Congratulations to Mt. Hood Community College for achieving AHDI approval at the April meeting of the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP). Since 2004, AHDI has approved 23 medical transcription training programs. Click here to learn more about the approval program.

As part of its “First Time Right” quality service initiative, MedQuist Inc., the nation’s largest employer of healthcare documentation specialists, will begin offering BenchMark KB to its U.S. and global employees and partners, comprising 8,000+ users, during quarter two of 2010. BenchMark KB, developed by InterFix LLC in partnership with AHDI, is a comprehensive HIM knowledge base and information portal that provides real-time access to the most up-to-date clinical information and health information management resources critical to the accurate capture of healthcare encounters documented by MTs and editors every day. This investment in the development of its workforce demonstrates MedQuist’s ongoing commitment to industry leadership in the area of quality. Read the full story at SmartBrief.

Date: May 11, 2010
Presenter: Lea Sims, CMT, AHDI-F
Time: 3 PM PDT / 4 PM MDT / 5 PM CDT / 6 PM EDT
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Registration Close: May 6, 2010
Cost: $30 Members / $40 Nonmembers
CE Given: 1.5 PD

In today’s “wired” world of rapid texts and tweets, it can be easy to abandon those important technical writing skills that are still necessary in today’s marketplace. Whether responding to customer service emails, drafting a public communication, writing ad copy, submitting an article, or preparing a PowerPoint presentation, strong communication skills are still highly valued, particularly in a healthcare documentation sector where messaging is greatly scrutinized. Join us for this high-impact strategy workshop, where you will leave with 50 tangible tips for improving business communications.

Lea is the Director of Professional Programs for AHDI and has been working for the association since 2004. In that role, she oversees all association messaging and communications, including coordination of association print and electronic publications; drafting of key association position papers, press releases, and standards; creative and strategic direction of campaigns and advocacy programs; direction of AHDI credentialing/education programs; and coordination of best practices initiatives. She is the author and managing editor of The Book of Style for Medical Transcription, 3rd edition, and The Book of Style Workbook,3rd edition. She has been an MT for 22 years and holds a BA in Education (English) with a minor in linguistics from the University of North Florida.

Click here to register!

Date: May 26, 2010
Presenter: Cassie Uber
Time: 1 PM PDT / 2 PM MDT / 3 PM CDT / 4 PM EDT
Duration: 1 Hour
Registration Close: May 21, 2010
Cost: FREE
CE Given: N/A

Do you want to get credentialed but don’t know where to start? This comprehensive FREE webinar will cover everything you need to know about how to become an RMT or CMT, including an overview of the content of both exams, test taking tips, information on how to register, and even sample test questions.

Cassie Uber is the Credentialing and Education Coordinator for AHDI.

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Date: May 19, 2010
Presenter: Kelly Kappmeier
Time: 10 AM PDT / 11 AM MDT/ 12 PM CDT / 1 PM EDT
Duration: 1 Hour
Registration Close: May 14, 2010
Cost: FREE
CE Given: N/A

In this one hour presentation you will learn what is included in association membership and how to take advantage of those benefits. Availability for this complimentary webinar is on a first come first serve basis.

Kelly Kappmeier is Professional Programs Manager for the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and the Medical Transcription Industry Association. She has served this industry on the AHDI staff for over a decade. She has been a member of the American Society for Association Executives and the Project Management Institute for the past couple years and is currently working towards her Project Management Professional credential.

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Date: May 4, 2010
Presenters: Barb Marques, CMT, AHDI-F & Bonnie Monico, CMT, AHDI-F
Time: 3 PM PDT / 4 PM MDT / 5 PM CDT / 6 PM EDT
Duration: 2 Hours
Registration Close: April 29, 2010
Cost: FREE
CE Given: n/a

AHDI’s Board of Directors, Component Leaders, and House of Delegates are spearheading a new initiative to ensure the long-term success, relevance, and business sustainability of our association’s components. This project, called “The Blueprint for Great Governance,” is being lead by AHDI President-Elect Barb Marques, CMT, AHDI-F, and Speaker of the House Bonnie Monico, CMT, AHDI-F, with an esteemed group of team members representing the diversity of our membership. The Team will host a series of online Town Hall meetings to brainstorm new approaches, services, and models to best serve the needs of our members and position MTs for long-term success in this rapidly changing environment of healthcare.

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Life moves quickly; time is limited. There’s no doubt about it. It’s important to take a moment to pause and appreciate not only what we have accomplished, but who helped make it happen.

For AHDI, it’s the hundreds of volunteers who share their time and expertise to make it happen. Organizing local members to write Congress, mentoring students, participating in committees, facilitating list serve discussions, fundraising, serving on the Board of Directors, speaking at conferences, and researching terms—these are only a few of the things our volunteers do to help us reach our collective goals as a healthcare documentation community.

We extend a warm “Thank You” to each and every one of our volunteers. Thank you for everything you do for the nearly 15,000 individual, company, and educational members of AHDI. Please join us in celebrating our volunteers and their contributions during National Volunteer Week.

Date: April 26
Presenters: Jefferson Howe and Sherry Doggett
Time: 1 PM PDT / 2 PM MDT / 3 PM CDT / 4 PM EDT
Duration: 1 Hour
Registration Close: April 21, 2010
Cost: $20 Members / $30 Nonmembers
CE Given: 1 TW

According to Chris Dimick in an article entitled “The Empowered Patient,” published in February 2010 Journal of AHIMA, The movement to give patients better access to and control of their health information is giving HIM a new customer: The patient. That requires a shift in both operations and culture.” For medical transcription, that means greater transparency of information between the patient and transcriptionist and for MT quality programs – it changes everything. This presentation will explore current Risk Management practices in transcription and give light to the changing environment of healthcare quality and data integrity in electronic systems.

Jefferson Howe, MSA, CMT is a past-president of the American Association for Medical Transcription (now AHDI) and a practicing Manager of Health Information Management at Maine Medical Center, a 606-bed teaching hospital in Portland, Maine. Maine. Maine Medical Center is today, one of the leading hospitals in advanced integration of information systems, speech recognition technology and integrated document imaging systems With over 25 years experience in transcription practice, medical record services and health information management that includes medical review in an acute care setting, Jefferson brings a unique perspective into the changing healthcare arena and the environment of medical records management. Jefferson has been a medical transcriptionist since 1984, a CMT since 1989 and holds a MS in Administration from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. His concentration is in Organizational Behavior.

Sherry Doggett is the Director of the Health Alliance Corporate Transcription Department. The Health Alliance is a mutli-hospital integrated delivery system located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her department has been a pioneer in the utilization of speech recognition and Sherry has been involved in the Electronic Health Record. Sherry currently serves as treasurer on the AHDI Board of Directors.

Register now!

Answers and Solutions You Need to Prepare for Your Career Tomorrow!

August 4-7, 2010
Austin, Texas

The anticipation is growing with only 112 days to the start of ACE"AHDI’s premier annual convention for medical transcriptionists and healthcare documentation professionals. With renowned author and life-balance expert Connie Merritt, RN, PHN; education tracks in clinical medicine, industry trends and technology, and workforce development; and networking opportunities to expand your professional circle of connections, this is an event you cannot afford to miss! Register by June 7 to secure the absolute lowest rate on your registration package.

Start Exploring the Opportunities and Making Your Plans

• ACE 2010 preliminary schedule of events is now available.
• Interested in being a presenter? A few slots are still available; submit an abstract online.

We are pleased to announce the Austin Hilton as the official host hotel for ACE 2010. Centrally located in downtown Austin within a stone’s throw of shopping, dining, and nightlife, the Austin Hilton is accepting reservations for ACE. Two options are available:

• $139 plus tax per night (single/double) – pre-pay for your entire stay
• $153 plus tax per night (single/double) – pay upon arrival

To take advantage of either booking offer, click here.

Register Now for ACE 2010 at the lowest rate available. Please be sure to login to the website before registering to receive you member discount!

Register for ACE 2010 Online

Download the .pdf version of the ACE 2010 Registration Form to register by fax or mail.

AHDI is excited to announce the launch of ACE365, our new conference networking site, where you can get connected to convention and event information, network with other visitors/attendees, and get into the stream of speaker, schedule, and exhibitor information prior to the event. Register to become part of this dynamic community, powered by Ning.com, join us for year-round networking, and keep the conversation going 365 days of the year! Registered members of this community can share event photos, view Twitter and Flickr feeds of AHDI events, find an ACE roommate, visit the first-timer’s area, and read sneak peek interviews with conference keynote speakers and presenters. Register at the link above and click “Sign Up” in the upper right corner.

Not attending ACE 2010? Make sure to register at the ACE 365 page anyway, where we will be creating a “live” virtual experience during the convention for those registered members who cannot attend. You won’t want to miss it!