Kristin Hagen, CPHIT, CPEHR, CPHIE, AHDI-F
2009-2011 AHDI Board of Directors, Secretary

“Times are a Changing” in this evolution-revolution of our profession.  Intelligent speech recognition, redesigned workflow processes, electronic medical record implementation, new rules and regulations are all colliding and impacting the way we do business.  The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity is an organization that promotes and focuses the integrity of data capture, sets the standards of care in our profession, and produces best practices and industry white papers.

What opportunities are available to the transcriptionist to stay informed, boost productivity, and elevate our profession?  First and foremost are industry awareness and knowledge.   Connecting and advocating for our profession at the local, state/regional, and national levels are imperative to our future.  Change is cyclically occurring at a rapid rate.  From a personal and professional investment perspective, earning credentials are key to staying informed and networking with allied peers.  Consider an investment in the speech recognition training curriculum and course offered through AHDI.  Alternatively, the BenchMark KB by InterFix is a tool that includes MTs and HIMs with an AHDI Associate Membership, provides a console of industry information happenings, maintains accurate databases, and showcases quality standards of care.  Looking back at National MT week, celebrate the investment in yourself combined with quality education as helpful “next steps” to drive a successful and rewarding career journey.

The time is now to prepare for networking with allied health professionals, vendors, and involving yourself to attend the Annual Convention and Expo (ACE) in Austin, Texas – http://www.ace365.org.  This year’s theme “No Limits” will be hosted at the Hilton Austin, August 4-7.  Plan to listen about industry trends and drivers, learn new technologies entering the market space, and ways to additionally prepare for increased security through national incentives of health information exchange and health reform –now on the horizon.

Through our national associations, board of directors, leadership committees, and staff, we are readily available to help “you.”  Get connected, prepare for our future together, and work to sustain and advance our place in healthcare documentation.  With multiple ways to input information into an electronic medical records system, come understand the modalities to place the information privately and securely.  AHDI meets those needs to help sustain viability of our profession, support meaningful use requirements, and promote higher education within ourselves and our profession.  Collaboratively the makeup of the leadership team, diverse professions, new professionals, students, and peers, are all here to support “you.”