TxHIMA ROUND-UP

Convention Issue - AHIMA 2008, Seattle, WA

Contents

  1. Sunday - October 12, 2008 - House of Delegates
  2. Monday, October 13, 2008 - General Sessions
  3. Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - General Sessions
  4. Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - General Sessions
  5. Exhibit Hall Review
  6. News From the Past
  7. District News - Concho Valley
  8. District News - Houston Area
  9. Volunteer Today!
  10. myPHR

Sunday - October 12, 2008 - House of Delegates

Reported by Gwen Duffie, MBA, RHIA (President)

The Texas Delegates participated in work teams. This year members were divided into new work teams for more focused discussions. The new teams are operations, higher education and work force, environmental scan, professional development/recognition, volunteer and leadership development, and best practices/ standards. As stated by Wendy Mangin, AHIMA president, these new teams are a way of modernizing the way the HOD works and “a better way to get to know our colleagues.”

The Texas Delegates participated in 6 Action Forums:

#1 Certification Proposals:

- Proposed Credential in Health Data Analytics

- Proposed Bylaws Amendments on Certification Governance/ 3rd Party Accreditation

#2 HIM Practice Issues:

- Proposed Privacy and Security Resolution

- Code of Ethics Self Assessment

#3 Promoting Education Initiatives:

- Clinical Practice Sites

- Transitional Practitioners to Educators

#4 AHIMA and Future Forces: A Strategic Discussion

#5 Multi-national

#6 ICD-10

A total of 222 delegates from 52 were registered and credentialed for the HOD vote.

Action Items presented for vote.

#1 Proposed Credential in Health Data Analytics – Approved

The motion was proposed by the Council on Certification (CoC) as a way to recognize and advance those professionals doing this important work, increase the size of an AHIMA-certified HIM work force and further engages new members at a professional level. The proposed standards for certification included eligibility requirements of a baccalaureate degree or higher and a minimum of five years’ healthcare data experience or an RHIA credential and one year of healthcare data experience. A proviso to modify the requirement for eligibility was not approved. Exams for the Certified in Health Data Analytics (CHDA) designation will be available in December 2008.

#2 Proposed Bylaws Amendments on Certification Governance/ 3rd Party Accreditation – Approved

This motion was proposed by CoC, included amendments to the AHIMA bylaws that would allow the council to pursue accreditation as a certifying body by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Such accreditations would strengthen differentiation for AHIMA certifications in an increasingly crowded market. Both the NCCA and ANSI require the standards for initial certification and certification maintenance to be under the full authority of the CoC. The bylaw changes explicitly transfer the authority over elements of certification from the HOD to the council. In additional, the bylaw changes ensure the autonomy of the CoC by changing its composition. AHIMA would have the right to appoint up to 40% of the council while the other 60% would be composed of individuals representing other stakeholder groups including credential professionals, employers, and the general public.

#3 Proposed Privacy and Security Resolution – Approved and Adopted

The privacy and security resolution was submitted by the Missouri Health Information management Association. The resolution asks that AHIMA members call on healthcare organizations to educate users of health information about the need for improved and consistent information privacy and security; that HIM professionals are on the forefront of education about auditing and monitoring access to health information; and that AHIMA endorse consistent healthcare policies and standards when a breach does occur. An amendment modifying the third “resolved” clause of the resolution was approved.



Monday, October 13, 2008 - General Sessions

Reviewed by, Carol F. Smith, MBA, RHIA (President-Elect)

1. Genetic Medicine - Key Points:

- Genetics could provide the insight needed for more personalized medicine

- Linda Avery talked about how she has hopes that her company can develop a means by which electronic and personal health records can coexist to change a patient’s healthcare for the better.

- The tools provide for an individual to understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis and web-based interactive tools.

- Alan Guttmacher, MD, acting Director, National Human Genome Research Institute talked about a means of combining ones genetic information, environmental and behavioral factors to determine the effect on health and disease: “Genes don’t exist to cause disease, they exist to cause health”.

- Wylie Burke, MD, PhD, University of Washington offered perspectives on how genetic information is used and consideration related to ethics and policy issues. He noted that healthcare professionals have a responsibility to cause no harm.

2. Benchmarking Transcription - Key Points:

- Turnaround time benchmarks are critical to the overall evaluation of transcription quality.

- AHIMA/MTIA Joint Task Force has researched the topic to help physicians and healthcare organizations better manage workflow.

- Task Force Findings: average turnaround times:

Radiology Reports – 4 hours

History & Physical, Operative Reports, Inpatient Progress Note Reports – 8 hours

Consultation Reports – 12 hours

Discharge Summaries – 24 hours

- Dictation and transcription will continue to be a significant data source for the EMR.



3. Data Integrity in IT Systems - Key Points:

- HIM professionals can take a leadership role in creating data integrity programs within their organizations.

- It is common that IT systems corrupt data; HL7 and other messages are transmitted among many disparate systems; the potential for errors explode exponentially with increasing database size, technology, and standards.

- The prospect for patient identification errors erode trust and increase patient safety issues.

- It was stressed that HIM professionals should set up a data integrity program that identifies high-risk areas, educating staff and hiring the right expertise. Attention to detail is the hallmark of the HIM professional and we are called to action.





Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - General Sessions

Reported by Terri Frnka, RHIT (Education Director)

1. Tuesday at the AHIMA BOOTH:

- Getting the most out of your AHIMA membership

- Action Community for E-HIM Excellence (ACE) overview

- Communities of Practice (CoP) facilitator training

- Personal Health Record

- Communities of Practice (CoP) basics

- Searching the FORE Body of Knowledge (BoK)

- Virtual Lab demonstration

2. Student Poster Winners:

- Graduate winner – Lauree Handlon, MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC-H, “Relationship of Financial Condition of a Healthcare Organization and Error Rate of Missed Coding/Billing of Select Outpatient Services”

- Undergraduate winner – Andrea Dahl, MS, RHIT, “Development of a Marketing Plan for Recruitment into Higher Education in Health Information Management in Utah”

3. AHIMA Salutes Coding Roundtable Starts:

- 1st place – Tedi Lojewski and Rosalind Richmond of Colorado

- 2nd place – Sheila Bowlds, Michigan

4. AHIMA CSA Recognition for Coding Leadership:

- 1st place – Michigan HIMA: Nancy Walker, President

- 2nd place – Colorado HIMA: Diane Bauerle, President

5. AHIMA CSA Team Recognition for Coding Roundtable Activities:

- 1st place – Sheila Bowlds and the Michigan HIMA

- 2nd place – Tedi Lejewski and Rosalind Richmond and the Colorado HIMA

6. Joint Commission Update – Kathleen Catalano, JD, RN:

- Top Standards Compliance Issues for 2007 and 1st Quarter 2008 – Hospitals

- Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008: Allows the JC to contract with CMS to perform compliance activities

- Accredited hospital will NOT lose their deemed status

- The JC will apply for deeming authority and is confident it will be received from CMS

- As part of the transition – organization’s are initially subject to an unannounced full survey in the year their next survey is due

- Priority Focus Process (PFP) Output

PFP uses an automated tool that take available data from a variety of sources

- Priority Focus Areas (PFAs)

Assessment and Care Services



Organizational Structure



Communication

Orientation and Training

Credentialed Practitioners

Rights and Ethics

Equipment Use

Physical Environment

Infection Control

Quality Improvement



Information Management



Patient Safety



Medication Management

Staffing



- Standards Improvement Initiative (SII) Began October 2006

Response to customer needs and concerns

All standards reviewed and improved

- Five new chapters for hospitals

Emergency Management

Life Safety

Record of Care, Treatment and Services

Transplant Safety

Waived Testing

One new chapter for Home Care

- New Standards Numbering System

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - General Sessions

Reported by Curtis Rojas, MSHP, RHIA (Conventions Director)

1. PHR Expert Panel – Perspectives from the Field Panel Discussion

- Don Mon moderated an in-depth discussion of issues surrounding personal health records.

- Dr. Ed Wagner of The Center for Health Studies Group Health Cooperative and Grad Conn of Microsoft gave their input on the current uses of PHR’s by individuals and healthcare organizations, including the success of the VHA’s PHR tool, MyHealtheVet.

2. Incoming Presidential Address and Board of Director Awards

- Wendy Mangin recognized the outgoing board members and introduced the incoming board members for 2009.

- Wendy Mangin introduced the AHIMA incoming president, Vera Rulon and she delivered her enthusiastic Presidential Address

3. Keynote Address – Breaking Cycles

- Christopher Gardner told his inspirational and emotional life story of how he overcame adversity, became a successful broker, and ultimately founded his own brokerage firm - all in light of being a single parent and homeless.

- He encouraged all to “Break the Cycle” by being responsible parents and never giving up.

- The address concluded with a standing ovation and a book signing that lasted over two hours.

Exhibit Hall Review

Reported by: Sabra Bozeman, RHIT (Public Relations Director)

Wow! What an exciting atmosphere. Vendors get this chance once a year to meet prospective HIM customers from many different places. Most of these companies are represented at the AHIMA show every year, so it’s a great time to renew acquaintances with people you’ve met before, maybe done business with at some time in your career, or they are your current service provider. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to be introduced to new products, new companies and new marketing representatives from your favorite companies.

There were prizes to be won, literature to be distributed and giveaways to bring home in your overstuffed suitcase. At least one company was making a donation to charity if you stopped at their booth and many used this venue to introduce new product offerings. There were product demonstrations, theater type presentations and celebrities to meet.

As the show came to a close, everyone began looking forward to the AHIMA 2009 convention in Grapevine, Texas. What exciting things might be in store for us then?

Start making your plans now to be in Grapevine for next year’s show.

News From the Past

- Nov/Dec.98 issue TxHIMA Journal

Reported in the 1998 AHIMA Convention held in New Orleans: reported by Lenore Whalen that Richard Clark, FHRHMA in his presentation The Balanced Budget Act of 1997—Now What stated that HCFA stands for “Here Comes Further Aggravation.” Mr. Clark further stated that PPS stood for “Preposterous Payment System”. Larry Dunham represented TxHIMA as president and others reporting from the AHIMA annual meeting were Becky Squires, Diann Brown, and Lynn Marlow.

The TxHIMA website was introduced

- November 1988 Journal of TMRA

Gratitude and Appreciation was given to the Hospitality Core Committee for their efforts over the year for working on the IFHRO/AMRA Meeting that had just been held in Dallas. Serving on the committee were Redith Colonna, Chairman, Barbara Childs, Delores McDonald, Peggy Starks, Lenore Whalen and Joyce Wood.

Reported that agreements had been made with Texas Hospital Association and Dunhill Temporary Systems for lease space, services and staffing for the new Central Office. A special announcement was to be made at a later date once the office was set up and ready to serve the membership.

- December 1983 TMRAgram

From a report from the national meeting that had just been held in Minneapolis: Linda Kloss was announced as President-elect of AMRA a dues increase to $100 for RRA’s and $75 for ART’s was approved, and a by-law amendment which limited the number of delegates that can represent a state in the House of Delegates from 10 to 5. A resolution was also passed at the HOD on Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) with the Intent: To promulgate the expertise and contributions of medical record professionals in coordinating DRG activities.... and Be It Resolved that professionals in the medical record field, having primary responsibility for health care data systems, should assume an active leadership role in DRG coordination in this nation’ health care facilities.

District News - Concho Valley

New officers accepted their offices at a meeting held in San Angelo. Sue Biedermann, TxHIMA Past-President attended to provide a TxHIMA update.

District News - Houston Area

Each year HAHIMA awards scholarships to students pursuing a degree in HIM. To qualify for the scholarship, the applicants must:

* Be enrolled as a second year student in an accredited RHIT or RHIA program within District 9, or an accredited distance education RHIA/RHIT program (must reside in District 9), or an accredited distance education RHIA progression program (must reside in District 9);

* Have completed at least 9 hours of major coursework in the HIM program;

* Have a GPA at of least 2.4 or higher in major coursework; and

* Be a member of HAHIMA.

Each applicant completed an application, obtained a letter of recommendation from a non-faculty HIM professional, and wrote an essay. The recipients were announced at the December HAHIMA meeting, and are:

Regenia Allen, student at San Jacinto Community College

Rene Raasch, student at Wharton County Junior College

Jeanette Valencia, student at Lee College

Congratulations!

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