What’s happening with AHIMA and MHIMA? This page allows our State Delegate and MHIMA Advocate to provide continuos updates to our membership. We are aware that members cannot always make it to seminars and that our delegates cannot attend all of our Board meetings. Therefore, SEMHIMA is proud to offer this direct connection between our members and their Delegates. If you would like to ask our MHIMA Delegate/Advocate a question or provide feedback on a topic listed below, please visit the "Contact Us" page on our web site. Your questions or comments will be forwarded to the appropriate person. MHIMA Delegate Introduction Sandra Huyck, RHIT, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-H MHIMA Delegate, 2011-2013, Assigned to SEMHIMA Region Sandra is currently employed with Corporate Compliance at Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI as a Compliance Audit Specialist. She is also part-time Adjunct Faculty, HIT Program, Schoolcraft College, Garden City, MI. Sandra is an active supporter the Schoolcraft College HIT Club and HIT Program. Sandra’s educational background includes: Associates Degree, Allied Health, Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI (2004) Affiliations/Memberships include: AHIMA, MHIMA, SEMHIMA & AAPC * Approved ICD-10-CM & PCS Trainer Boards/Committees: MHIMA Delegate 2011-2013 MHIMA 2011 Nominating Committee MHIMA 2010 Annual Meeting Planning Committee MHIMA Speaker 2009 Evaluation & Management Services SEMHIMA Board Vice-President 2008-2009 SEMHIMA Nominating Committee 2003-2004 HIT Club Schoolcraft College Vice-President 2003-2004 Meetings Attended: AHIMA 2011 House of Delegate Meetings AHIMA 2011 Summer Team Talks AHIMA 2010 Summer Team Talks MHIMA 2010 Annual Meeting AMA/CPT 2010 Symposium SEMHIMA 2008-2011 Annual Meetings Message: As your 2011-2013 MHIMA/SEMHIMA House of Delegate representative, I encourage all members to become actively involved with AHIMA, our state and regional associations. Active participation and sharing of our perspective, insight and knowledge is the best way for us to keep others informed. Newsletters, publications, journals and meetings, also serve as an excellent means of communication; as does engaging others through the Communities of Practice (CoP) on the AHIMA website, through our state (MHIMA) and local (SEMHIMA) websites, and our college HIM program websites. Mentoring aspiring HIM professionals and HIM students, offering HIM internships, and promoting student participation in our association activities is another fabulous way for us all to promote involvement and the growth of our HIM profession. Volunteering for the various board positions and/or committees is another great way to support our state and local association initiatives, to network and to provide community service. United, we can 'soar higher, faster, stronger, together! The AHIMA 2011 House of Delegates (HOD) Business Meeting Update by: Sandra Huyck, MHIMA Delegate (2011-2013) Assigned to SEMHIMA Regional Association Fifty-one (51) states were present at the 2011 AHIMA House of Delegates (HOD) Business Meeting that was held in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday, Oct. 2nd, (8AM – 5PM). A briefing on the HOD Business Meeting Agenda & Rules of Order was held for all Delegates on Saturday, Oct. 1st, followed by the House Team Sessions, and a Volunteer Reception. Each of the six (6) House Teams met briefly to review the charges set forth for them by the AHIMA Board of Directors for the 2011-2012 term, and to foster ideas on how each state may improve student involvement, and engage other HIM professionals to volunteer and actively participate in their local and state associations. Five delegates; Karen Cole, Chris McCann, Sheila Bowlds, Sandra Huyck, and Katherine Kremer, and the Central Office Coordinator; Marsha Allen, represented the state of Michigan. Each delegate and the Central Office Coordinator were assigned to one of the six House of Delegate (HOD) teams. Karen Cole, RHIT, CCS-P HIM Higher Education & Workforce Chris McCann, MPA, RHIA HOD Operations Sheila Bowlds, MBA, RHIA Best Practices/Standards Sandra Huyck, RHIT, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-H Volunteer & Leadership Development Katherine Kremer, BA, RHIT Professional Development & Recognition Marsha Allen, RHIA Environmental Scan In the Saturday House Team Meeting, the Volunteer & Leadership Development Team was charged with: 1. Fostering diversity and inclusion; 2. Increasing the number of volunteers involved in leadership activities; 3. Increasing nominations for the AHIMA & CSA ballots; 4. Increasing voter turnout for AHIMA and CSA elections; 5. Supporting the e-HIM Excellence & Fellowship Programs; 6. Embracing leadership initiatives; and 7. Development of tools and recommended actions The Volunteer & Leadership Development Team discussion focused on how, we as HIM members, could promote our profession, encourage student engagement, and how our state and regional associations could assist us by working together to promote student involvement and participation, in conjunction with our local HIM programs, and how, we as employers, could promote staff participation and recognition during HIM week, as well as hiring AHIMA credentialed professionals. In the Sunday morning Strategic Work Sessions, each group was assigned one of eleven topics for discussion. I happened to be assigned ‘Urge Employers to Employ AHIMA credentialed Professionals’. My group consisted of ten individuals from multiple states, with various backgrounds (i.e. recent graduates, HIM program directors, EMR consultants, auditors, and other various HIM professionals). The group felt that AHIMA should assist us in this mission; through accredited curriculums, increased advertisements, and the development of toolkits for us to use in promoting each of the AHIMA credentials. The group also concluded that because other organizations; such as Ingenix/AAPC, Decision Health, HcPRO, are actively promoting their products, we (AHIMA) need to become highly visible, promote our products, programs, and emphasize how AHIMA is the only credentialing body that is one of the ‘Four Cooperating Parties’ that assist in approving the ‘official’ coding guidelines. This statement alone should proclaim us as the leader in the HIM profession, but not everyone is aware of this fact. All of us, at every level, have a responsibility to promote our profession, to engage others and to become more actively involved; if we want to be in the forefront of the HIM industry. Each group then presented their topic and discussion points to the entire House of Delegates for further discussion, just prior to the House of Delegate Business Meeting. The House of Delegate Business Meeting took place Sunday afternoon between 2:30-5 PM. Reports from the AHIMA Board, the Chief Executive Officer, and the House Team Chairs started off the session. The adoption of the Credentials Committee Report, the 2011 Standing Rules of the House, the 2011 Meeting Agenda & Minutes, and the announcement of the 2012 Nominating Committee Election Results followed. Then, the House Action Items were voted on; and all passed, only one item was deferred for future review. Action Items Voted On & Approved: 1. AHIMA Proposed Bylaw Revision 2. Code of Ethics 3. Resolution on Diversity & Inclusion (minor changes to include gender identity, physical & mental disabilities) 4. HIM Professionals Manage the Quality of Health Data Resolution Item Deferred for Future Review: 1. MPI in an Integrated Delivery System Resolution New Business brought forth was the ‘draft’ document dated 07/29/11 for the House of Delegate Speaker (1 yr. term) & Speaker Elect (2 yr. term) positions, which was approved. This enables the House of Operations to proceed with the development of policy and procedures for these two positions. Duties outlined in ‘draft’ indicate the House of Delegate Speaker will chair/preside the House of Delegates and will serve as the primary liaison between the House of Delegates and the AHIMA Board of Directors. The House of Delegates Speaker will also participate as a voting member of the House of Delegates in the event of a tie, and will be a voting member of the AHIMA Board of Directors, and has fiduciary responsibility for AHIMA. Before the meeting adjournment, an announcement was made that January 31, 2012 is the deadline for the upcoming AHIMA Nominations. Just as we were all encouraged to solicit volunteers for the upcoming AHIMA Board positions; I’d like to encourage each of you to become actively involved with AHIMA, our state association (MHIMA) and our regional association (SEMHIMA), to volunteer for the various board positions or committees, and/or mentor other HIM professionals and/or an HIM student. Sharing our perspective, insight and knowledge is the best way for us to keep others informed; whether we choose to communicate through the Communities of Practice (CoP) on the AHIMA website, via our state and regional association websites, or use our local HIM program websites.