WELCOME
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Happy New Year! It seems like the big word for 2009 is change, and as this redesigned issue of Resources shows, we've taken it to heart! We hope you find the new newsletter easy on the eyes and an even more convenient and pleasurable read. Take special note of the "Short-Cuts" section below, which is intended to call your attention to sections we think you'll find especially useful. By all means, please let us know what you think, and if you have any suggestions to make Resources a better tool for you and your career. Let's close with a quote from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus "Nothing endures but change."
Best,
Dan Kelly
Editor, AHIMA Resources
dan.kelly@ahima.org
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Publications
AHIMA Membership
Question of the Month
Courseshare
Distance Education
Continuing Education Units Center
AHIMA Merchandise
Audio Seminars and Webinars
Fast Facts
Online Training Opportunities
Career Assist
Leadership Models
HIMSS09 Is Coming
AHIMA Member Benefits
Journal of AHIMA Article
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| PUBLICATIONS |
Clinical Coding Workout: Practice Exercises for Skill Development (With Answers)
Clinical Coding Workout: Practice Exercises for Skill Development (Without Answers)
The Most Widely Used Coding Skills Practice Resource Book
Clinical Coding Workout encourages students and professionals to develop the expert skills required for coding accuracy and reimbursement. This revision includes:
- Coding exercises, presented by code set and body system, including exercises for ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II modifiers.
- Present On Admission (POA) coding exercises, plus new exercises on MS-DRGs
- Subsections address specific body systems, diseases, and practice settings, providing targeted practice
- Case studies with multiple choice and open-ended questions address all skill levels
- Questions are mapped to the AHIMA CCA, CCS, and CCS-P certification competencies
Key Features:
- Useful in preparing for AHIMA certification exams
- Outstanding resource and assessment tool for HIM students and educators, coding professionals, employers, and coding managers
- Ideal for evaluating or instructing coding professionals in ongoing compliance initiatives
- Includes CD-ROM with interactive practice exercises
With Answers
Product Number: AC201509
ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-58426-210-7
Member Price: $72.95
Price: $95.95
Softcover
© 2009
Without Answers
Product Number: AC201609
ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-58426-209-1
Member Price: $52.95
Price: $65.95
Softcover
© 2009
| QUESTION OF THE MONTH |
For last month's Question of the Month, we asked, "What is your new year's resolution for your career?" Here are a few of your answers!
My new year's resolution for my career is to do the best I can with the opportunities I have. To maintain systems so they benefit the users and promote patient and resident quality of life. I will also tax my brain to the fullest to come up with business-oriented systems and values that will not strain the facilities budget. In short I will do whatever I can to maintain and expand services through quality added applications without spending more.
Linda Grillo
My resolution toward my career is to expand my knowledge in an ever-growing profession to prepare others and myself with information that can and will be useful for services rendered, and to have a better understanding of this profession I have chosen.
Amanda Gonzales
HITT Program Student
In late 2008, I turned 50, and it has inspired me to continue on my “journey of giving," both personally and professionally, to others. I decided that I have been in this great profession for 27 years now, and I should be giving back to others even more than I have already—especially to new grads, students, and other clinical care providers.
For 2009, I shall continue on my journey to mentor others and take on students from our local HIT program. I shall continue to be a guest speaker and share my knowledge, skills, and experiences—mostly the comical ones since I specialize in the behavioral health field. I shall continue to provide speaking engagements and share my personal professional experiences with disaster preparedness as it relates to the management of health information. And yes, I promise to try to get to the gym more often so I can stay healthy and continue thriving in our profession for many more years to come.
Marci Arkin, RHIA
Manager, HIM/Medical Records Department
My goal for 2009 at the job is to continue trying my very best to remind others how important it is to follow HIPAA regulations. I work in a private physician surgical specialty group (seven physicians) and everyone seems to think I make too big a deal about medical records and following all guidelines. I feel with my training in HIM from Stark State College, it is my responsibility to keep trying no matter how much everyone else thinks I overreact with HIPAA guidelines.
I will never stop doing what is absolutely correct no matter the situation. I have been able to change some practices by sharing articles from the Journal of AHIMA and making my textbooks available for others to use.
Wanda Kulick
Medical Records
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Visit your personal Continuing Education Units Center to access:
Your CEU completion history- Personal CEU information, including:
- Certificate number
- Issue date
- Credential status
- Cycle end date
- CEUs required
- Self-assessment cycle end date (if applicable)
- Yearly self-assessment(s) (if applicable)
- The CEU reporting center where you can
- Track your CEUs
- Officially report your CEUs
If you need to report your CEUs in 2009, the deadline is January 31, 2009.
- CEU qualifying activities for AHIMA credentials include:
- Participation in educational programs on topics relevant to HIM
- Participation in formal educational programs of study that address subject areas relevant to HIM
- Publication/presentation of material relevant to HIM
- Independent study activities relevant to the HIM profession
- Self-assessment activities
For more information about CEU qualifying activities, go here.
Visit the CEU Center here.
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Here's the convenient way to get the information you need to excel professionally. AHIMA makes it easy and affordable with the ability for several people to listen for the same low price, and no associated travel costs.
ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS: Prepare for Tomorrow, Today!
January 15
Relative Value Unit (RVU) Data Analysis
January 22
Getting the Most Out of Your Revenue Cycle
January 29
HIM in the Revenue Cycle: What You Need to Know to Talk to Your CFO
February 5
Mastering Injection and Infusion Coding
February 12
How CDI Programs Result in Quality Coded Data
February 19
ROI: From Outsourcing to In-house
February 24
Two AHIMA CEUs are awarded for each audio seminar or webinar you attend. Just $179 for members (or $229 for nonmembers) per seminar pays for as many colleagues as you wish to invite to your site! Your registration includes:
- Access to the seminar for as many colleagues as you can fit in a room with a speakerphone—$179/$229 is the per-site charge, NOT the per-person cost!
- Presentation handouts are available in advance on our Web site.
- When you participate in the live broadcast, you follow the presentation online at no extra charge!
If you cannot attend a live seminar, you can purchase the seminar on audio CD or pre-recorded Webcast format. New for 2009—selected audio seminars and webinars are also available in MP3 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.
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AHIMA Offers Various Online Training Opportunities in 2009
Need to brush up on your coding or HIM skills? Need a few continuing education credits? Want to learn about new topics in the industry? If you answered yes, check out the plethora of online courses available through AHIMA. On AHIMA’s Distance Education Web site you will find courses on topics such as Clinical Documentation Improvement, ICD-10 Overview, Data Mapping, The Legal Health Record, and many more.
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AHIMA has developed Leadership Models for E-HIM® to offer a comprehensive framework and suite of tools that both educate and guide HIM professionals to visualize, initiate, and lead specific HIM domain initiatives at institutional, regional, and national levels. AHIMA’s leadership models focus on an action-centered model of leadership aimed at providing guidance to HIM professionals to advance technical HIM concepts and precepts, regardless of the individual’s current role within an organization. These tools and techniques aspire to help HIM professionals apply theory and technical knowledge using leadership techniques to drive institutions and the healthcare industry toward achieving the vision of e-HIM®.
The tools and techniques contained in the models aspire to help HIM professionals apply theory and technical knowledge using leadership techniques to drive institutions and the healthcare industry toward achieving the vision of e-HIM®. Currently AHIMA Leadership models for Data Content Standards and Legal EHR Leadership are available here.
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Chicago welcomes the 2009 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference and Exhibition. When the conference comes to Chicago, April 4 through 8, 2009, at McCormick Place, some 29,000 healthcare industry professionals and 900 exhibitors are expected to attend.
AHIMA is proud to be a co-sponsor of this annual event, which helps healthcare IT and management systems professionals make the right decisions about their upcoming purchases.
At HIMSS09, attendees will learn more about leading-edge topics in healthcare IT and management systems with leading keynote speakers, more than 300 education sessions, and innovative exhibits offering healthcare delivery solutions.
To learn more about AHIMA, visit us in the lobby by Hall B1 at McCormick Place during the HIMSS conference, or visit the AHIMA Web site. Visit the HIMSS09 Web site for more information on the conference.
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Reformer-in-Chief?
The Obama administration enters office this month with healthcare reform high on its agenda. Clear federal leadership on seven health information issues will be crucial to achieving it.
Five years ago this month President Bush turned a federal spotlight on health IT’s role in healthcare reform during a state of the union address. In the months that followed he signed an executive order establishing the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Subsequent federal support and leadership has mobilized much of the recent public and private work toward improving healthcare through information management and technology.
This month the administrations change. As the industry watches President Obama’s inauguration and looks ahead through the uncertain months of 2009, each player will be wondering what leadership the new administration brings to healthcare and what new momentum it may generate.
Strong federal support is needed. Each facet of the healthcare system that is in need of meaningful reform will move closer to that reform with enhanced health information management and technology. Intrinsic to every reform goal—increased access to care, improved public health, cost savings—are necessary improvements in how we record, protect, share, and store health information.
Federal leadership on seven health information issues will be central to achieving meaningful healthcare reform.
To read more, please go here. Be sure to visit the Journal of AHIMA blog for other useful articles.
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| AHIMA MEMBERSHIP |
Are you a current member of AHIMA? If your answer is no then keep reading, because you're missing out on important benefits to help you advance your career. In each issue of Resources, we will highlight one of the many member benefits you can access if you sign up. Go here to join today.
Members-only Web Site—myAHIMA
As an AHIMA member the Members-only Web Site is your key to valuable information. Once you become a member of AHIMA the first thing you should do is log into myAHIMA. It will serve as a single log-in for AHIMA members, for access to your AHIMA profile, the FORE Library: HIM Body of Knowledge (BoK), the AHIMA Communities of Practice (CoP), Job Bank, Bookstore CE Quizzes, Distance Education, Meetings, Advocacy Assistant, Vendor Directory, e-HIM® resources, dues renewal, and more.
| SHARE TEACHING MATERIALS ON COURSESHARE |
CourseShare is an exclusive, Web-based destination for AHIMA members who are HIM educators. Users can expand their courses with peer-reviewed lectures, instructor notes, case studies, group projects, and other teaching materials shared by fellow educators and industry experts. Share in the future of HIM education by interacting with fellow educators on CourseShare. Visit here today.
| NEW COURSE FROM AHIMA DISTANCE EDUCATION |
Medical Identity Theft: Prevention in the EHR Environment
Identity theft is fast becoming one of the leading crimes in the United States. As healthcare providers, we are in a unique position to protect both medical and financial patient information. In order to protect our patients and their information, we must understand the concepts surrounding identity theft and mitigate the risk to patients. This 12-lesson online course will cover the following objectives:
- Define identity theft and medical identity theft
- Demonstrate an understanding of the related state and federal laws
- Describe the impact and risks related to identity theft
- Describe the impact to both the consumer victim and organizational victims
- Understand how HIPAA applies to identity theft
- Understand organization educational responsibilities
- Understand how to prevent, detect, and respond to identity theft
An AHIMA Certificate of Completion and 4 CEUs will be awarded upon successful completion of this course. For more information and registration, visit here.
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| AHIMA MERCHANDISE |
AHIMA Logo Line merchandise gives you the opportunity to show pride in our profession. By taking AHIMA products into the community, we present a positive image that strengthens our unity, and enhances our position in the workplace.
 Pictured: Business Tote |
They’re very popular as gifts and awards. And the dollars you spend on AHIMA Logo Line merchandise goes to developing educational products and services to meet your professional needs. To check out our exciting products, go here.
We’re also offering a wonderful collection of premium-quality display frames that add a distinctive, highly professional accent to your certification. To browse AHIMA-approved certificate frames, visit here.
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| FAST FACTS AUDIO SEMINARS FROM AHIMA |
Harness the learning benefits of audio seminars…faster! These pre-recorded seminars on physician practice topics will boost your expertise in just a half hour. Listen to Fast Facts on the go via pre-recorded webcast or CD. An assessment is included with each seminar. Earn one CEU for each seminar and assessment completed.
The following topics are available:
- NEW! Developing and Managing the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- NEW! Challenges of Compliance and Ethical Coding in Physician Practices
- NEW! Quality Documentation within Physician Practices
- NEW! The Importance of the Legal Health Record in Physician Practices
- NEW! Developing a Query Process for the Physician Practice or Home Health Agency
- NEW! PQRI and Category II Codes
- Correct Coding Initiative (CCI)
- Claim Rejection and Appeals Process
- Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
- Medical Necessity
- EHR System Selection
- Transitioning from Paper to Electronic Medium
- Record Retention and Destruction
- Disclosures and Release of Information
- Establishing Productivity Benchmarks
- Modifiers for Physician Services
- Performing a Chart Audit
- E-mail in the Official Health Record
- Assigning E&M Code Levels
Prices start as low as $49 per seminar! Visit here for more information, including a complete list of topics.
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| AHIMA CAREER ASSIST |
One of the benefits of AHIMA membership is use of Career Assist. Offering special offers for job seekers and discounts for posting employers, AHIMA’s Career Assist is your one-stop HIM health information portal to your new career. A Career Assist customer service staff member is ready to assist you with any questions at (888) 575-9675, or by e-mail at custserv@jobtarget.com. You will get an immediate response to your questions.
To find your perfect job today, go here.
Below are some recent job opportunities:
Medical Record Administrators
VA Boston Healthcare System
Brockton, MA
Inpatient/Outpatient Coder
Central Montana Medical Center
Lewistown, MT
HIM Manager—Regional Operations
Allina Hospital and Clinics
Minneapolis, MN
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| MEMBER BENEFITS |
AHIMA’s Newest Member Benefit
T-Mobile
In a world full of busy and fragmented lives, T-Mobile has the idea that wireless communications can help. The value of their plans, the breadth of their coverage, the reliability of their network, and the quality of their service are meant to do one thing: help you stick together with the people who make your life come alive.
In honor of our relationship with T-Mobile, all AHIMA members receive a 10 percent discount on all new T-Mobile service rate plans, exclusive discounts on devices, and a waiver of activation fees on new lines of service.
For new service, please call (866) 464-8662 and mention promo code 10311TMOFAV to receive your AHIMA special device pricing and discount.
If you are already a T-Mobile customer, please call (877) 453-8824 to receive your AHIMA 10 percent discount. Please have your membership number ready for verification.
AHIMA is proud to offer this member benefit, which is just one of the many benefits you have through membership. Go here for a complete listing of member-discounted services including rental cars, the reward points credit card, insurance, and more.
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