Welcome to the Lounge!

The AHDI Lounge is an exchange blog for dialogue and discussion around trends, drivers, and challenges facing the healthcare documentation profession and a place for AHDI members to address these issues. It's just a spot for busy MTs, editors, educators, students, managers, and service owners to chat about the profession. So grab a latte and join us!

About AHDI

AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) is the world's largest professional society representing the healthcare documentation sector. Our purpose is to set standards for education and practice in the field of health data capture that ensure the highest level of accuracy, privacy, and security for the US healthcare system.

How Stage 2 Meaningful Use Will Benefit The Healthcare Documentation Industry

Posted on Monday, February 27, 2012 comments (2)
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) along with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) have announced the criteria for Stage 2 Meaningful Use of electronic medical record systems. One of the most interesting aspects of Stage 2 MU from a healthcare documentation perspective is the requirement that EMRs must give patients access to their electronic health records. According to Erika Drazen, managing partner, emerging practices for CSC Consulting, as quoted in FierceHealthIT, healthcare providers should pay close attention to the patient engagement aspects of Stage 2 Meaningful Use:

"The bottom line is you've got to start connecting with customers. Patient portals are not going to be optional, and you're going to be responsible not only for having portals but for patients using them."

So what does this have to do with us in the healthcare documentation field? In a nutshell, the more patients see of their medical records, the more those patients will become aware of the errors their medical records contain. My hope is that this will cause a groundswell of public demand for a higher level of quality in healthcare documentation. Hopefully that in turn will open up opportunities for us to engage in an honest conversation about the critical role we play in ensuring that level of quality. We need to be ready with hard data to back up our claims that front-end speech recognition and point-and-click EMR systems are inherently error prone. We must be ready to demonstrate that the knowledge and experience we bring to the process are vital, not optional, if accurate healthcare documentation is the goal.

Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
Director, District 1
AHDI National Leadership Board
jay.ahdi.district1@gmail.com

The Metamorphosis to Healthcare Documentation Specialists

Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2012 comments (7)
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In the latest update from AHDI’s National Leadership Board, we announced a title change for medical transcriptionists as part of the revisions to our Model Curriculum, 5th edition. The Board saw this as a ground-breaking change and opportunity to recast the MT profession as a knowledge-based workforce. It has set the stage for a new movement to rebrand our profession to one that is seen as relevant and necessary to the healthcare process—a critical role in accurately documenting patient care.

It’s important to pause a moment to recognize the volunteer members of our Model Curriculum Task Force for their visionary leadership to drive this change. They crafted bold recommendations to update the Model Curriculum, including this title change and requiring instructors of healthcare documentation to hold a CMT credential. The National Leadership Board applauds them for their work and acting as change agents within AHDI.

Crucial conversations around the future and transformation of the profession are not simple or taken lightly. Careful and thoughtful deliberation drives the decision-making process. This post will cover how this decision was reached by our National Leadership Board and the rationale given the historic nature of this change. It’s important to acknowledge the overwhelming agreement that it was time to shed the title of medical transcriptionist for one that would deliver a renewed level of respect and understanding to our often under-recognized and under-appreciated profession.

At the center of the discussions has been the debate between the terms “clinical” and “health care.” Also discussed were the differences between “specialist,” “analyst,” and “technician.” As you might imagine, these conversations sparked many knowledgeable, thoughtful, and passionate responses. When the Task Force presented their recommendations to the Board in November 2011, they were unanimously approved as presented that day, which included the title of Clinical Documentation Specialist. The rationale for using the word “clinical” was presented as follows (excerpted from the written executive summary to the Board):

"The phrase “medical transcription” has been replaced by “clinical documentation.” Where “medical transcriptionist” is referenced, we have changed the wording to “clinical documentation specialist.” From the introduction section of the curriculum, this is the explanation/rationale for this change: “The task force concluded that the expansion of medical transcription roles requires rebranding. A better fit is needed between job titles and roles. The evolving clinical documentation environment demands a new title: Clinical Documentation Specialist. This title includes medical transcription practice. All expanded roles must begin with the core knowledge and skill set of what we have always called medical transcription. The title Clinical Documentation Specialist encompasses individuals who build on the core knowledge and skills to follow varied career paths.

Many schools and programs are taking steps to enhance their approach to career preparation for students of clinical documentation. To some extent, then, the title Clinical Documentation Specialist recognizes not only new realities of the workplace but also evolving thinking among educators.

We have also noted that this change in terminology is consistent with the change in CDIA’s name to reflect that, even though we are not clinicians, the documentation we produce is indeed clinical documentation."

Following the approval, the Board continued their discussions on the title change and the implementation plans. And as difficult as it may be, they reopened the issue for further consideration as they took a close look at potential confusion between clinical documentation specialists and clinical documentation improvement specialists. The concern over potential confusion in the marketplace grew stronger as possible new acronyms for AHDI’s RMT and CMT credentials were brought into the discussion. A small group was established, comprised of Board and Task Force members, to reexamine the title, and we sought input from our strategic partner, the Clinical Documentation Industry Association.

The final results of the discussions clearly pointed to recommending the title healthcare documentation specialist. It aligns with the name of our organization and would not conflict with the credentials already established for clinical documentation improvement specialists (see ACDIS and AHIMA) when we look at potential changes to our RMT and CMT. Furthermore, the possibility of marketplace confusion could not be ignored; and “health care” and “clinical” have been used interchangeably in various settings without a clear distinction between the two.

The title change was brought back for formal reconsideration by the National Leadership Board this month. Following an open discussion, the title Healthcare Documentation Specialist was unanimously approved. Exciting times lie ahead of us as we start to spread the news of this historic change.

In the coming weeks and months, a full communication and transition plan will be developed and launched. We don’t have time to waste! A change of this scope will take time to fully implement, most likely spanning years, but every day we will take a step closer in pushing past the old stereotype that we are just typists to achieving recognition as a valued partner to the frontline clinical decision-making team.

Carpe Diem!


Sherry Doggett, AHDI President &
Linda Brady, CAE, Interim CEO

On The Lighter Side...

Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 No Comments
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Saw this on Facebook today and had to share!









 Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
Director, District 1
AHDI National Leadership Board
jay.ahdi.district1@gmail.com








AHDI-West & AHDI Present: AHDI Corporate Advantage Program Webinars

Posted on Monday, February 13, 2012 No Comments
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AHDI-West & AHDI Present
CORPORATE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
Webinar Series and ACE 2012 Presentations

There is no doubt the clinical documentation industry is changing. What does that mean for MTs, Documentation Specialists, MTSOs, industry schools or HIM Departments? Explore the critical ways to climb the mountain of success.

The Corporate Advantage Program (CAP) webinar series is designed to meet the needs of current and future business owners to remain relevant and viable in the changing healthcare industry today. The webinar speakers are experts in their field, and will share strategies and best practices covering a range of "mission critical" subjects for every business.

We will peel back the layers of the known and venture below the surface to uncover the unknown. Whether it is RFPs, HIPAA 5010, Tax Rules and Strategies, Marketing, Mergers & Acquisitions, Quality Assurance, Workforce Development or Competitive Strategies, this series will teach you how to invest in change and embrace the uncertainty of the future.

As part of the Corporate Advantage Program (CAP) series, many of our webinar speakers will also present at ACE 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana, offering workshops geared toward business owners and available with your full registration.

There really is a "Corporate Membership" advantage in staying connected to AHDI!

All webinars will be:
•AHDI-approved for 1.5 CECs (Mediolegal, MT Tools, Technology in the Workplace, and Professional Development)
•90-minute presentation, including Q&A session
•Broadcast time 12 PM PST/3 PM EST
•$15.00 (Pay by credit card or check)
•Recorded Sessions - Unable to attend? Pre-register to receive recording link following live broadcast.

The first two sessions have been scheduled:

* RFPs: What Matters, Who Looks At Them?
* Transforming Your MTSO To Compete In Today's EHR Healthcare Environment

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.ahdi-west.org/misc/new-webinar-series-and-beyond/.

Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
Director, District 1
AHDI National Leadership Board
jay.ahdi.district1@gmail.com


Call For AHDI National Leadership Board Candidates

Posted on Friday, February 10, 2012 No Comments
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The AHDI National Leadership Board will have three At-Large Director positions open for 2012, with term of office beginning September 1, 2012. Here's your chance to make a difference! Outlined below is the timeline for nominations and elections (dates may be subject to change):

Mid-February - Friday, April 6, 2012: Call for candidates
Monday, April 9, 2012: Candidacy packets DUE
April 9 - April 13, 2012: Candidate interviews and selection process
Week of April 16, 2012: Final ballot announced/campaigning begins
May 2012 (date TBD): Candidate debate webinars
Monday, June 4, 2012: POLLS OPEN
Monday, June 18, 2012: POLLS CLOSE
End of June 2012: New directors announced

For more information on the requirements for National Leadership Board candidates, please visit http://www.ahdionline.org/GetConnected/Leadership/AHDIBoardofDirectors/NationalLeadershipBoardCandidacy/tabid/197/Default.aspx.

Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
Director, District 1
AHDI National Leadership Board
jay.ahdi.district1@gmail.com

Stay Informed With AHDI National Leadership Board Meeting Summaries

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The AHDI National Leadership Board has made a commitment to keeping our members informed about the issues discussed and decisions made at our meetings. Now there's a handy place where you can download summaries of past NLB meetings:

http://www.ahdionline.org/GetConnected/Leadership/AHDIBoardofDirectors/NationalLeadershipBoardCandidacy/AHDIBoardofDirectorsMeetingHighlights/tabid/296/Default.aspx

This page is only available to AHDI members, so you will be asked for your member ID and password.

I hope you'll take a few moments to look over these summaries to stay up to date on the activities of your elected AHDI representatives.

Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
Director, District 1
AHDI National Leadership Board
jay.ahdi.district1@gmail.com

Creating The Future

Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 comments (1)
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I recently ran across the following quote by futurist John Schaar: "The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination." This statement caused me to stop and think about people who weren't content with waiting to see what the future would look like, but instead took it upon themselves to actually shape the future. As an unrepentant techie, my mind quickly focused on folks like Steve Jobs of Apple, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, and Bill Gates of Microsoft as examples of individuals whose willingness to challenge the status quo literally changed the future for billions of people. Traveling further back in time, I also think of the likes of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and the Wright brothers, who clearly changed the world forever as the result of their tenacious ingenuity.

Of course, the vast majority of us will likely never reach such heights of achievement, but every one of us has the ability to change our own future if we're willing to make the effort and take the risk. Certainly there will always be factors beyond our control which will exert some degree of influence on our lives. But the people who have made the greatest impact on their own future, not to mention that of others, tend to be those individuals who are simply unwilling to sit passively by and allow their lives to be totally controlled by external circumstances. Stephen Hawking is a man whose physical limitations would seem totally insurmountable to many of us, yet he has made an indelible mark on the world of science and scientific thought. How many other examples could we find of people who have been dealt a losing hand in life, yet have risen above their circumstances to make the world a better place for themselves and others?

"The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating." Even by doing nothing we are shaping our future. Every choice I make today will change the course of my future to one degree or another, even if I don't realize it. The easy option, of course, is the path of least resistance, what the Bible would call "the broad way." There is something seductive in allowing ourselves to fulfill the role of victim, because it makes it easier to let ourselves off the hook for "the road not taken." How tempting it is to blame our situation on what other people have done, or on circumstances beyond our control!

But we don't have to live that way. We can choose not to play the victim. I'll be the first to acknowledge that these are challenging times for those of us in the medical transcription field, and there are plenty of things to complain about if that's what we want to do. But while we bemoan our current situation and fret about what lies ahead, we're missing opportunities to shape both our present and our future for the better. For some of us those opportunities might include changing jobs, or acquiring additional training, or pursuing credentialing in our current field of endeavor. For others it may mean a change of direction into a different profession entirely. The one thing all such opportunities will have in common is the necessity of taking action rather than simply maintaining the status quo. Is change often scary, or inconvenient, or costly? Yes! If you're anything like me, you like things "a certain way" and don't like it much when your familiar routine is jeopardized. But the harsh reality is that as long as we keep doing what we've always done, we will forever get what we've always gotten. The good news is that it's never too late to decide that enough is enough.

What will your future look like, and what will you look like in the future? Choose to answer those questions yourself rather than waiting for someone else to answer them for you.

Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
Director, District 1
AHDI National Leadership Board
jay.ahdi.district1@gmail.com 
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