If you can't view this newsletter, click
or paste this link:
http://www.ahima.org/marketing/MARAPR07_SC.htm
http://www.ahima.org/marketing/MARAPR07_SC.htm
|
If you can't view this newsletter, click
or paste this link:
http://www.ahima.org/marketing/MARAPR07_SC.htm |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
March/April 2007 Contributing school: CONTRIBUTORS To submit or to suggest an article, send your e-mail to studentconnection@ahima.org CONTACT AHIMA: IN THIS ISSUE
Plan to Participate in Upcoming Student Chats
Date—Thursday, April 26 Upcoming FORE Scholarship Deadlines
Grant-in-Aid research awards—September 21 Dissertation Assistance—September 21 Faculty Development Stipends—July 6, October 5 For more information, visit here. FORE Scholarship Fast Facts
The deadline for 2007 Merit Scholarship applications is April 27. Applications can be found here. 2007 HIA and HIT Program Graduates: Learn More About RHIA and RHIT ExamsHIA and HIT 2007 graduates—now is the time to start thinking about taking the RHIA or RHIT exam. Get a free RHIA and RHIT candidate handbook to learn more about the exams, the competencies tested, testing arrangements, and registration. There are three easy ways to get a handbook and more information:
Attention 2007 RHIA and RHIT graduates: be sure to add education information (including your graduation year) into your AHIMA profile. New Cancer Registry Management Program Now AvailableA new cancer registry management educational program was developed by AHIMA in partnership with the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA). This program is designed to enhance learning opportunities for burgeoning cancer registrars and to help students become eligible to sit for NCRA's cancer tumor registrar certification exam. Now each cancer registry management specialty course has been approved for 18 nursing contact hours. AHIMA is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credential Center Commission on Accreditation. For more information, visit here. DSU HIM Health Information Management Club Offers Many Benefits to Studentsby Roxanna Williams
The Dakota State University Health Information Management (HIM) Club is a student organization that promotes HIM. Membership is open to all Dakota State University students enrolled or interested in the health information technology program, the health information administration program, or the healthcare coding certificate at DSU.
Socialization and Support The HIM Club brings students together to study as well as share ideas. The club gives DSU students of all levels a chance to interact and work together to promote health information programs and get involved with other health-related activities. Networking with Professionals Student members are encouraged to attend state health conferences and conventions in order to have the opportunity to network with established HIM professionals and gain a better understanding of the field. These networking opportunities also introduce students to traditional and nontraditional facilities to consider during their job search. This opens the door for DSU students to participate in projects for local healthcare facilities as well as state and national organization projects. Service to Others The HIM Club also gives students a chance to get involved in campus and community activities such as health and activity and the DSU homecoming parade. We hold blood drives during the fall and spring semesters and clean up a section of highway the HIM club adopted as a way to give back to the community. All these activities build a positive reputation for the HIM Club and the health information management programs at Dakota State University. The director of DSU's HIM programs, Dorine Bennett, MBA, RHIA, FAHIMA, says, "Our students are entering a career field with a strong professional organization of component state and national associations." She notes, "We hope their involvement in the DSU HIM Club will encourage their future participation in AHIMA." For more information, visit here. See the January/February 2007 issue of Student Connection e-news here. |
  |
 |
  |
 |
  |
 |
Copyright © 2007 American Health Information Management Association. All rights reserved.
Source Code: MX560
Spring is in full bloom all around us during the month of April. During this season of renewal, why not take some time to reflect on your goals and plans for the future? Keep in mind that whatever your future needs may be—networking, certification, or continuing your education—AHIMA is here to assist you. As you transition to the next stage in your professional career, let AHIMA be your guide.
This issue of the Student Connection e-news features articles from students at Dakota State University in Madison, SD. Getting that first job is on the minds of most students, and this issue contains a panel discussion from student site supervisors who offer suggestions on making the most of your professional practice experience. DSU students discuss their groundbreaking tablet PC program and two recent AHIMA interns from The College of St. Scholastica offer their own special recipe for success.
We hope you find this information useful, and as always we want to hear feedback on what else you would like to see in these newsletters. Feel free to send us an e-mail at studentconnection@ahima.org. Look for the next issue of Student Connection e-news in September 2007.
by Sarah Keppen
Sarah Keppen is in her second year in Dakota State University's health information administration program in Madison, SD.
In 2004, Dakota State University established a wireless mobile computing technology initiative which enables all on-campus students to get a wireless tablet computer. This initiative is unique in that Dakota State University was one of the first colleges in the US to roll out a tablet computers program for the classroom. The tablet PC initiative has proven to be an important part of the educational experience at Dakota State and is used in almost all on-campus classes. I interviewed the faculty and on-campus HIM students at DSU to get their thoughts on the tablet PC technology. Here are their responses:
Lisa Paulsen, second-year HIT student
Having the tablet PC has helped me do my homework more efficiently, both in class and at home. It's so easy to look up HIM information, and it is very portable.
Leah Jackson, first-year HIA student
The tablet PC technology has many benefits such as homework research and contacting teachers through e-mail. The tablet PC also enables me to conduct more HIM-related research. The best feature of the tablet PC is the accessibility of the Internet as well as using it to write and take notes.
Rebecca Moore, fourth-year HIA student
The tablet initiative at DSU has improved my college experience. Taking notes in class and editing them later was much easier. For example, if a PowerPoint presentation was used in class, you could take notes directly on the presentation. Most of the programs we needed were already installed on the laptops, which saved valuable time. Having an individual tablet made it much easier to view information on the screen in the classroom setting because the information was on your screen instead of being projected to the entire room. Homework was a lot easier to complete as well, since because I had my own PC and no longer had to share computer time with family members.
Joyce Havlik, RHIA, HIM program instructor
As an HIM instructor at DSU, using tablet PCs in the classroom has been very useful. Students come to class with their computers charged and ready to access the course Web site and other sites that we will utilize in class that day. Students can store their documents, Web links, and class materials on the hard drive so it is easily accessible. In addition to the conveniences in the classroom, I feel the technology helps prepare the students for a healthcare environment that will include hand-held computers and tablet-based physician documentation.
Mentor Corner is a new column in the Student Connection e-news focusing on how Component State Associations are reaching out to students.
Students Network with IHIMA Board Members During Annual Breakfast
by Felisa M. Tennant, MIS, RHIA, CCS
Felisa M. Tennant, MIS, RHIA, CCS, is the clinical assistant professor of health information administration at Indiana University School of Informatics in Indianapolis, IN.
The Indiana Health Information Management Association (IHIMA) had several goals when establishing a student breakfast at its annual meeting. Among the goals were recognizing scholarship recipients, introducing students to volunteerism, and giving students networking opportunities.
Approximately 10 years ago, the health information administration (HIA) program at the Indiana University School of Informatics in Indianapolis, IN, reached out to IHIMA about hosting a student breakfast during the IHIMA annual meeting. The HIA faculty felt that this was the perfect opportunity to introduce upcoming graduating students to the importance of volunteerism within their state association, recognize those students who received scholarships, and allow the students the opportunity to meet and talk with current IHIMA board members about the association.
An Introduction to Volunteering, Networking
During the program, IHIMA board members explain their role and how they became involved in volunteering. This has been very effective in encouraging students to volunteer after graduation because it is less intimidating after having received information first hand.
Board members also discuss how to become a member of AHIMA and IHIMA as well as possible employment opportunities that may be available at a member's facility. This opens the networking door for the soon-to-be graduating class.
Hosting the student breakfast has remained a tradition for the IHIMA annual meetings, and students from all accredited baccalaureate and associate degree programs are invited to attend. Students are encouraged by the board members to discuss issues or concerns they may have regarding employment or landing their first job.
As a past participant of the student breakfast, I personally enjoyed the opportunity to meet individuals who were working in the HIM profession and have the opportunity to ask questions to individuals other than the faculty. It's exciting to be able to maintain this tradition for the future of the profession.
by Rebecca Moore
Rebecca Moore is a senior in Dakota State University's health information administration program in Madison, SD; she will graduate this summer.
One of the most attractive features about the health information programs at Dakota State University is the option to take the classes remotely through the distance program. I recently asked several students how DSU's distance program helped them further their education in health information administration while continuing to work. Here are their responses:
Joe Kroeger, RHIA, is a graduate of Dakota State University and the supervisor of the HIM data management unit at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Since I work full-time, do weekly volunteer work for my religious organization, and have a family, attending a traditional brick-and-mortar college would be impossible. One of the great benefits of distance education is that, in large part, you can work at your own pace. Since most of the assignments are outlined in advance, you can work ahead. If you know you are going to busy at work during an upcoming time period, you can complete assignments in advance. This is a great stress reliever.
Charleen St. Marie is a senior at Dakota State University and will graduate from the health information administration program in May. She works part-time at Select Specialty Hospital in Metairie, LA.
Taking online courses is so much easier when you are working full-time. After working all day, it would be very hard to spend the evening in a classroom. I much prefer DSU's online classes that allow me to work at my own pace. I work very well by myself so the online courses fit well into my lifestyle.
Cathy Diggs, RHIT, CCS-P, will graduate from DSU's health information administration program in May. She is an online instructor for the RHIT program at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, KS.
Attending classes in a traditional setting would have been impossible—I'm a mother, online teacher, and I also work full-time for an electrical contracting business. I appreciate the flexibility of online courses; it makes it possible for me to complete my degree.
Rebecca Steen is currently enrolled in the health information administration program at Dakota State University. She works as a full-time coder at St. Mary's Regional Health Center and as a coding instructor at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Detroit Lakes, MN.
I like the fact that I don't have to be in a classroom at an assigned time; this allows me to study or do homework when it is convenient for me. The DSU instructors are great and I feel very connected to them even though I have never physically met them.
Mary O'Leary, RHIT, CTR, will graduate this summer with a health information administration degree. She is currently a tumor registrar at Baptist Hospital in Miami, FL.
I was concerned about finishing college as a working adult. I have 1.5 jobs and live in a city with notorious traffic nightmares. The online program was the best way for me to get my bachelor's degree and transition from RHIT to RHIA. The best part was I didn't even have to drive!
by Rebecca Moore
Rebecca Moore is a senior in Dakota State University's Health Information Administration program in Madison, SD; she will graduate this summer.
Kathy Dorale, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, is the HIM director at Avera Health in Sioux Falls, SD, and an alumni of Dakota State University. Dorale is currently working on a project connecting area hospitals into a health information network and bringing those facilities toward a national health information network. I recently spoke with Kathy about her current projects.
Can you describe Avera's health information network project?
In February 2006, the hospital announced plans to implement a paperless electronic medical record (EMR) system. Known as Avera HealtheCARE, the project will provide our physicians and staff with technology that will, after a short transition time, allow them more time to provide excellent patient care.
What do you see as the greatest advantage of your new health information network?
It can be summed up in one word: patient. Through the connection of 27 hospitals, 32 nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, 116 clinics, and more than 52 other entities, this connection will serve a platform for a single electronic medical record which will be accessible in a five-state region.
What are some challenges you've come across while working towards implementing this new system?
We have maxed out our meeting room space and computer labs as teams race to schedule rooms to do dictionary work on each module. A "dictionary" is the backbone and functionality of the system. The way a dictionary is built can affect the success of a number of processes that will affect the entire system. We have had to go to external meeting locations outside of the Avera Health campus and build on additional computer labs to accommodate the demand for space this project requires.
Do you have any privacy and security concerns about this project?
Our health information staff and clinical teams are concerned with the master patient index, which will be a conversion process of our database files among four regions in a five-state region. We need to be sure we have the most accurate patient information in order to create the most accurate electronic medical record platform, which will serve as the umbrella over the entire system.
At the top of our list is of security concerns is access issues to all the modules of the new system that contain confidential information. The system will have tight controls on which individuals (such as staff and physicians) are allowed to access patient information. We will have tracking systems that will be monitored on a regular basis, as well as strict policies and procedures. Unauthorized access is still a cause for termination.
What advice do you have for those planning a similar project in the future?
An organization has to take a project of this magnitude seriously while maintaining a positive teamwork approach. It takes good leadership, persistence, attention to detail, and a lot of hard work. It is encouraging to know that the end product will improve safety and quality at the point of service, as well as revolutionize the way healthcare is provided.
The EMR is not just about the health information profession, it's about all the people that work in healthcare to improve the lives of our patients. The EMR will not change our profession, but it will change the way in which we work. After years of reading about the EMR, it is finally becoming a reality and I'm proud to participate.
by Roxanna Williams
Roxanna Williams is the president of the HIM Club at Dakota State University in Madison, SD.
We recently asked three local site supervisors a variety of questions pertaining to the professional practices that students are required to do during their education in the HIM program. Our goal was to get some answers to questions students may have before they set out on these practices to better prepare themselves. We also like to hear how the supervisors feel about having students come to their facility.
DeAnne Kribell, RHIT, is the director of health information and performance improvement at Pioneer Memorial Hospital and Health Services in Viborg, SD.
Teresa Simons, RHIT, is the director of medical records at Madison Community Hospital in Madison, SD.
Linda Maas, RHIT, is the HIM director at Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston, SD.
What do you like about having students participate in professional practice experiences at your facility?
Maas: We have a reputation in our department for enjoying what we do and we like to pass that on to the students. The challenges we face are how to help patients and the professionals we work with improve healthcare. It's fun to see students understand that idea.
How can students prepare for their professional practice experience?
Kribell: The most important thing to prepare for is the courses taken prior to starting the directed practice. Each site they visit will be completely different from the last one. It's the experience of each site and the courses that are taken that will help them put all the pieces together.
Can you share what types of activities the student will be participating in during their professional practice experience?
Simons: At my facility, students participate in chart assembly, transcription, coding, quality improvement, filing, and credentialing.
Kribell: Students may be involved heavily in projects such as safety, quality, and utilization review. Depending on when the student is here we may have many different meetings to prepare for and attend.
What can students do to ensure their professional practice experience goes smoothly?
Kribell: The best thing students can do is to act as though the directed practice is their job. It is very important to show up on time and dress and act appropriately. If you are going to be late or unable to attend on a certain day, contact your supervisor to make them aware of the situation.
Maas: Ask questions; we enjoy students who challenge us because it gives us the opportunity to learn from you as well. It is also very important to do the paperwork required for the directed practice like you would any other class work. Don't depend on the staff to direct that part of the practice.
What do you expect of students and how have they met your expectations?
Simons: I expect the students to act as though they are regular hospital employees by always displaying professionalism. Most students have met my expectations.
Kribell: I expect the students to have a basic understanding of medical record functions and operability. I also expect them to respect the other employees in the department who are taking time away from their normal responsibilities to share their expertise. Most of the students I have had have met all my expectations.
Are students from professional practice experiences ever considered for future job openings in your department?
Kribell: We absolutely watch the student very closely for the opportunity for future employment. In a small facility it can be very difficult to recruit qualified employees. That two-week period with the student gives us a great opportunity to understand how well students work, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how they relate to the other employees. We consider it a two-week long interview.
Did you participate in supervised professional practice experiences when you were a student? If so, how did they help prepare you for your career?
Simons: My professional practice experience was a great opportunity for me to practice at the hospital where I am currently employed. I got to meet my future co-workers during my practice experience and that influenced my decision to accept the job offer. I also discovered my interests laid in coding and not transcription as I had originally thought.
Kribell: I had a one-year supervised professional practice experience as part of my college requirements. It was invaluable to me as a student because it prepared me for my first job. After two years of work experience, I was hired as a coder at my first professional practice site. After working there for four years, I obtained my current position as director of health information and performance improvement and I’ve held this position for almost 11 years.
Maas: You can only study for so long; at some point you just want to get going and do real work. Then when you begin the real work, you realize how much you don't know! I think my experience taught me respect for the professionals in the field and excitement for the field I chose.
by Angela Heytens and Megan O'Neill
Megan O'Neill is a senior from Olivia, MN, and will graduate from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, with a bachelor's degree in health information management in May 2007. Megan worked as an AHIMA student intern this past March.
Angela Heytens is a senior from Superior, WI, and will graduate from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, with a bachelor's degree in health information management in May 2007. Angela worked as an AHIMA student intern this past March.
We all know that to make an exceptional chocolate chip cookie, you need some key ingredients. The same concept works for HIM professionals and their path towards a successful career. HIM professionals need specific experiences—like an internship—just like chocolate chip cookies need chocolate chips. As recent AHIMA student interns, here are our thoughts for a "recipe for success" in the health information management profession.
Preparation
At the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, students are required to experience three different internships in their senior year in the HIM program. We were able to make three choices regarding where and what we wanted to experience. If the specific place was willing to take students, then our internships were set. We were fortunate to be able to go to AHIMA's office in Chicago, IL, for one of our internships.
Ingredients
We were well-prepared for our internships as a result of the education we received at the College of St. Scholastica. Here are a few additional key ingredients for a successful internship:
Instructions
An education in the HIM field is essential and will enable you to determine your professional interests are and how you would like to use them. After evaluating your interests, the next step is researching potential internship sites that will be able to accommodate your interests as well as your needs. Next, you or your professors will need to make contacts with the sites you are pursuing. After making the contacts, mix all of the previous ingredients together to help build your resume. A resume is an important ingredient since it is imperative to the end result. Finally, you need to top it all off with a pinch of motivation, a dash of hard work, and a sprinkle of enthusiasm in order to achieve the true taste of success. If you follow our recipe for success, your internship experience will certainly be beneficial to your HIM professional career.
Our AHIMA Experience
During our five days at AHIMA, we were able to meet many people within the organization. By speaking with each individual, we learned a lot about the organization as well as the HIM profession as a whole. While at AHIMA we were assigned an assortment of projects to complete. Our first project consisted of developing a student recruitment Web site for potential HIM professionals. Our next large project was to search more than 50 Web sites relating to different aspects of healthcare in order to determine what different types of health information and technology educational options were available. After researching the sites, we recorded the data into a large spreadsheet.
These two projects are just a brief summary of our experiences at AHIMA. Our internship experience provided us with a lot of opportunities and was an exceptional learning opportunity that we will carry with us throughout our entire career. As fellow students, we strongly encourage all of you to participate in any type of internship opportunity that is available. You will discover that if the key ingredients are used and the recipe for success is followed, your life will be as appetizing as that chocolate chip cookie. Happy cooking!
Student chats are a great way to meet and network with other students. Join us in April for two student chats hosted by Dakota State University students Rebecca Moore and Roxanna Williams.
FORE Merit Scholarships—April 27 (undergraduate and graduate)
