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In This Issue:  WHIMA Bylaw Changes Proposed From the WHIMA President Are You Ready for the Trip? Webinars on Demand Legal Resource Manual Update Celebrating Our Volunteers 2009 Not-So-Silent Auction Health Information Privacy & Security Week Chrisann Lemery Candidate for AHIMA Board What Are the Hot Issues for You? 2009 AHIMA Winter Team Talks and Hill DayPresident's Message
Now, my question to you is this – how can we bring that same kind of enthusiasm and commitment to our WHIMA Volunteer opportunities for you? What would make you want to volunteer? I really want to know. Send your ideas to me at Barb Savagian by 4/24/09. In the subject line, please enter “WHIMA Volunteer Idea”, so if it goes into SPAM, I can easily recognize and retrieve it. This was a really hot topic at our strategic planning session last summer. We had no definitive answers, so are looking for your help. We have at least 15 teams that you could help with, and board member and officer elections every year. It is getting harder and harder for us to sustain WHIMA to the level our members expect unless we all put something back in to it. We need fresh, creative ideas and enthusiasm. Your work experiences tell you that the task is much lighter when it is split between 10 people instead of 2. And there are so many more ideas about how to complete the tasks more efficiently and successfully. Best of all, it’s really a lot of fun!! You don’t have to be in a management position, or have been a WHIMA member for a long time to volunteer. We welcome anyone who wants to volunteer!! It is a great way to meet people, make some connections, and learn new things. Don’t be shy about asking your boss if you can volunteer for WHIMA. They understand professional development and want to see WHIMA flourish. Depending on your facility’s philosophy and policies, you may have to adjust your schedule to participate, but most of the meetings are via teleconference at no cost to you or your facility. If you buy supplies for a team project, you will be reimbursed. The biggest investment is your time and your talent, and my experience has been that it will come back to you tenfold. You can view a list of the teams by clicking here TEAMS. Take a look – see what piques your interest. If you would like to be on a team, but will not be at the Annual meeting to sign up, please do so through this link, Contact Us, by 4/24/09. All we need is your name, phone number, and e-mail address. If you are a student or willing to lead/co-lead the team, let us know that, too. The 74th Annual Conference plans are in full swing. It will be held May 6-8, 2009, at the new Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Stevens Point. If you haven’t sent in your registration yet, make sure you send it soon to get the “early bird” rates. There are so many great topics and speakers lined up this year –I hear the Governor might even be there on Wednesday!! We have a lovely Volunteer Recognition Luncheon planned, a lively party with the dance band “Spin” sponsored by IOD, Inc., and a Silent Auction with some of the best donations ever!! At our annual business meeting, we will review proposed changes to the bylaws regarding Board and HOD representation & tenure prior to voting on them there. Advance copies of the proposed changes will go out to the membership shortly. Check out the WHIMA website, for more information about the conference. I hope to see you there. If not, be good, stay safe, keep in touch, and have a wonderful Spring! Barb Savagian, RHIA WHIMA President "HIMQuest: Destinations with a Difference" Early Bird Fees End April 9th! Universal Health Care, ICD-10 implementation, Medical Identity Theft, Never Events, these are just a few of the hot and timely topics presented at this year’s WHIMA spring conference being held May 6 -8 in Stevens Point. Check out the conference program to whet your appetite for a convention that spans the HIM arena as well as presents topics specifically dealing with the challenges this economy presents to healthcare.
Some days in the workplace seem about as treacherous as climbing Mount Everest. On breaking it down Charlie writes, “Mountains frequently appear insurmountable from their base, and in order to be successful, climbers must break the mountain down into attainable components.” Careers rarely follow a straight trajectory upward, presenting cracks along the way. Navigating the cracks is a critical skill, on this Charlie says, “In rock climbing, a climbing crack rarely goes from the base of a mountain to the summit. To be successful and reach the summit, we have to be prepared to change cracks along our course.” Two of Thursday’s sessions are entitled, Changing Cracks: How to Follow your Path to the Summit and Weathering the Storm: Anticipating Negative Moments. These seem to be timely topics for HIM veterans as well as newcomers to the field. But do not rush away from the conference before getting to
Friday’s sessions require a separate registration. There are three tutorials provided, one on RACs, another on Health Story and Lab Interpretation and the third is on Clinical Documentation Improvement. For a sneak peak of the itinerary go to…2009 Annual Conference Program Itinerary Are You Ready for the Trip? The Annual Conference Program Team invites you to make the trip to Stevens Point for the Annual Conference on May 6-8, 2009. Webinars Available on Demand Now! Watch Anytime From Your Office Even though by definition, never events should never happen, Murphy’s law prevails. Due to the drastic effects of errors, CMS has adopted a Quality Improvement Mission, taking steps to no longer pay for preventable conditions/errors. Because the public eye is focused on safety, prevention and quality controls, hospitals need to be aware of the national movements towards Value Based Purchasing. Presently, National strides are occurring to identify, report, assess, and reduce preventable conditions. To keep WHIMA membership up to date on those national movements, WHIMA Web Connection provided a Mediasite session in March titled What you Need to Know about Never Events. The session defined Never Events, Hospital Acquired Conditions, and demonstrated their definition differences – as well as financial effects. Participants also learned about other organizations and states that are looking at Never Events – and efforts, processes, and typical root causes of Never Events. Due to the Mediasite availability, this archived session – as well as the Demystify Infusion Coding session, are still available for your purchase and viewing. For Webinars on Demand, just click here ..."Webinars on Demand to order the "Never Events" session or "Demystify Infusion" session. Make Your Donation to the Not-So-Silent Auction Be a Part of the Energy and Excitement Surrounding the Not-So-Silent Auction. This popular event located in the Exhibit Hall begins during the Grand Opening of the exhibition. The event is silent only in format, with no live auctioneer and lots of time for leisurely browsing. However, the auction has quickly become "not-so-silent" as conference attendees begin talking about their favorite items and placing their bids. Best of all, the Not-So-Silent Auction will again raise funds for WHIMA’s scholarship program. You, too, can be a part of the auction. Come prepared to bid. Compete with other members for an auction item. Or donate a gift or gift basket with items representing Wisconsin or your city in Wisconsin or your special talent. Please help HIM achieve a new “summit” and make this the best auction in our history. Be a part of this exciting event, and this important fundraising effort to support scholarships. Call the Executive Office at 608-787-0168 or e-mail whima@whima.org to make a donation. Vote in the AHIMA Election Circle the Dates...June 8 to June 26
Chrisann Lemery is passionate about HIM and she has shown her passion by her extensive dedication and volunteer time spent on numerous HIM legislation issues for WHIMA, the legal resource manual, and representing WHIMA on the HIPAA COW Board. We are all grateful for these wonderful resources. In addition, Lemery worked extensively on the WI e-health initiative leading the way for the passing of Act 108. This issue still is a work in progress and she names standards development for health data exchange as the leading challenge continuing to face the HIM community. “Standards development for data exchange is critical in order to promote quality information for quality care.” She continued, “Isn’t it interesting that one can go to the coast of Italy and get money from your home bank, but if you’re in a car accident in Illinois there’s no information about you.” The banking industry has standards to communicate; in the same way standards for EHR and PHR will achieve consistent communication in the health care industry. Therefore, she believes as the implementers and managers of health information, AHIMA must be present at the table developing the standards, advocating for confidentiality, and enacting the vision of health data exchange. The issue of standardizing across healthcare organizations and state lines is an exciting yet daunting task and she believes AHIMA can lead the industry. And your vote can put her at the AHIMA decision-making table. Vote for only ONE in the election. Cast ONE vote for Chrisann! To read more about Chrisann, her biography and position statement will be on the AHIMA Candidate CoP from May 26th through June 5th. Vote June 8 through June 26! This e-mail was sent to you by www.whima.org. WHIMA respects its members' Internet privacy. Update your Membership Profile or E-mail Address. If you prefer not to receive informational e-mails regarding WHIMA and the Link newsletter, send an e-mail with the subject line Remove to Sandy Bissen and include your full name and member ID number (if applicable) in the text. Please allow a few days for processing of your request. |
At the 2009 Annual Business meeting, the Board of Directors and Bylaws Chairperson, Jennifer Laughlin, propose changes to the WHIMA Bylaws. The changes impact the tenure of members of the Board and representation in the AHIMA House of Delegates. Members are asked to review the cover letter explaining the rationale for the proposed change. If the bylaw changes are approved during the Annual Business meeting, the changes will be phased in. Included with the memo detailing the proposed changes is a transition plan to implement the changes if approved by the membership. To read the memo and the transition plan click here... Bylaws Changes Plan to attend the Annual Business meeting on May 7, 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point, WI. The theme for National Volunteer Week, commemorated April 19-25, is "Celebrating People in Action." The theme captures the meaning behind this signature week – honoring the WHIMA members and partners who dedicate themselves to taking action and serving our members and advancing the HIM profession. WHIMA honors all of our volunteers at the Awards and Recognition luncheon on Wednesday, May 6th, during the Annual Conference. We will celebrate our leaders in the field of service as part of this recognition event. National Volunteer Week 2009 "Celebrating People in Action," presents an opportunity for leaders and organizations alike to celebrate the wonderful people and members who accomplish extraordinary things through service.
AHIMA has charged each CSA (Component State Association) to
A couple of the questions within the survey include: • What is the biggest issue impacting the HIM profession? • What are your most compelling issues? WHIMA board members, under the direction of Debbie Case, are in the process of converting the survey questions to a monkey survey tool. After this process is complete it will be sent out in batches via email to WHIMA members. Data received will be tallied and then submitted to AHIMA. Watch your email for the survey! This is your opportunity to participate and influence WHIMA and AHIMA strategy! Check out these quick links.
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