This page allows our State Delegate and MHIMA Advocate Rita Montague to provide 24hr updates to our membership. We are aware that members can't always make it to seminars and that our Delegates cannot attend every meeting. Therefore, SEMHIMA is proud to offer this direct connection between our members and their Delegates. If you would like to ask Rita a question or provide feedback on a topic please reply to a thread below or you can contact Rita at RMONTAG1@hfhs.org Hello Everyone- I am thrilled to be able to represent the many Southeastern Michigan Health Information members. As you know, SEMHIMA is the largest local HIM association in the state. I will be updating this Delegate corner from time to time, especially after attending the House of Delegates Convention in October as well as after attending the MHIMA board meetings throughout the next two years. Please do contact me with any questions/comments. Some of the current ‘hot’ topics include: AHIMA Strategic Directions, Environmental Scanning, RHIOs (Regional Health Information Organizations) and the Consumer Education Campaign (see below). Thank you – Rita Montague, RHIT Proposed Credential in “Health Data Analytics” There is consideration currently underway of a new credential intended to recognize and distinguish individuals who analyze and interpret health data as a primary responsibility. Because this function applies to the entire spectrum of care delivery and non-provider settings, this certification will be designed to incorporate competencies that are transferable and relevant to multiple job settings as well as to validate mastery skills as opposed to minimum competence. This is similar in type to the CHPS (Certification in Healthcare Privacy and Security). Last year at the HOD (House of Delegates) meeting in Philadelphia, input was requested on the subject of developing additional credentials, specifically on a specialty credential in health data analytics. Since Philadelphia, AHIMA’s COC (Council on Certification) has determined initial eligibility criteria and has formulated a program description. A job analysis study was performed. This study is always a critical component to exam development because it defines the scope of practice and the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competence. This particular certification program will be designed to draw from a wide variety of settings. It will also be designed to focus on a skill set - analyzing and interpreting data - that can be applied to a variety of subjects such as claims data, clinical quality data and financial data. Initial eligibility criteria established was that the individual must have a Baccalaureate degree (non-HIM) as well as work related experience. In regards to the exam development time frame, planning and data collection is expected to continue through July with an exam blueprint in August. The exam blueprint defines the competency areas, the proportion of questions in each area, and the number of items on the exam. It is yet undecided when motion for this new credential will be brought before the delegates for a vote. It will either be late summer or in the fall at the annual HOD meeting in October. Your input is needed now to assist Michigan delegates on how to vote with this proposal. You are urged to visit the COPs (Communities of Practice) on the AHIMA web site to learn more as well as to glean others opinions which may help you in making an informed decision. Submitted by- Rita Montague, RHIT, CTR 2008 HOD Summer Team Talks Summary Volunteer and Leadership Development HOD Team AHIMA Summer Team Talks July 18, 2008 Summer Team Talks is a one-day interactive, educational conference held each year in July. This Chicago conference brings AHIMA leadership along with state delegates from across the country and Puerto Rico together to discuss current as well as future AHIMA activities and strategies. This year’s Team Talks brought an added bonus – meeting other HOD (House of Delegate) team members face-to-face. The HOD Team Assignments is a brand new 2008 initiative. There are six HOD teams. In Michigan, we are fortunate to have a representative on each of the following teams: HOD Operations HIM Higher Education & Workforce Environmental Scanning Professional Development and Recognition Best Practices & Standards Volunteer and Leadership Development. As MIHMA delegates, we were asked to choose to serve on one of the above teams. I chose to be a member of the Volunteer and Leadership Development team. Volunteering is something that has always been near and dear to my heart. Since graduating from the HIM program, I have been an active volunteer and have found the networking benefits to be phenomenal. During our lunch break, rather than sit with our own state leaders as we normally would, we met and mingled with like team members from around the country. We discussed ways in which we believe may help to develop volunteers as well as future leaders. Following is a sampling of ideas tossed around: • Bringing the HIM message to high school juniors and seniors. These students are the future of HIM. • Public Relations – promote, promote and promote our profession! ‘AHIMA Goes Hollywood’ was brought up again, as in the past. Many feel that we need to bring the HIM profession to the screen, television and movie screens alike. • We noted interesting variances among states in regards to volunteers. A few states have an abundance of volunteers whereas other states are struggling to fill ballots. Why? • One of the states represented at our table reimburses HIM graduates who sit for the RHIT/RHIA exam. Where do they obtain the required funding? We will surely discuss this interesting concept in the future. • All agreed that many new HIM graduates are failing to obtain their HIM credentials by not taking the RHIT/RHIA exam after graduation. A possible solution – return to annual or semi-annual exams to encourage more to acquire that all important credential. If interested in volunteering at the local or state level, please contact me and I will be happy to assist. If interested in volunteering at the national level, AHIMA has developed a new, convenient way to volunteer for the association. It is an online Application to Serve. The application can be found at: http://www.ahima.org/directory/vsapptoserve.asp. One last thought, getting involved in your professional association provides benefits for both you and your profession. Rita Montague, RHIT, CTR MHIMA Delegate Review of the 2007 Annual MHIMA Meeting -Kalamazoo, Michigan This year’s theme, ‘Lifelong Learning: Our Key to the Future’. Monday started with the Keynote Address given by Debra Dunbar Nelson. Ms. Nelson’s presentation was entitled.” The Fish! Philosophy: A Manager’s Guide’ which included a short video of the famous Pike’s Fish Market in Seattle. If you’ve never heard of Pike’s, you may want to check it out on the web. It is certainly not your typical fish market in that the employees have fun throughout the day while continually working. Pike’s Fish Market is second only to the Seattle Space Needle for the city’s top tourist attractions. Ms. Nelson spoke of how we can try to incorporate a similar environment for our work places by having some fun while we work as well. Next was the MHIMA business meeting along with instillation of the new board members. Later in the morning, Jill Callahan Dennis, past AHIMA president gave a brief AHIMA update. Attendees then joined the 54 vendors in the exhibit hall for lunch. Afternoon sessions included presentations on: Commission on Certification for Health Information Technology (CCHIT), Document Imaging, and how the US Government Identifies and Creates the case for Fraudulent Health Care Activity. The day ended with the President’s Reception honoring the outgoing president Denise Holstege, RHIT, CCS. Tuesday morning’s first speaker was Amy Dixon with her extremely interesting presentation entitled, ‘Crucial Conversations’. It was a ‘mini’presentation as compared to the usual two day, sixteen hour session she normally presents. Crucial conversations are those times when you face situations with strong emotions and differing opinions. Ms. Dixon shared helpful pointers for these types of discussions. Sally Rynberg was up next sharing helpful hints we can all use when surfing the web. Other morning presentations included: Sending Records to the Michigan Disability Determination Service Electronically, UB04, Revenue Cycle, and Impact to HIM Staff. Amy Dixon presented again, this time with ‘Ready, Set, Grow’ talking about career paths and setting goals. Lunch was once again with the vendors followed by announcement of the winners of many fabulous prizes. Afternoon sessions included a lecture on the Michigan Health Information Network and Alternative Careers in Healthcare including Trauma Registry, Biostatistics and Ambulance Billing. Tuesday’s final sessions were EMR and HIM Disaster Recovery, as well as Measuring Quality in Medical Transcription. Wednesday morning’s general session was Coding 101:Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Anita Hazelwood. Ms. Hazelwood was unable to attend due to a flight delay but was able to phone in her entire presentation and hand-outs were available for attendees. Next on Wednesday’s agenda was Laurine Johnson lecturing on Making the Severity Adjustment. The final day’s Awards Luncheon honored Marsha Allen, RHIA as the 2007 Distinguished Member. Ms. Allen is the MHIMA Central Office Coordinator. The Yvonne Harbert Student Achievement Award was presented to Mary Jo Brough of Schoolcraft College. The Michigan Medical Record Charities Scholarship Award was presented to Dawn Wisusik also with Schoolcraft College. Congratulations to all! Next up was Dr. Jim Grant speaking on the life of a CPT code from inception to the CPT manual. The last speaker of the conference was Gwen Blackford lecturing on Implementing a Successful Clinical Documentation Improvement Program. If you were unable to make this year’s meeting, please plan on attending the 2008 Annual Conference May 19-21 at Mission Point Resort on lovely Mackinac Island. Rita Montague, RHIT, CTR MHIMA Delegate