHIA,
FAHIMA, serves as the academic director for Health Information
Management Program in the City University of New York’s
(CUNY) School of Professional Studies.
Paula Lawlor, RHIA, serves as the vice president of Hospital
Operations/Revenue Cycle Operations for Conifer Health
Solutions. Lawlor has more than 30 years experience in
healthcare executive leadership.
New Council Members for 2014
Susan H. Fenton, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA, is assistant professor at
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School
of Biomedical Informatics where she teaches the legal aspects of
health information and standards.
Pamela Rollins, RHIA, is the director health information
Management at University of Florida Health Shands, Gainesville,
FL. Rollins has been in the HIM profession for 29 years, with
broad experience in electronic health records.
M. Beth Shanholtzer, RHIA, MAED, is the HIM program
director at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA,
where a new associate degree HIM program is being launched in
the fall semester.
Katherine D. Seelman, PhD, is associate dean of Disability
Programs and professor of Rehabilitation Science and
Technology at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science,
University of Pittsburg.
Julie A. Shay, RHIA, is the HIT program director for Santa Fe
College, as well as the co-director for Health IT Workforce
Program, co-director for Community health IT.
Carolyn R. Valo MS, RHIT, FAHIMA, is a senior specialist with
Siemens Medical Solutions. Valo has worked as a Director in a
variety of healthcare settings.
Please visit the AHIMA Foundation website for more
information on the Foundation’s new volunteers. v
AHIMA Foundation Acknowledges Memorial Gifts
The following memorial gifts were made to the AHIMA Foundation between November 4, 2013, and January 7, 2014.
In Memory of Carolyn Althoff, RHIT
Virginia E. Evans, MBA, RHIA
Colleen A. Goethals, MS, RHIA,
FAHIMA
Chrisann K. Lemery, MS, RHIA,
FAHIMA
In Memory of Julie P. Burton, RHIA
Sarah Brooks, MPA, RHIA
In Memory of Linda H. Culp, RHIA
Joann H. Ferguson
In Memory of Kathleen Frawley, JD,
MS, RHIA, FAHIMA
Virginia E. Evans, MBA, RHIA
Jennifer H. Garvin, PhD, RHIA, CPHQ,
CCS, FAHIMA
Georgia Health Information
Management Association
Colleen A. Goethals, MS, RHIA,
FAHIMA
Cheryl V. Homan, MBA, RHIA
Just Associates, Inc.
8
Aileen J. Kucera, RHIA
Chrisann K. Lemery, MS, RHIA,
FAHIMA
Maryland Health Information
Management Association
Dana C. McWay, JD, RHIA
Northern Colorado Health Information
Management Association
Valerie S. Prater, MBA, RHIT
Charles Stewart and Margaret M.
Stewart, RHIA
Julia Wixtrom
In Memory of Virginia Mott, RHIT
Michigan Health Information
Management Association
In Memory of Viola Griffin, CPHQ
Colorado Health Information
Management Association
In Memory of Winifred
Madonna Welsh
Georgia Health Information
Management Association
In Memory of Charlotte A. Lefert,
RHIA
Michelle L. Dougherty, MA, RHIA,
CHP
In Memory of Vickie Rogers, RHIA,
FAHIMA
Mark S. Dietz, RHIA
In Memory of Geraldine Smothers,
MPA, RHIA, CPHQ, CSL, FAHIMA
Vera Rulon, MS, RHIT, FAHIMA
In Memory of Peggy Starks, RHIA
Carol A. Lewis, MPH, RHIA
To make a donation please visit the
AHIMA Foundation website. v
In Memory of Margaret Lloyd
Barbara P. Fuller, JD, RHIA, FAHIMA
A H IM A ADVANTAG E
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STUDENT MEMBER UPDATE
Second Virtual Career Fair Planned for March
AHIMA is excited to announce that we will be hosting a second
Career Assist Virtual Career Fair on March 25 from 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
ET. This is a must-attend event for HIM professionals looking for
new career opportunities or paths to career advancement. This
is also a great opportunity for students to review open position
descriptions and job requirements. Students looking to begin
their careers are encouraged to attend as well. There will be many
opportunities to connect with employers who are interested hiring
the best candidates—our AHIMA members.
Premier Virtual Career Fair a Huge Success
In August, AHIMA hosted their first ever HIM Virtual Career Fair
with the AHIMA Career Assist Job Bank team, JobTarget. With
roughly 567 candidates and 82 recruiters in attendance, it was
JobTarget’s largest virtual career fair to date. Employers such as
AVA Assistance, Health Information Associates, Amphion Medical
Solutions, Norton Healthcare, MRA, Park Nicollet, EideBailly,
Streamline Health, Ministry Health Care, and UC Health were in
attendance.
The event was even extended an extra 30 minutes to ensure that
job seekers waiting in line to speak with recruiters would get that
chance. In all, we received great feedback from the event:
“Not intimidating, unlike an actual face-to-face interview!”
“Outstanding event! So grateful for it.”
“Definitely should not be the last.”
Virtual Career Fairs have begun to grow in popularity, due largely
to their convenience. There is no need to find childcare or figure
out transportation—everything can be done from your home
computer. Once the event has begun, you will have the ability to
“chat” one-on-one with employers and recruiters. It’s important
to still be prepared by visiting the recruiters virtual “booths” and
reviewing the jobs they have posted. This can be done in the days
leading up to the event.
A HIM A ADVANTAGE
How to Prepare for a Virtual Career Fair
You’ll want to treat this as if you are having an in-person
interview. Prepping and updating your resume, researching the
companies that you’re interested in speaking with, and taking
notes are all excellent ways to make sure you’re ready for prepared.
You may not have a lot of time to chat with each recruiter, so it’s
important to be ready to share your background and experiences
as it relates to the company and job position.
One of the benefits of the Career Assist Virtual Career Fair is
that you can review your discussion with a recruiter or employer,
even after you’ve finished chatting. The transcript is available for
up to a month after the event if you’d like to review and print the
conversation. There is also an area to take notes, which can also be
reviewed and printed for your records.
Registration is now open for the March 25 Career Assist Virtual
Career Fair. Click here to register. If you have any questions about
registration or the event in general, contact Jessica Heraty. If you
are an employer interested in participating in this event, register
here. Don’t miss out.
Additional Resources for Job Seekers
If you are unable to attend this event, there are other options for
job seekers. AHIMA’s online job bank, Career Assist, is available
for job seekers and employers at any time. As an AHIMA member,
you can get access to new job postings 24 hours before anyone
else. Also through Career Assist you can get access to tons of
career resources in the content library as well as access to the “Ask
an Expert” feature.
Also, be sure to utilize your CSA membership. Many have their
own job boards or own job fairs, so visit their website to see what
they may have to offer. We’re hopeful for another big turnout from
employers and job seekers alike. Hope to see you there. v
9
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AHIMA’S ONLINE LIFE
AHIMA Engage Online Communities is a Success
Since its September 2013 launch, AHIMA’s Engage Online
Communities has become an ongoing HIM summit for
members and nonmembers alike. Engage connects peers
across the globe, providing a forum to discuss hot topics,
share documents and best practices, network, learn, teach, and
more. With several public HIM and multiple members-only
communities, there’s always something happening on Engage.
Engage Online Communities Contest Winners
AHIMA held two contests in November for Engage users,
including a scavenger hunt and one awarding the site’s most
active facilitators. The winners, listed below, each won a $25
Starbucks gift card. We congratulate these members, and thank
them for their ongoing support.
Most Active Engage Facilitators
n L
indsey Asmus, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
n J
ulie Huwe, RHIA, CCS
n S
eth Katz, MPH, RHIA
n A
nn Nowlin, RHIT
n M
adeline Perrett
Scavenger Hunt Contest Winners
n B
unnie J. Cobb, RHIA, CHDA, CCS
n G
ina Humble
n T
ina Lewis
n K
rista Lilly, RHIA, CCS, CPAR, CHAA
n C
ourtney Vehling, MBA, MHA, RHIA
n C
indy Wilson
AHIMA Mentor Program Comes to Engage
AHIMA has integrated its celebrated mentor program with
Engage. The process for matching mentors and mentees has
never been easier. Complete your Engage profile, and then
enroll as a mentor or mentee. Mentors share their professional
advice and experience with students, new graduates, and
transitioning professionals. Engage’s superior programming
ensures better match-ups as well.
Have You Visited Engage Yet?
AHIMA’s Engage Online Communities contain strategically
aligned content on multiple forums focused on areas of
importance to HIM professionals. Log in today. Get more
answers to common questions about Engage in the Help
section FAQs or video tutorials.
10
AHIMA’s First Twitter Chat a Success
AHIMA hosted its first Twitter chat on December 5,
2013, under the #PatientPower hash tag. Attended by 94
participants, the event generated more than 500 tweets,
creating 877,283 impressions on Twitter followers throughout
the course of the day. Participants from all walks of HIM
offered their expertise and opinions, answering the questions:
“What is #PatientPower? How do you prepare for healthcare
appointments? What questions do you ask?” and others. A few
highlights of the chat are below; click here for a full transcript
of the conversation.
@Lynne_T_Gordon #PatientPower My MD has a patient
portal and sends me notification of my results. This helps me
prepare for visits – Love it!
@Shakescn #PatientPower I like being able to schedule lab
appointments and receive my results on my smart phone!
@Pattytsheridan @Shakescn WOW! Pretty soon we can
have virtual doctors visits via our smartphones and tablets.
#PatientPower
@Trans_Etc Do you have a personal patient advocate?
Someone to help ask questions and share changes. Identify
that person NOW. #PatientPower #TransEtc
@zweenahealth Q2: We prefer a personal health record
(#PHR) compared to a #EMR so we can own our health
across providers @AHIMAResources #PatientPower
@ProsserKristina I use a scanner app scanning my
prescription docs to my phone w/ & this helps reconcile Meds
for later appt @Lynne_T-Gordon #PatientPower
@19BER54 @AHIMAResources @ReginaHolliday Viewing
in electronic form is how your Dr. views the record. Paper
copies could change format. #PatientPower
@ReginaHolliday @AHIMAResources If your hospital took
Meaningful Use incentive $ they must give you access within
4 days of request. #PatientPower
@Pattytsheridan: @AHIMAResources All patients have a
right to a copy of their records. All should exercise this right.
#PatientPower
@SolbergCJ #PatientPower study done on use of EHR/PHR
showed age 40 to 59 highest users – 41.8%
Due to the success of this event, AHIMA plans to host future
Twitter chats covering other HIM topics. The next Twitter chat
will take place on February 20 at noon central. The subject
with be information governance and the hashtag will be
#IGNow. Until then, continue the conversation by using the
#PatientPower hashtag in your own tweets. v
A H IM A ADVANTAG E
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CERTIFICATION UPDATE
Strong Growth Anticipated in Clinical
Documentation Improvement Profession
Did you know that according to a recent report, in less than
12 months, more than 80 percent of all healthcare providers are
expected to implement a clinical documentation improvement
(CDI) program? And during a four-year span, CDI specialist job
postings increased by more than 200 percent.
As healthcare reform and technology further define the role
and work expectations of the health information management
professional, the need for CDI specialists is likely to expand. It’s
anticipated that the primary job opportunities will come from
large hospitals; however, data also suggest that CDI specialists will
be in demand for medium hospitals, and even in critical access
care facilities. According to Candace L. Whited, RHIT, CCS,
CDIP, “with ICD-10 coding on the horizon, the documentation
in the charts will be more important than ever.”
AHIMA offers complimentary CDI resources, including tool kits,
articles, and practice briefs, to support the advancement of CDI
programs and enhance professionals’ CDI skill set. In addition,
learn about AHIMA’s Certified Documentation Improvement
Practitioner (CDIP) credential, eligibility requirements, and exam
prep resources.
Is It Time For You to Consider The CDIP?
Accurate documentation is critical to ensuring quality patient
care, and the use of EHRs has changed the way documentation
is captured. These dynamics, along with healthcare reform, have
increased the demand for qualified professionals to perform
clinical documentation. Are you ready to take advantage of these
opportunities?
To help position healthcare professionals to meet the needs of the
healthcare industry, AHIMA offers the CDIP credential. Earning
the CDIP can help guide efforts in ensuring health information is
accurate and compliant, and quality healthcare is delivered.
Upcoming Certification Exam Prep Workshops
in New Orleans, LA
Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)
Exam Prep Workshop March 20–21
Certified in Healthcare Privacy & Security (CHPS) Exam Prep
Workshop March 20–22
Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) Exam Prep Workshop
March 22–23
ICD-10 CEU Reminder
CCHIIM’s recertification policy for ICD-10-CM/PCS is designed
to help prepare for the ICD-10 implementation, and applies to
AHIMA credential(s) as follows:
HPS—1 CEU
CS-P—12 CEUs
n C
n C
HDA—6 CEUs
DIP—12 CEUs
n C
n C
HIT—6 CEUs
CS—18 CEUs
n R
n C
HIA—6 CEUs
CA—18 CEUs
n R
n C
Continuing education units can be recorded via the online CEU
Center in the ICD-10 domain. These CEUS apply to ICD-10
recertification requirements; however, CEUs reported in other
domains cannot be applied toward this requirement. Learn more.
CCHIIM ICD-10 Exam Launch Timeline
CA—March 31
HIT—April 28
n C
n R
n
n
DIP—July 14
CCS—April 7
C
CS-P—April 14
HDA, CHPS—2015
n C
n C
n
RHIA—April 21
Ensure that your CEU reporting is compliant by reviewing the
Recertification Timeline. Visit the AHIMA CEU center to
report CEUs.
Certification Exam Prep Online Community
AHIMA’s Online Engage Exam Prep Community is designed to
help professionals prepare for AHIMA certification exams. If you
are considering an AHIMA certification, are currently studying
for an exam, or would like to offer guidance and share your
experiences with those preparing for an exam, consider joining
the Certification Exam Prep community.
Early Testing Available for RHIA, RHIT
Early testing for the RHIA and RHIT credentials offers candidates
a significant advantage immediately upon graduation and could
make the difference in landing a job. Candidates can sit for
the exam near the completion of their education, enabling the
candidate to test when best prepared. Find more information
about eligibility and the advantages of early testing here. v
A HIM A ADVANTAGE
11
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REAL WORLD
2013 AHIMA Triumph Award Winners Honored
The 2013 Triumph Award
winners were honored at the
2013 AHIMA Convention.
Since their inception in 1994, the AHIMA Triumph Awards have honored those professionals responsible for advancing the
HIM field. Each year, AHIMA members nominate those that have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, volunteerism and
talent. As part of a long and cherished tradition, the Triumph Awards continue to be the highest recognition of excellence,
dedication and service, and are presented annually at the AHIMA Convention & Exhibit.
Read more about the descriptions, qualifications, and the guidelines for Triumph Award nominations here. You can also review
the list of the 2013 and past recipients, as well as the categories and nominations form.
Distinguished Member Speaks Out
The Distinguished Member Award celebrates an individual with a long, exceptional history of HIM contributions. It is awarded
to an outstanding member whose record of contributions to the field over many years is truly exceptional. Melanie S. Brodnik,
PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA, 2013 AHIMA Distinguished Member, shares her thoughts about achieving the award.
“Receiving the Distinguished Member Award was such an honor and wonderful experience. To be recognized by one’s peers is
truly an honor and I feel so humble to be included in the ranks of those who have received this award before me. It was also an
honor to share the awards ceremony with the other Triumph Award winners. For me, the Distinguished Member Award belongs
to my many colleagues, family and friends who have been there for me throughout my career. My accomplishments, and thus this
award, would not have been possible without their collaboration, direction and support; something I will always be thankful for,”
says Brodnik.
Don’t miss out in 2014. AHIMA is seeking your help to ensure that worthy individuals are recognized. These awards honor the
excellence, dedication, and service of those professionals whose steadfast efforts have bettered the HIM field.
Learn more and view the online nomination form here. The 2014 nomination deadline is June 2. If you have any questions,
please contact Marilyn Render. The 2014 AHIMA Triumph Awards will be presented at AHIMA’s 2014 Annual Convention
and Exhibit in San Diego, CA. v
AHIMA Advantage
is Now Mobile!
Download the AHIMA Advantage mobile app
to your Apple or Android device and read the
newsletter on the go at your convenience.
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A H I M A
A DVA N TAG E
A H IM A ADVANTAG E