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  December 2005

IT MAY BE YOUR TURN TO WIN! WITH THIS QUICK PODCAST SURVEY

Follow this link to take a quick survey and you will be entered in a drawing to win one of two $50 American Express Gift Cheques. Thanks in advance for your willingness to participate.

Last month's lucky winners are:

Clara Nathe
Marilyn A. Louden

This issue is sponsored by Hudson

Did you miss last month's issue
of AHIMA Resources?
Read it online here

If you found this e-mail in your bulk folder, please add resources@ahima.org to your address book to ensure you receive all future invitations in your inbox.

A publicly owned, $1.2 billion company, Hudson helps our clients achieve greater organizational performance by assessing, recruiting, and developing the best and brightest in the business. Whether your health system has urgent Healthcare IT/HIM needs, or you need assistance with your career path, please contact us. Visit our site at hudson.com.

MEMBER BENEFIT

Introducing Our Newest Member Benefit: Paragon Real Estate Resources

Enjoy savings on real estate and moving services! Receive rebates up to $3,600 for buying or selling a home through Paragon's network of professional brokers, and mortgage cash back rebates of $50 for every $10,000 borrowed through Paragon Financial Mortgage, with free pre-approval and no origination or lending fees (where allowed by law). You will also receive a free one-year home warranty. To find out how Paragon can help you, contact (888) 509-6087 or visit their Web site here.

This member benefit is just one of many. For a complete listing of member-discounted services, including auto and student loans, credit cards, and insurance, go here.

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CERTIFICATE FRAMES

Make an impressive statement with every certificate of achievement, award, or college degree with our outstanding collection of frames. From the black marbleized plaque to the gold tone wood frame, you're sure to find the right frame to enhance your hard work. Find the right choice for your office or home here.

Remember, every dollar you spend on AHIMA frames or merchandise helps the Association develop and produce educational products and services for all members.

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ACHIEVE YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE PERFORMANCE GOALS

Become an AHIMA member to harness the resources you need!

An AHIMA membership delivers:

  • Members-only access to Wells Fargo Capital For Knowledge® Loan Program. Gain the financial resources you need when you take advantage of AHIMA education and training. Visit here for details (scroll towards the bottom of the page).
  • The instant ability to network with 50,000 like-minded professionals. Communities of Practice (CoP) is a members-only virtual community that enables you to learn from the experiences of others. Visit here.

For AHIMA membership details and sign up visit here.

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SAVE THE DATE!

2006 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit
October 7–12, 2006

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SENIOR MEMBER

Are you 65 or older and a current member of AHIMA? If so, you have the choice of becoming an AHIMA senior member at a special rate. Plus, if you're 65 or older and an AHIMA credential holder, you can apply for a waiver of certification maintenance.

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AHIMA WEB-BASED TRAINING

Train for a Rewarding Healthcare Career with an Industry Leader

AHIMA's Web-based education and training is developed by leaders in the industry—often AHIMA's very own members. All courses employ sound adult and distance learning principles and deliver the following benefits:

  • 24-hour-a-day access from nearly any location
  • Attend as many classes as you want, when you want; study at your own pace
  • Learn from industry experts, book authors, and professional trainers
  • Obtain the most up-to-date information on healthcare information management
  • Reduce the overall time spent in training
  • Increase your retention of vital concepts

Choose from courses designed simultaneously for individuals who are, and aren't, currently pursuing careers in the healthcare arena. We provide education and training in:

  • Medical record coding
  • Privacy and HIPAA compliance
  • HIM/e-HIM®

For more information visit here.

And remember, you don't have to be a member of AHIMA to register for its Web-based training courses. As a member though, you do have access to members-only resources that will enhance your education and training experience.

Members also receive discounts of up to 20 percent on course registrations.

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JOB BANK

Make the most of your membership with the Job Bank! AHIMA's Career Headquarters is home to the top HIM job postings. Find your perfect job today here.

Just a sample of recent opportunities:

Privacy & Security Coordinator
Mercy Health System — Janesville, WI

Director of Health Information Management
Shriner's Hospital for Children — Galveston, TX

Coding Manager
Northeast Georgia Health System — Gainesville, GA

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The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides its industry-leading e-HIM® education and advocacy programs to support the effective use of information technology to manage patient information and healthcare data.
AHIMA is the premier association for health information management (HIM) and allied healthcare professionals. These professionals manage, protect, and utilize complex personal health information for the delivery of quality healthcare to the public. Founded in 1928 to improve the quality of medical records, AHIMA fosters the career growth of its 50,000 members through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning. For information about the Association, go to www.ahima.org.
 
AHIMA respects its members' and nonmembers' Internet privacy and right to choose which communications they want to receive. If you prefer not to receive AHIMA product and services e-mails, faxes, or postal mailings, go to http://imis.ahima.org/preferences and you will be taken to the log-in page. You will need your ID ([[ID]]) and password. If you don't know your password you can use your e-mail address of record ([[EMAIL]]) to have it sent to you. Refer to the type of e-mail message received (AHIMA RESOURCES) to update your communication preferences.
AHIMA
233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601-5809

Copyright © 2005 American Health Information Management Association. All rights reserved.

 

WELCOME

And so another year comes to a close. Now is a great time to think about membership in AHIMA. If you’re already a member and your time to renew is coming up, here’s a gentle reminder to take action. If you're not a member, why not start the new year with a great gift to yourself? As we anticipate 2006, we look forward to demanding changes and challenges. An AHIMA membership is your ally not only in meeting future challenges, but in leading the way toward their resolution. With the incredible benefits membership affords—including unparalleled networking, gold-standard certification, the Journal, the Web site, advocacy assistance, discounts on meetings, publications, and online learning, and much more—it's always a smart move to make sure you belong to the association that puts your success ahead of everything else.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season and all the best in the coming year!

Best regards,
Rick R. Reed
Editor, AHIMA Resources
rick.reed@ahima.org

NEW RECRUITMENT FLYERS NOW AVAILABLE!

Point the high school student in your life toward an exciting health information management (HIM) career with one of our brand-new, colorful flyers or poster! To download any of them, click here.

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THE PERFECT HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (HIM) GIFT: DEFINED!

Pocket Glossary of Health Information Management and Technology
AHIMA

Pocket Glossary of Health Information Management and Technology defines the unique vocabulary of health information management (HIM) and technology—like never before!

You get:

  • Definitions and cross references
  • Acronyms and a list of terms and synonyms to help researchers in the field, including database searching or Internet surfing
  • Terms from medicine, healthcare, computer science, management, HIM, and HIT
  • The names and purposes of important HIM- and HIT-related organizations
  • And much more!

The Pocket Glossary of Health Information Management and Technology makes an excellent study guide and professional reference that won't spend much time on the shelf!

Order Information
Prod. No. AB105205
ISBN: 1-58426-158-7
240 pages
Price: $20
Member Price: $16
Softcover
®2006 AHIMA
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Levels

Save up to 50 percent when you order our 10-copy Glossary Training Pack!
An economical way to ensure your staff has the latest definitions of terms at their fingertips.

Order Information
Prod. No. AB105205P
10-copy Training Pack of Pocket Glossary of Health Information Management and Technology Price: $100

2 Easy Ways to Order
Online: Visit here
Phone: Call toll-free (800) 335-5535

Be sure to include this on your order:
Source Code N035

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PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Have you accessed the e-HIM® practice guidelines lately?

A recent survey indicated the following guidelines had the highest readership:

For access to all the guidelines go here.

The e-HIM® work groups are supported in part by grants to the Foundation of Research and Education (FORE) from Dictaphone Corporation, McKesson, MedQuist, Meta Health Technology Inc., and Precyse Solutions, Inc.

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DECEMBER GRADS: SECURE YOUR FUTURE NOW!

Sign up for the RHIA/RHIT exams today.

Now is the time to apply for the RHIA or RHIT examinations. Statistics show that the sooner you take the examinations after graduation, the more likely it is that you will pass. Examinations are computer-administered and are available Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays, at Thomson Prometric Testing Centers throughout the US.

Applications for the examinations are available in the handbook and on AHIMA's Web site. Register either by US mail using a printed form or via online application form.

Please click on the appropriate link to view the fee for the examination:

Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

Jumpstart your career today by signing up for the examinations!

"Statistics prove that graduates taking this test within a few months of finishing their education have a much better chance of passing."
Karen S. Scott, RHIT, CCS-P, CPC
Consultant and Past Chair, Council on Certification
Bartlett, TN

"Certification is critical for career development."
Rita K. Bowen, MA, RHIA, CHPS
Chief Privacy Officer, Erlanger Health System
Chattanooga, TN

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HIM TIP

Minimum Necessary Determinations


By Melanie Endicott, RHIA, CCS

Privacy regulations permit use or disclosure of only the minimum amount of information necessary to fulfill the intended purpose. There are some exceptions. You do not need to limit protected health information (PHI) for disclosures in regard to healthcare providers for treatment, the patient, HHS for investigations of compliance with HIPAA, or as required by law.

Minimum necessary determinations for uses of PHI must be determined within each organization, and reasonable efforts must be made to limit access to only the minimum amount of information needed by identified staff members. Policies and procedures about appropriate access to PHI may be sufficient to satisfy the Minimum Necessary requirement.

Reference: Burton, B. (2004). "Quick Guide to HIPAA for the Physician's Office." Elsevier Science (USA).

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UPCOMING AUDIO SEMINARS/WEBINARS

Excel professionally, conveniently and affordably! The price is the same for one or many to listen and there are no associated travel costs.

Coding Spinal Fusions
December 15, 2005
Boost your knowledge of the clinical indications and advances in surgical techniques related to spinal fusions. Improve your coding skills in this area through discussion of appropriate code assignment based on official coding guidelines and the American Hospital Association (AHA) Coding Clinic advice. Apply what you’ve learned to challenging case scenarios applicable to diagnostic and procedural coding guidelines for spinal fusions.

2006 APC Update
January 19, 2006
It's time to review the 2006 updates to ambulatory payment classifications (APCs). This update guides you through which APCs the new CPT and HCPCS codes are assigned to and how 2006 APCs differ from 2005, including key coding and operational revisions. Get the skills needed to eliminate potential problems related to APC coding, billing and reimbursement.

EHR Fundamentals
January 24, 2006
Gain a solid grounding in the initial steps of instituting an electronic health record (EHR) by reviewing EHR terminology and identifying the steps needed for successful transition from a paper-based environment to a hybrid environment, and, finally, to an electronic one. We'll discuss all the pertinent industry events in this area, including HL7, RHIOs, and the personal health record (PHR). Come away with a good grasp of interoperability issues and data quality issues, to make your transition successful and informed.

Two AHIMA CEUs are awarded for each audio seminar you attend! Just $159 member (or $199 nonmember) per seminar pays for access to the seminar for as many colleagues as you can fit in a room with a speakerphone! (Prices good through December 31, 2005.) Your registration includes:

  • Presentation handouts in advance on our Web site.
  • The ability to follow the presentation online at no extra charge!

If you cannot attend a live seminar, purchase the seminar on CD or in Webcast format. Volume discounts are available for ordering any four or more seminars, in any format, at the same time. Seminars begin at 1 p.m. ET. For registration and information, go here, or call (800) 335-5535.

Remember to enter Source Code N035 when you place your order.

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JOURNAL OF AHIMA FEATURE

Health Records for the People: Touting the Benefits of the Consumer-based Personal Health Record

by Julie Wolter, MA, RHIA, and Beth Friedman, RHIT

Consumers who maintain personal records of their health history help bring comprehensive information to the point of care.

Consider the following scenario. A patient is visiting a cardiologist for the first time. The physician asks the patient what medications he is taking. This is not a simple question, and the patient has trouble recalling all the necessary information: which medications he takes, the dosage for each, how often he takes them, how long he has been taking them, and the prescribing physician for each. He is not entirely sure why he has been prescribed one of them.

Read the rest of the article here.

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