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This has been a
very interesting fall this year. The highlight was
the northeaster that came through Maine last
weekend. Some people received lots of snow and lost
power while others were lucky with very little snow
and no power loss. It was interesting listening to
some of my staff talk about the 12 inches of snow
and no power made be really count my blessings. We
only received about ½ inch of snow (the green grass
was standing up through it) with not even a flicker
of power loss.
Rhonda Edgecomb, President-Elect, Linda Pooler,
Third Delegate and myself attended the House of
Delegates in Salt Lake, Saturday, October 1st, and
Sunday, October 2nd. The house tried something new
this year and started at 4:15 on Saturday afternoon
with team meetings for all members. The teams that
we attended were:
-
Rhonda - HIM
Higher Education and Workforce Team
-
Linda -
Volunteer and Leadership Development Team
-
Myself – House
of Operations Team
During these team
meetings, we had the opportunity to meet the people
we have been working with all year on our team. Each
team also discussed current issues that affect our
profession.
We started out Sunday very bright and early with
strategic work sessions starting at 8:00 a.m and
ending at 2:00. There was 11 strategic work sessions
and each of us was assigned to one. The strategic
work session each of us attended was:
-
Rhonda –
Understanding Emerging Issues
-
Linda – The HIM
professionals and Other Associations
-
Myself – Lead
the Revenue Cycle
The purpose of
these sessions was to look at the issue and
strategically plan how our profession and AHIMA will
meet these issues in the future and continue to grow
and meet the objectives we are facing in the future.
The House of Delegates registration started at 2:30
and the House was called to order at 2:45. One of
the big issues this year was the change of the AHIMA
by-laws. The negative response from the membership
regarding these changes was huge. After reviewing
the responses, the AHIMA Board of Directors has made
changes to the initial proposal. With these changes,
the by-laws was accepted with no discussion. This
means we will have to update the MeHIMA by-laws by
the end of 2012.
The house also passed the new Code of Ethics,
Resolution on Diversity and Inclusion, and HIM
Professionals Mange the Quality of Health Data
Resolution. Something else that is new is the
Consumer Health Information Bill of Rights. Please
check the AHIMA web site to get copies of these two
new documents.
Overall, the House of Delegates was very calm with
quiet this year. There was a lot of discussion, but
very little disagreement or dissention. This was
very nice after the last HOD that I attended in
Texas. One of the best parts of the experience was
meeting new people and renewing old friendships from
the past.
This coming year is going to be one of challenges as
we prepare for the changes that are coming to our
profession, with the biggest change being the
implementation of ICD-10 in October 2013. Other
changes include, but are not limited to, the
electronic health record, HITECH, changes in the
privacy arena, and the National Healthcare
Infrastructure. To help our members stay current in
these areas and to provide education, information,
and communication is the focus of the different
MeHIMA committees.
I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to
chair a committee and work on the different
committees this coming year. You all have very busy
lives, but are willing to take time out for this.
Your participation will ensure that MeHIMA will
remain strong in the future.
If you have any questions about MeHIMA in general or
any of the committees please feel free to contact
myself or any other board members.
Sincerely Yours,
Connie Elliott, RHIA, CHP
President MeHIMA
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