MaHIMA Connect
Official Newsletter of MaHIMA
October 2010
In this issue:
- Editor's Note
- President's Message
- 2010 AHIMA Summer Team Talks and Leadership Conference Summary
- Legal Briefs: Patient Privacy Trumps Physician Disciplinary Action
- Technology Forum: Regional Extension Centers
- Legislative Affairs Update, Save the Date, & New Massachusetts Copy Fees
- Follow-up to MaHIMA E-Survey on Volunteerism
- Upcoming Opportunities to Recognize Your Peers
- Communications Committee Update
- Finance Report - Annual Review (July 2009-June 2010)
- Awards and Promotions
- 2010 Dot Wagg Memorial Scholarship Recipient
- Preparing for ICD-10 - The AHIMA Academy Experience
- Photos from the MaHIMA Fall Meeting & Coding Seminar on September 22, 2010
- Fall Meeting Presentation Summary: Effective Meaningful Use: Skills/Education Required
- Education Notes - Bristol Community College
- Education Notes - Fisher College
- Education Notes - Labourè College
- Congratulations to Our Newly Credentialed
- Monthly Reminders
Links to previous issues: July 2010 April 2010 January 2010
Editor's Note
Clare Carvel, M.Ed., RHIA, CCS
Happy Fall! As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, we begin "falling back" into our non-summer routines. Let's not, however, fall back into ineffective HIM practices! In these days of ARRA, HITECH, MU and planning for ICD-10, we need to maintain forward motion. There is always new information to learn and hurdles to clear, but there are also plenty of resources to help tackle the next project or challenge.
AHIMA and MaHIMA maintain valuable information on their websites and an abundance of education options are available, ranging from convenient webinars to intensive face-to-face classes such as the AHIMA ICD-10 Academy, recently attended by Linda Hyde who generously provided a summary for this issue. One of the greatest assets of the HIM profession is an infrastructure that provides networking opportunities, needed information, and resources required for the job at hand. Some of us remember when DRG's were implemented, and how that turned out to be a golden opportunity for HIM! We are always facing new challenges but we are also provided with the tools to meet them and succeed.
On the topic of moving forward, a project is underway to reformat MaHIMA Connect to give it a clean, easy-to-read 3-column format with visually appealing graphics and photos. Contributing authors volunteer valuable time and talents to provide up-to-date content, and the reformatting will in turn reflect a more up-to-date "face" for MaHIMA. The reformatting project was made possible by support from the Governance Board and contributions will be made by the newsletter team and our website developer, 3M MediaWeb. Our goals are to increase the number of readers (and possibly members!), interface with MaHIMA's social media initiatives, and promote attendance at education meetings. Thank you to everyone involved!
President's Message
Dear Fellow HIM Professionals,
I hope you all had a wonderful summer since it certainly has been hot and sunny! I have thoroughly enjoyed mine. As I write this message, Hurricane Earl is making his way up the coast and thankfully he was just a tropical storm by the time he reached the New England coast! School is back in session and the fall is almost upon us!
This summer I had the opportunity to attend AHIMA Summer Team Talks and Leadership Conference held in Chicago from July 16th - July 18th. Mary Radley, President-Elect, and Jeanne Fernandes, Director of Communications, were also able to attend. It is great to meet and talk with other AHIMA professionals to share best practice and to hear about their experiences. The speakers at the conference were very informative and motivational.
On June 10th, 2010, we had our annual Transitional Board meeting when the existing officers of MaHIMA exchange and "pass the baton" to the incoming officers. We also review committee achievements, goals for the coming year, and membership to ensure that there are enough hands to do the work.
There are many MaHIMA initiatives currently taking place that I would like to highlight:
- Redesign of the MaHIMA E-Connect Newsletter;
- Assisting the Regional Extension Center by advertising their educational opportunities on our website;
- Gathering feedback on our Fall MaHIMA meeting held on 9/22/10;
- Continuing to send out E-Surveys to our membership on pertinent health information related topics;
- Planning for our 2011 New England HIMA Annual Conference to be held at Mohegan Sun;
- MaHIMA Delegates attending the AHIMA House of Delegates in Orlando, Florida;
- Working with AHIMA on their 2010 Key Initiatives.
As you can see, the Board and committees are working hard to ensure that we provide you, our members, with the most up to date information and education. If you would like to help by volunteering your time, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone (781-830-8764) or email (elyse.disciullo@massmail.state.ma.us). The more members that volunteer, the better!
2010 AHIMA Summer Team Talks and Leadership Conference Summary
The AHIMA Leadership Conference and Summer Team Talks sessions held in Chicago from July 16th - 18th were filled with opportunities to gain knowledge and share ideas among HIM leaders from across the country. The agenda included presentations by AHIMA staff, award winning CSAs leaders, and guest speakers.
AHIMA offered a variety of educational sessions geared towards CSA development. CSA priorities such as ensuring that HIM has a voice on healthcare issues within our state, providing professional leadership in HIM, providing rich professional development opportunities, and attracting new members were addressed.
Of particular interest was a session which focused on AHIMA's entrance into the social networking arena as a way to strengthen the connection with members and friends, promote meetings, opportunities, products and services, and stay aware of topics of interest to HIM professionals. CSAs were offered tips on getting started, and best practices as we begin to cultivate a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networking sites.
CSAs from around the country presented innovative ideas and initiatives that have proved successful for them and worthy of the 2010 CSA Core Service Achievement Awards. One such initiative is the formation of a Student Committee by the New Jersey CSA. The committee reaches out to students and program directors of HIM/HIT schools throughout the state to develop student membership and participation. NJHIMA works with the students and directors to develop a student track at the annual meeting designed to assist students and recent graduates with transition into the job market.
Our past president, Jackie Raymond, shared her experience with developing the award winning MaHIMA Director/Manager HIM Forum. The Forum consists of HIM professionals who meet quarterly to discuss topics of interest to HIM professionals, share best practices, and network with each other.
Guest speakers offered attendees valuable sessions of interest to new and returning CSA leadership; one such session "The Secrets to Planning Strategy" offered a three phase approach to the strategic planning process. The dynamic speaker broke the process down to very manageable steps to prepare, develop, implement and, monitor the plan while avoiding some common pitfalls in strategic planning.
The knowledge gained and the relationships developed at the 2010 Summer Team Talks and Leadership Conference are invaluable to MaHIMA leadership and the continued growth and development of the Association.
Legal Briefs: Patient Privacy Trumps Physician Disciplinary Action
Colin J. Zick, Esq., Folley Hoag LLP
Does the "compelling need" of the state body that oversees and regulates physicians trump the statute that protects the confidentiality of psychotherapy records? Not in Massachusetts, according to a September 2, 2010 decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, Board of Registration in Medicine v. John Doe, No. SJC-10556. At issue in this case were the treatment practices of a board-certified psychiatrist who specialized in "pain management." Due to a concern that inappropriate prescriptions for pain medication were being written and that Doe himself was impaired, the state's Board of Registration in Medicine subpoenaed the treatment records of 24 of this psychiatrist's patients. The psychiatrist refused to comply with 23 of the requests. The psychiatrist took the position that the Massachusetts privilege for psychotherapist-patient communications, Mass. Gen. L. ch. 233, § 20, did not contain an exception that would allow him to comply with such a subpoena.
The Supreme Judicial Court held that "the psychotherapist-patient privilege statute does not permit a weighing of the public interest against the interests protected by the privilege." The Court explained that "[t]here is obviously a conflict between the confidentiality interest underlying the psychotherapist-patient privilege and the board's need to obtain medical records in the course of its investigations. The Legislature has resolved that conflict in favor of confidentiality by declining to enact a statutory exception to the privilege for board investigations into physician misconduct. With no constitutional considerations implicated, we accept the legislative judgment."
While this decision only impacts privileged records in Massachusetts, the implications of this decision nevertheless will be far-reaching. Once the logic of this decision is applied in other cases, court orders in civil matters will no longer be viewed as sufficient to override privileges like those found in Mass. Gen. L. ch .233, § 20 and similar statutes (such as that protecting communications with clergy, psychologists, social workers, allied mental health providers, sexual assault and domestic violence counselors).
Colin J. Zick is a member of Foley Hoag LLP's Health Care and Litigation practice groups. He advises clients on a variety of matters, including HIPAA, patient confidentiality, patient care, fraud and abuse, OIG advisory opinions, compliance programs, reimbursement, and other health care related issues. Atty. Zick has served as a Committee Chair on the Boston Bar Association HIPAA Task Force, has participated in a variety of health care educational programs and is an advisor and frequent speaker for MaHIMA. Atty. Zick invites you to visit the Foley Hoag LLP's website blog, "Privacy, Security and the Law" at http://www.securityprivacyandthelaw.com/ for timely and informative discussion on cases impacting the HIM Profession and health care in general.
Technology Forum: Regional Extension Centers
Pat Rioux, RHIT, eClinicalWorks
Massachusetts Regional Extension Center (REC) Summits Help Providers Transition to Electronic Health Records
"Widespread deployment of electronic health records leads to better quality care for patients, reduces health care costs and spurs new jobs in the health care industry."
- Rick Shoup, Ph.D., Director of the Massachusetts e-Health Institute
The Massachusetts e-Health Institute (MeHI) was awarded $13.4 million in federal stimulus funding to establish a regional extension center (REC) to help physicians transition to an electronic health record as part of a nationwide program.
The purpose of the sixty Regional Extension Centers (RECs) is to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to 'priority' primary care providers to help them select, implement, and achieve meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR). A federal subsidy of up to $4,500 per provider is available to help them use an EHR to achieve 'meaningful use' to qualify for additional Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
The Massachusetts REC is holding a series of free summits for physicians and office staff, dentists, nurse practitioners, community health center providers, hospital administrators, CIOs, ambulatory electronic health record champions, IPA, PHO, PO directors, and HIM professionals.
MaHIMA is included in the list of co-sponsors along with Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Hospital Association, Massachusetts Health Data Consortium, and others. To find a summit meeting, go to http://www.maehi.org/2010eblasts/070210eblast.html
MeHI is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative which was established by Governor Patrick and the legislature in 2008 to advance the dissemination of health information including the deployment of EHR systems in all healthcare provider settings that are networked through a statewide health information exchange (HIE). For more information on MeHI, go to www.maehi.org
Pat Rioux, RHIA, is employed by Westboro-based eClinicalWorks, a market leader in ambulatory electronic medical record solutions. Their CCHIT-certified EMR and practice management system is in use by more than 30,000 providers in all 50 states. Its Patient Portal allows patients and doctors to communicate easily, safely and securely over the Internet, and eClinicalWorks Electronic Health eXchange (eEHX) is the fabric behind clinical integration systems becoming community-wide projects.
Legislative Affairs Update, Save the Date, & New Massaschusetts Copy Fees
Karen Griffin, Director, Legislative Affairs & Advocacy
A JOB WELL DONE!
A big thank you to all MaHIMA members involved with the passing of House Bill 4910, An Act Relative to the Security of Vital Records and Verification of Identify. The purpose of HB 4910 was to establish a statewide database for all vital records, including birth and death certificates and marriage licenses to provide a more efficient and electronic recording process. MaHIMA members that were involved in the state work group, along with the support of MaHIMA and its members at the Annual Beacon Hill Day, made for a successful outcome.
It's important to note that HB 4910 was a Talking Point at the Annual Beacon Hill Day held on May 20, 2010 at the State House and attendees discussed this issue with legislative representatives to heighten awareness of the need. HB 4910 was signed and approved on September 1, 2010, enacting Chapter 327 of the Acts of 2010.
To access the complete statute, click the following link: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw10/sl100327.htm
SAVE THE DATE:
Dot Wagg Memorial Seminar
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Marlboro Holiday Inn
Be certain to mark your calendar and save the date for the upcoming Dot Wagg Memorial Seminar on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. For the first time, the annual Dot Wagg Memorial Seminar will be offered as a full day seminar. The Legislative Affairs Committee is excited about preparing a full day of educational opportunities for its members. Presentations will include updates on the state HIT committees, proposed modifications of privacy and security laws and the enforcement rules under HITECH, to name a few. Please take a moment to save the date on your calendar and watch for the upcoming details.
JUST IN!
New Massachusetts Copy Fees; Effective 10/01/10
In accordance with Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2003, the Massachusetts Hospital Association (MHA) issued an Advisory on September 17 outlining the updated medical record copy fee schedule, which will be effective October 1, 2010.
The following is an excerpt from the MHA Press Release, which was provided by MHA but requires a password to view it in its entirety on their website.
Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2003 amended the state's medical record copying fee requirements for hospitals and individual healthcare providers.
Under the law, providers may increase the applicable fees based on the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) for medical care services in effect as of October 1, 2010. This Advisory outlines the calculations and process MHA uses to derive this number for members to determine the specific rates that may be charged.
Under the law (using the change in the consumer price index for medical care services as of September 1, 2010) MHA has calculated the U.S. CPI for medical care services to be 3.45%. So effective October 1, 2010, the maximum rate that providers may charge for medical records is as follows:
1. $19.24 base charge for the clerical and other administrative expenses related to complying with the request for making a copy of the record;
2. $0.65 per-page charge for the first 100 pages copied; and
3. $0.34 per-page charge for each page in excess of 100 pages.
Note that under the specific state law provisions, a provider is also allowed to charge an additional fee to cover the actual cost of postage (regular or priority/next day mailing) and preparation of an explanation or summary of the hospital or clinic medical record if so requested. However, a separate/additional handling charge is prohibited if the entity is charging the base fee as well.
Providers should also be aware that fees must be waived for any request from a patient for a record that will be used for claims, eligibility reviews, or other administrative reviews being conducted by Medicare, MassHealth, or other public assistance programs (e.g., Health Safety Net, Children's Medical Security Plan, Healthy Start, Food Stamps, etc.). For any request made by a patient, Federal HIPAA guidance provides that a covered entity may not charge a base fee for making copies of the medical record for the patient. Requests from any other party that is not the patient may be charged the base fee for administrative expenses. While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has not indicated whether the Massachusetts copying fee law related to the administrative base fee is specifically preempted by the HIPAA provisions, we believe that HIPAA preempts the state law regarding the base charge in the specific situation listed above, and that providers should only charge the per-page fee.
While the law essentially sets forth the level at which the fees may be set, fees may be lower than the base charges but cannot be higher. Providers should also ensure that their negotiated contracts with health insurers, vendors, and other third party entities regarding the rates for copies of medical records are reflective of this law.
MHA also encourages providers to consider waiving or discounting rates applicable to requests for medical records from indigent patients, as indigence is determined using the hospital's credit and collection policy.
Follow-up to MaHIMA E-Survey on Volunteerism
Sue Marre, Past-president of MaHIMA, contacted members who responded to the May e-survey on Volunteerism stating they were interested in being a volunteer for MaHIMA. Several respondents expressed an interest in volunteering for MaHIMA but did not provide their name or contact information.
MaHIMA is a volunteer association with 32.2% of the 59 respondents to the survey stating that they currently volunteered for MaHIMA; 47.8% indicated that they did not volunteer due to no available time. MaHIMA has many opportunities for volunteers, from manning the registration table at a meeting, taking minutes at a meeting, introducing a speaker, or working on the MaHIMA website, to name just a few!
To quote Elyse DiSciullo, RHIA, President of MaHIMA, from her July President's message, "Volunteer with us to broaden your horizons and be part of a fun group of professionals!"
If you were not contacted but are interested in volunteering for MaHIMA, please contact Elyse DiSciullo (elyse.disciullo@massmail.state.ma.us) or Sue Marre (smarre@nesinai.org). Thank you!
Upcoming Opportunities to Recognize Your Peers
Joan L. Usher, RHIA, Chair, Awards Committee
MaHIMA has several opportunities for members to be recognized during the year. Unfortunately, many times there are no nominations for the awards when we know there are clever, dedicated and hard working HIM professionals out there. So don't wait, look at the categories and nominate your colleague, friend or yourself..... as everyone likes to be recognized for "a job well done". All awards and nomination forms are posted on the MaHIMA website in the Members Area tab under "Awards Program".
Do you know someone who is an advocate for our profession?
The HIM Advocacy Award recognizes the exceptional efforts by an individual(s) that have contributed to the advancement of the HIM profession by means of the legislative and regulatory process at the local, state, and/or federal levels. This person(s) will be recognized at the Dot Wagg Memorial Seminar on November 9, 2010. Submissions for nominations are due by October 11, 2010. Please see the MaHIMA website for an application.
Who comes to mind when I say this person goes above and beyond to make the HIM profession thrive?
The Professional Achievement Award is awarded in memory of Dorothy (Dot) Grandolfi-Wagg. The award honors a person whose long term and enthusiastic support of MaHIMA and the HIM profession has advanced MaHIMA's capacity to achieve its mission and/or advanced HIM practice. This person(s) will be recognized at the Dot Wagg Memorial Seminar on November 9, 2010. Submissions for nominations are due by October 11, 2010. Please see the MaHIMA website for an application.
Volunteers Needed
If you would like to participate in the Awards Committee, we are restructuring the committee to have task forces focusing on just specific awards to allow for more participation. Please send me an email at jluhome@comcast.net if you are interested.
Communications Committee Update
Jeanne Fernandes, Director of Communications
WELCOME!
MaHIMA welcomes three new volunteer Communication Committee members, Wendy Zagroski, Bibiana (Bibi) Von Malder, and Christopher Rushbrooke, RHIT, CCS.
Wendy Zagroski is the Health Information Supervisor at Arbour-Fuller Hospital. Wendy has progressed through a variety of positions in the Medical Records Department at Arbour-Fuller. She is also a Health Information Technology student at Fisher College in North Attleboro and anticipates graduation in 2011. In addition to serving as a Communications Committee member, Wendy has assumed the role of eSurvey Coordinator and has been actively involved in the social media initiative for MaHIMA.
Bibi Von Malder is the Manager of the Scanning Unit, Records Completion, Notes Compliance, Transcription, and Birth Registrar at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Health Information Services. Bibi has 20 years of experience in Health Information Management and recently earned an Associate's Degree in Health Information Technology at Fisher College. She is preparing to take the RHIT exam this fall.
Christopher Rushbrooke, RHIT, CCS has been working in healthcare since 2001 in a variety of roles including administrative support, billing and coding, and is currently employed as an inpatient coder at The Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed the Health Information Technology Associate's Degree at Fisher College in May, 2010 and is planning to continue his education in the health information management/informatics field. In addition to his studies in HIT, Christopher holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. Along with being a Communications Committee member, Christopher will serve as the MaHIMA.org Website Content Editor.
Finance Report - Annual Review (July 2009-June 2010)
Linda A. Hyde, RHIA, Chair, Finance Committee
MaHIMA posted an annual income of $100,797 and expenses of $100,210 at the end of fiscal year 2010 excluding the $10,000 transferred from reserves at the start of the year. As of the end of June MaHIMA has $94,064 in assets with 84% ($79,105) in the Merrill Lynch and Fidelity accounts for reserves. This represents approximately 10 months of expenses which is in keeping with AHIMA recommendations.
52% of our income for the year comes from Massachusetts educational meetings and coding roundtables, 32 % from AHIMA dues rebates and 9% from our participation in the New England HIM Annual Meeting. All of our meetings this year were profitable due to attendance and vendor sponsorships.
Expenses are primarily due to administrative costs of managing the association (42%), educational programs (34%) and board expenses for our delegates to attend AHIMA meetings (10%). This year we also completed the new web site. The board re-forecasted the budget in March and updated projections for income and expenses based on what we expected to see for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The fiscal year 2011 budget has been prepared and will be presented to the membership at the Fall Meeting and then posted in the Members only section of the website.
Awards and Promotions
Congratulations, Luisa DiIeso!
Elaine Fanwick, RHIA, Communications Committee
At the Fall Meeting on Sept. 22, MaHIMA honored Luisa DiIeso, RHIA, CCS, with the Distinguished Member Award. The Distinguished Member is MaHIMA's highest honor award, reserved for an individual with an exceptional and outstanding record of contributions to MaHIMA over many years.
This award was given to Luisa for her steadfast dedication to the Health Information Management profession and to MaHIMA. Throughout her career, Luisa has always stayed on the cutting-edge of medical record coding theory and practice. Through her educational presentations at MaHIMA conferences and previous teaching at the Northeastern University HIM program, Luisa has provided insight into the most complex and ambiguous coding issues.
She continues to lead the way in coding education and practice by becoming an AHIMA certified trainer to educate MaHIMA members on ICD-10.
Through her volunteerism, she has contributed in many and varied ways such as acting as a known resource for affiliated organizations, championing the maintenance of four year HIM college programs in Massachusetts, and projecting the future job growth of HIM professionals through disseminating and analyzing AHIMA workforce data.
Luisa's most recent contribution was a joint effort with Nancy Stanton, RHIA and State Senator Karen Spilka which was undertaken following many years of researching, gathering data and communicating instances where payers were not following Correct Coding Initiative guidelines. Their efforts resulted in consistency in coding requirements among the various payers in Massachusetts through the passage of Senate Bill No. 2863 which was approved on August 10, 2008.
For consistent leadership and her many valued contributions, MaHIMA congratulates and thanks Luisa DiIeso.
Congratulations, Bob Seger!
Clare Carvel, M.Ed., RHIA, CCS, Editor In Chief, MaHIMA Connect
MaHIMA congratulates Bob Seger, MBA, RHIA, CCS on his promotion at Massachusetts General Hospital to the position of Executive Director for Emergency Services and Emergency Preparedness, effective August 1, 2010.
In his new role, Bob will oversee a leadership team that manages department-wide operations including personnel, finances, research, education and training, professional billing, facilities and information systems, programmatic/strategic initiatives and project development, and long-range planning. Last year, over 90,000 patients used services at the MGH Emergency Department, which is designated as a Level I Trauma Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, and Level I Burn Center.
Bob has had a long career in healthcare information management and administration, beginning with his position as Director of Coding and DRG Analysis at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in 1985, and subsequently taking a position as Director of Coding and DRG Analysis at MGH in 1988. Since then, Bob has held other positions at MGH including Senior Project Manager and Clinical Analyst for the Decision Support Unit, and most recently Senior Administrative Director for Urology. Bob was also a senior coding instructor in the HIA Program at Northeastern University for many years.
In addition to receiving both the Distinguished Member and Professional Achievement awards form MaHIMA, he has been Director of Education and Co-chairman of the Coding Committee for many years. Most recently, Bob was a contributing author to the AHIMA Practice Brief "Transitioning ICD-10-CM/PCS Data Management Processes."
Bob Seger always gives 100% in whatever he does. MaHIMA greatly appreciates his willingness to volunteer and share his coding and management expertise, both coordinating and presenting at education forums.
Congratulations and good luck in your new position, Bob!
2010 Dot Wagg Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Clare Carvel, M.Ed., RHIA, CCS, Editor In Chief, MaHIMA Connect
MaHIMA recently received notice that The Dot Wagg Memorial JD Student Merit Scholarship was awarded to Kim Theodos, MS, RHIA. Kim is an HIM Educator at Louisiana Tech University, and is also finishing her final year of law school at the Taft Law School in Santa Ana, California. The AHIMA Scholarship Committee informed us that they received 146 applications this year and conducted a highly competitive selection process to choose the award recipients. The Dot Wagg Memorial JD Scholarship was one of 72 awards totaling $94,650.
Kim wrote a thank you letter for the funds, stating, "I am proud to receive the Dot Wagg Scholarship through the AHIMA Foundation. I am especially grateful for the financial support because I am incurring all costs associated with this degree. I am committed to the HIM Profession, both present and future. My law degree will be the culmination of a life-long dream to earn a JD, and I am thankful for your generous support." In addition to teaching, Kim is also serving as the President of Louisiana State Association, giving back to her state association through volunteerism.
We remember Dot as being bright, energetic and dedicated to the HIM Profession. Her work ethics and good humor will always be fondly remembered by MaHIMA and we congratulate Kim Theodos on this very special honor.
Preparing for ICD-10 - The AHIMA Academy Experience
For three beautiful days in June, over 100 dedicated HIM professionals from Massachusetts, New England and other states across the country participated in the AHIMA Academy for ICD-10 Trainers. This intensive training session is designed to prepare individuals to train others. Some attendees also used this training to obtain a more in-depth knowledge of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS to help them direct all the tasks that will be needed to prepare their organizations for the transition starting in October 2013. Participants in this program completed two on-line courses to introduce them to the key concepts behind the diagnosis and procedure classifications prior to attending the class. The three day on-site class provided more in-depth review with plenty of practice examples and case studies to illustrate the ICD-10 concepts as well as highlight the major differences between ICD-10 and ICD-9-CM. Participants can also complete an on-line assessment exam within 90 days the program.
Faculty for the program did an excellent job in keeping everyone's attention and maintaining the schedule. ICD-10-PCS represented the most significant change for procedure coding but also offered a much more intuitive and structured format to provide the level of detail missing from ICD-9-CM.
From my perspective, as someone who hasn't coded in awhile, it was challenging, fun and reminded me how much I loved coding - I now look forward to working more with ICD-10. Two other MaHIMA members also had very positive reactions to the program:
'This academy certainly helped me learn, understand and become more comfortable with ICD-10-CM/PCS. With three years to go to implementation, I didn't think it was too early to start training on ICD-10'
Normund Strautin, RHIA, CCS, Corporate Coding Trainer, Partners Healthcare.
'It will certainly be a time consuming adventure for coders in the next couple of years to gain ICD-10 knowledge, but AHIMA has provided a good resource in helping us get there. And, the road doesn't seem as scary as I once thought it might be'.
Cathie Wilde, RHIA, CCS, VP Coding & Casemix Services, MRA Inc.
Photos from the MaHIMA Fall Meeting & Coding Seminar, September 22, 2010
The MaHIMA Fall Meeting took place on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the Marlboro Holiday Inn. The sessions were very interesting and packed with relevant information on Meaningful Use, the HITECH Act, Regional Extension Centers, ICD-9 Coding Updates, CMS Updates and more. Denise Duhamel, RHIA has generously provided a photo album linked below. Enjoy and thank you, Denise!
http://picasaweb.google.com/MaHIMAcentral/20100922MHIMAFallMeeting
Fall Meeting Presentation: Effective Meaningful Use: What Skills, Education, and Capabilities are Required?
Please note: Below you will find a summary of a presentation given at the MaHIMA Fall Meeting on September 22, 2010 by Daniel Ries, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty in the Healthcare Informatics Program at Northeastern University. In the January issue of Connect, we will provide summaries from the following Fall Meeting presenters: Lynn Kuehn ("Diagnosis Coding the ICD-10 Way" and "A Whole New Way to Code Procedures: ICD-10-PCS"); Heather Hedlund ("An Introduction to the Regional Extension Center, HITECH Incentives & Meaningful Use"); and Christopher Richards ("MassPRO/CMS Update for FY11"). MaHIMA is appreciative of all the speakers at the Fall Meeting and thanks them for making the event a huge success!
Effective Meaningful Use: What Skills, Education and Capabilities are required?
Daniel R Ries, Ph.D. Northeastern University/Tiadata Consulting
The meaningful use requirements of the HITECH Act of 2009 have the potential to transform the use of information technology in healthcare and dramatically improve quality and efficiency. Meaningful use requires significant technology investments for large and small provider groups and healthcare product companies. Organizations that already have developed or deployed electronic health records need to integrate information from disparate systems in order to calculate quality measures and produce standardized electronic representation of clinical care summaries. These summaries must be transmitted to patients and other providers. Other provider groups will have to redesign their processes and install and support vendor solutions. Vendors are also actively investing in product enhancements to meet the meaningful use requirements. Further, once technology has been adopted, there will be increasingly new requirements as use of the technology evolves. There will also be significant opportunities for research, data mining, and real time decision support utilizing electronically stored and codified healthcare data.
Northeastern University requested an assessment of the potential impact of the HITECH Act on its Health Informatics and other programs. Based on interviews with Healthcare IT workers in Massachusetts and beyond, reviews of job postings, participation in the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) Ad-Hoc Work Group for Workforce Development, and the Impact Analysis Sections in the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program and Standards and Implementation Specifications Final Rules, an estimated 750 to 1500 new positions related to Healthcare Information Technology may be needed in Massachusetts over the next one to five years. Further, as more and more clinical data is available through Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchanges, this number can be expected to continue to increase for the next 5 to 10 years. The estimated types of positions, quantities, timeframes and levels of skill required are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Roles quantities and timeframes and levels of skill required for new positions
|
Roles & Skills |
Ambulatory Implementation Specialists |
Hospital Implementation Specialists |
Products and Internal Applications |
Health Information Exchanges |
Leverage Technology in Healthcare |
|
Timeframe* |
6 to 36 months |
6 to 36 months |
6 to 48 months |
12 to 48 months |
24 to 60 months |
|
Est. Numbers of new Staff |
250 to 500 |
200 to 400 |
100 to 200 |
100 to 250 |
100 to 250 |
|
Clinical |
Basic to Intermediate |
Intermediate to Professional |
Professional |
Professional |
Professional to Expert |
|
Technical |
Intermediate |
Intermediate to Professional |
Professional |
Professional to Expert |
Professional to Expert |
|
Healthcare Processes and Operations |
Intermediate |
Professional |
Basic to Intermediate |
Intermediate |
Professional to Expert |
|
Consulting and Analyses |
Intermediate |
Professional |
Basic |
Intermediate |
Intermediate |
|
Knowledge of Specific Applications |
Intermediate to Professional |
Professional to Expert |
Expert |
Intermediate |
Intermediate |
*This is when new jobs will be created; i.e., over the next 6 to 36 months, new Ambulatory Implementation Specialist jobs will be created. After this period, demand will level off, but there will still be a need for these specialists to help with stages 2 and 3 for meaningful use and to help with Electronic Health Record adoption.
These positions all require some knowledge of both Healthcare and Information Technology. Many of the positions will be for implementation specialists that help hospitals and ambulatory physician practices meet the meaningful use requirements. However, another 300 to 700 positions will be required to integrate data, update products and internal applications, and leverage the technology and data to more effectively improve healthcare quality and efficiency. Further, the need for individuals with deeper knowledge and skills in Healthcare and Information Technology is expected to continue to grow in subsequent years. These positions require varying degrees of clinical, technical, healthcare operations, general consulting and specific product knowledge and skills.
Education Notes: HITECH Education in Electronic Health Record Implementation
Joy Rose, MSA, RHIA, CCS, Director, HIT & Medical Coding Certificate Program
HITECH EDUCATION IN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD IMPLEMENTATION!
BCC is part of the Community College Consortia Program administering education for the ARRA HITECH Grant. BCC will be offering two roles and their appropriate courses for future employment: Practice Workflow and Information Management Redesign Specialist and Clinician/Practitioner Consultant. It is expected there will be employment opportunities for these roles with vendors, healthcare institutions, private practices and Regional Extension Centers (REC's) in each state. The graduates of this program at BCC will support implementation at specific locations for a period of time, and when their work is done at a site, they will move on to a new location. Preparation for these roles will be six months of intense training for individuals with appropriate background.
Classes start September 30, 2010, are completely online and you may be eligible for free tuition! Call Joy Rose, BBC HITECH Project Coordinator at (508) 678-2811 ext 2329 for more information.
Education Notes: Update - Fisher College B.S.M. in Health Information Management
Patricia Parkes, RHIA, Program Director, HIT & Medical Coding
Update - Fisher College B.S.M. in Health Information Management
As you all know, Massachusetts and the entire New England region is lacking a bachelor's degree program in Health Information Management. Fisher College has developed the curriculum for a Bachelor of Science in Management with a Health Information Management concentration that has been approved by the Curriculum Committee. In the spring, Fisher began a national search for a qualified Program Director for this new and much needed program. The search for the Fisher College BSM in HIM Program Director will continue as the college understands the importance this program has for the HIM profession. Unfortunately, until such time as a Program Director is found, this baccalaureate program cannot move forward. The qualified candidate must hold a certification as a RHIA and have a minimum of a master's degree.
If you have any questions about becoming an HIM educator or about the BSM in HIM Program Director position at Fisher College, please contact Patricia Parkes at pparkes@fisher.edu or by calling 800-284-4083 x709. Website: www.fisher.edu
Education Notes: Labourè College
Nancy A. Entwistle, MPA, RHIT, CCS, ACE, Chairperson & Assistant Professor, Coding & HIT
You can reach Nancy Entwistle at Nancy_Entwistle@laboure.edu or by calling 617-296-8300 ext 4063. Website: www.laboure.edu
Congratulations to our Newly Credentialed
The following MaHIMA members earned an AHIMA credential in the third quarter of 2010:
Paula J. Bowman, CCA
Gail Ogdenparravicini, CCA
Susan Vanaman, CCA
MaHIMA grants Certification Scholarships to any member of MaHIMA who has taken and passed one of the AHIMA sponsored certification programs.Information on the MaHIMA Certification Scholarship is available at www.mahima.org/member_certification_scholarship/.
MaHIIMA granted certification scholarships (in memory of Meredith Cameron) to the following members this quarter:
- Joseph Reitano, RHIT
- Christopher Rushbrooke, RHIT
- Mary Jean Conlon, CCS
Monthly Reminders:
OCTOBER Coding Roundtable Applications/Renewals are due October 30th. Click here for information.
MHDC HealthMart, DCU Center, Worcester, MA (October 5)
MaHIMA Western MA Meeting, Baystate Medical Center, Holyoke, MA (October 22)
NOVEMBER Health Information & Technology Week (November 7-13)
MaHIMA Dot Wagg Memorial Seminar, Marlboro Holiday Inn (November 9)
MaHIMA Coding Roundtable Meeting, New England Sinai, Stoughton (November 17)
MaHIMA Joint Meeting with MAPAM, Westford Regency Inn (November 18)
DECEMBER Remember to submit your CEU's to AHIMA for cycles ending December 31st
E-Channel Editor in Chief
Clare Carvel , MEd, RHIA, CCS
clarecarvel@comcast.net
E-Channel Staff Editor
Sherry Palo, RHIA, CCS
palo@tiac.net
E-Channel Technical Editor
Karen O'Donnell, RHIA
karen@mahima.org