April 23, 2008


Contents

  1. President's Message

  2. Upcoming Events

  3. 2008 Annual Meeting

  4. Plan to Attend the Long Term Care Spring 2008 Meeting

  5. The MoHIMA
    Bridge the Gap Mentor Program

  6. Join AHIMA in Support of the RAC Moratorium Act  (HR 4105)

  7. New Eligibility Period for Certification Exams

  8. Foundation Booth At Annual Meeting

  9. Scholarship Winners

  10. Job Posting Board at Annual Meeting

  11. Update Your AHIMA Member Profile

 

President's Message

This week has been one for the history books.  Earthquakes are certainly interesting.  My household was awakened last Friday morning at 4:37am to everything shaking.  We live on a fault line, but you just take for granted that nothing will happen.  We had a few pictures knocked off center and that was all.  My dogs even slept through all the shaking.

It does make me think about disaster planning and how we need to be prepared with our health information.  As HIM professionals we should step up to the plate and take on the role of educator.  We need to inform consumers as to what health information they should have incase of an emergency.  The best options would be to send information to a relative or friend that does not live near you, or to store it on-line.  Either way, it can be accessible after the event.   Something to think about….

I look forward to seeing some of you next week.  It will be very informative and lots of fun. 

Have a wonderful week!

Julie Wolter, MA, RHIA
President, MoHIMA


Upcoming Events

2008 Annual Meeting

Dollars for Scholars

Don't forget to participate in the MoHIMA
Dollars for Scholars opportunity at the Annual Meeting! Monetary donations provide you with chances to win fabulous prizes, and all proceeds go directly to the Scholarship fund. 

 

MoHIMA
Silent Auction

MoHIMA
will be hosting a Silent Auction at the Annual Meeting.  In the past, we've auctioned some great items including gift baskets, artwork, photography, electronic devices and quilts.   If you would like to donate an item, or money that would be used to purchase an item, please contact Sharon Farley at sharon.farley@mercy.net.  Proceeds go towards the MoHIMA
scholarship fund.


Plan to Attend the Long Term Care Spring 2008 Meeting

Join your colleagues for the Long Term Care Spring Meeting co-sponsored by AHIMA, the Long Term Care Community of Practice, and the Missouri Health Information Management Association. The meeting takes place May 1—2 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, MO. Information is available at http://www.mohima.org/LTCmeeting.html


The MoHIMA
Bridge the Gap Mentor Program

Help us shape the next generation of HIM professionals

The Mentor
Are you an HIM professional willing to teach, guide, share or serve as a reference person to students entering a HIA/HIT program?  If the answer is yes, a small amount of your time, would assist a student in growing into a confident and knowledgeable HIM professional, preparing them for greater success in our consistently changing field.

The rewards of mentoring are immeasurable and the impact you will have on the student and the HIM profession priceless. If you or others in your company become a mentor for a student, your reputation for employer of choice is maximized and the caliber of applicants is vastly improved.

Potential Mentor must be a MoHIMA
member.  Each mentor that successfully completes one year of this program will also be placed in the drawing for one free MoHIMA
annual meeting registration!!!!

The Mentee
If you are a MoHIMA
Student member enrolled in an HIA/HIT program or a recent graduate (within one year!), you qualify for placement.   All Missouri HIA/HIT student members are invited to join.

MoHIMA
Mentor Guidelines

Visit www.mohima.org and click on the Mentoring tab to learn more about this exciting new program. 


Join AHIMA in Support of the RAC Moratorium Act  (HR 4105)

One of AHIMA’s primary advocacy goals for its 2008 Hill Day was to increase support for HR 4105, the “Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Moratorium Act.” To continue our effort, we are requesting that all AHIMA members visit the action center of the Advocacy Assistant at https://secure.ahima.org/DC/Login.asp and send a letter to your congressional representative in support of HR 4105. An action alert is already active on the site; simply select it, review the alert, edit the letter (if you wish), enter your contact information and hit send. HR 4105 was introduced by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) in response to problems identified in the Medicare RAC pilot programs in California, Florida, and New York which have not been resolved in spite of complaints from these three states and the industry. AHIMA fears that without evaluation and resolution of these problems, healthcare providers will suffer significant costs due to the administrative problems caused by the RAC program and the Medicare program.


New Eligibility Period for Certification Exams

Effective July 1, 2008, the eligibility period for testing for all AHIMA examinations will change from six months to four months.  This is being done to encourage eligible candidates to take the exam sooner rather than later, as many students are more likely to do well on the exam shortly after their course work.   Candidates who are currently eligible to test will NOT be affected by this change.  However, candidates whose applications are processed after, or on July 1, 2008, will have four months to take their exam.


Foundation Booth At Annual Meeting

Come to the MoHIMA
Annual Meeting April 30, 2008 – May 2, 2008 and while you are there come visit the Foundation booth.  Missouri will once again be hosting a Foundation pledge drive.  Last year we raised $4,300 for the Missouri/ Illinois show.  Our goal for this year is to raise $2,500.  With a minimum donation of $10 you will be entered to win one of our fabulous prizes drawings!  So come on out and make a donation or just give us your loose change, it all adds up for supporting a great cause. 


Scholarship Winners

The MoHIMA
Awards Committee received 48 scholarship applications from student in four of our Missouri Health Information Programs.  The Committee had four tough decisions to make; all of this years applicants had impressive applications.  After much discussion, a winner from each program was chosen.

The winners are (drum roll please):

  • Saint Louis University: Jordan Roszhart

  • Ozarks Technical Community College: Cheryl Wolf

  • Penn Valley Community College: Steven Wilson

  • Stephens College: Martha Hale

I would like to personally thank everyone who applied for the student scholarship this year.  While we can only choose one winner from each program, it is good to see that there are so many outstanding students ready to enter the HIM field.

Jeff McGraw, RHIT
Awards Committee Chair


Job Posting Board at Annual Meeting

Would you like to post a job at the annual meeting?  We'll have a poster board and tacks available, so bring your job description along and add it to the board!

Also, view new job opportunities on the MoHIMA
website!

Update Your AHIMA Member Profile

AHIMA has a new look for the Member Profile!  The upgrade to the new layout may have wiped out some of your information.  Click here to login and update your profile.