By Carrie Boatman

Interview with AHDI’s NLB Director,
Susan M Lucci, RHIT, CHPS, CMT, AHDI-F

Susan Lucci has been in healthcare documentation for over 25 years. Recently, she launched a new business, Privacy Officer Services, LLC which provides MTSOs with their own credentialed HIM privacy officer. In addition, she has just joined MedScribe Health Information Management as their Chief Operations Officer.

Susan has been a speaker at many state, regional, and national conferences. She has also written many articles for Plexus, Matrix, For the Record, and Journal of AHIMA. She serves on the executive committee for the Health Story Project for AHIMA. Susan was the 2009-2010 president of AHDI and is serving a second term (2011-2013) on the AHDI National Leadership Board.

1. As a newly elected director at large, what will be your main focus for our association for 2012? Because of the consolidation in the industry, it is more important than ever to reach all the healthcare documentation specialists and let them know what AHDI is doing on their behalf. We definitely need to…

Congratulations to

Kathleen “Kat” King, AHDI-F

AHDI-West Member of the Year!

We would also like to recognize our other nominees for their outstanding contributions to the profession and the association:

Brenda Dorsett, CMT

Sandy Shumaker, CMT, AHDI-F

CLICK TITLE TO READ ABOUT OUR NOMINEES

AHDI Board of Directors

Director of Curriculum Development

TRSI Corporation

Stakeholder Panelist

Washington-Idaho Regional Extension Center (WIREC)

My journey began as a certified emergency medical technician and sales/marketing professional at a high-technology manufacturing company. I was interested in learning healthcare documentation and entered the profession as a medical transcriptionist, graduating from an approved school. I began working for a national company transcribing multispecialty and acute care reports from home; the same vision many of us are attracted to. I focused on understanding the profession, making sense of the terminology, and developing an appreciation for the impact our career has on patient safety, risk management, and the overall role in healthcare documentation delivery. I remained committed to learning this position and overcoming the tough challenges we face as new graduates.

How do you let go of a precious jewel?

Terri has been a jewel in AHDI-West’s crown. She joined our Board of Governors in January 2010. Her vision and ability to remain calm in the midst of turbulence has been a true gift to all of us. Terri has been instrumental in the direction our association has gone throughout this year. She has served on the AHDI steering committee developing our future structure.

We are sad to say good-bye to this Arizona resident as she and her husband (and dog, Princess) return to Oxford, Maine. Although it’s hard to imagine the transition to this frosty climate, we are certain she will be warmly welcomed by the AHDI members of the Northeast.

Until we meet again…

Revisit her story.

Tracey Roberts, AHDI-West Student Member
Cave Junction, Oregon
As a student MT nearing graduation, I am filled with hope and excitement for my new future!  I am Tracey Roberts, a native of SW Oregon, and anticipate that by the end of October I will be an M-TEC graduate and a proud RMT!
This year, 2010, will forever stand out as one of major changes in my life.  In the spring, we welcomed a new baby boy via a beautiful waterbirth into our family, joining a 2-year-old big sister at home and, of course, …

By Jeffrey Brendt, RMT
Sacramento, CA
I would like to take a moment to introduce myself to the AHDI-West membership.  I am a student member of AHDI, and I come to the industry from a legal transcription background.  I am proudly completing my medical transcription coursework at TechSkills of Sacramento, California.  As an AHDI member, I have participated in a number of professional development activities, and have greatly benefited from the association’s webinars and other products.  I recently completed Oak Horizons’ RMT Prep Assessment course, and I have successfully passed the RMT …

When  it comes to writing about myself I always seem to have a problem…but I want to introduce myself to all of our members, so I’m going to do my best without under- or over-doing it!
I am originally from Provo, Utah. I came into the world on September 2, 1944.  (Egads!) We lived in Provo and during my tween years we lived in Ontario, Oregon; Nampa, Idaho; and Caldwell, Idaho.  In fact, we moved back and forth between Nampa and Caldwell a couple of times!  Moved back to Orem, Utah …

I discovered the world of Medical Transcription quite by accident. Someone else mentioned that she thought I would like to do what her friend did – medical transcription from home. I have always been interested in anything medical, so I did some research and enrolled in Central Arizona College’s medical transcription 2 year certificate course. I loved my classes, although they were challenging since I had no previous medical experience. My instructors were phenomenal! After graduation I was able to obtain a job working from home for a transcription company. …

Jay Vance, CMT, Product Specialist for Superior Global Solutions, Inc. and President/CEO of Vance Digital, LLC.
Presentation at PHOENIX RISING! “Sense & Sensibility: Successful Social Networking Strategies”
Jay Vance has been active in the medical transcription and health information technology fields in a variety of capacities since 1999. He is a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) and works as a technology product specialist for Superior Global Solutions, Inc. He is also President and CEO of Vance Digital, LLC, a digital technology and HIPAA compliance consulting firm to small MTSOs and …

Karen Fox-Acosta, CMT, AHDI-F
AHDI Board Partner to AHDI-West
I learned to type in 8th grade because my penmanship was awful. I’m sure turning in typed reports raised my grades all through high school. I began my transcription career while at Butte Community College in Northern California. I was on my third major, and after 7 years, I had finally found the career that fit for me, medical transcription; helping people and blending the science of medicine with my love of language and an ability to work my way around a keyboard. …