I was fortunate enough to have been part of the early years of AHDI (AAMT). I was around when we began the transition from volunteers to professional staff. I was around as we began to centralize operations. I was around when we launched our first big marketing project by developing the General Medicine and General Surgery Modules. When we moved the Certification Exam from a pencil and paper to an electronic test in a testing center. When we combined the Journal and the Newsletter into one publication. When we outsourced …
By Terri Wakefield, CMT
Our profession as medical documentation specialists requires us to be single-minded. However, the pressure and pace oftentimes diffuses our concentration and wanes our energy. I believe that there is a very good reason why so many in the healthcare field suffer burnout. We are often asked to go above and beyond the normal schedules in order to meet turnaround times and to help cover for those sick, taking a vacation, attending a meeting. Sometimes we are pushed (unfortunately) for production, even at the …
Sandy Shumaker, CMT, AHDI-F has been involved with AHDI for 30 years, becoming a CMT in 1980. She began Shumaker Transcription Service in Glendora, CA in 1981, celebrating her 28th year in business. Over those many years she served on the Board of Directors for the East San Gabriel Valley Chapter for AAMT and was a founding member of that chapter. She is presently serving as Secretary for the Orange County Chapter of AHDI. On a regional level, she is co-leader of the Advocacy Focus Group …
Congratulations are in order for all of our awesome AHDI-West members who received their CMT and RMT credentials in 2009…
By Maggie Armbruster, CMT, AHDI-F
AHDI-West, Legislative Liaison
When I first got into advocacy, it was for reasons other than my understanding of government doings or that I felt I had a pressing need to go to the legislators with a message. I attended for the mere reason that I wanted to go to Sacramento with my friend, Sandy, for the experience of being in Sacramento. I knew I had to go to the capitol and participate, and maybe learn something; however, I was hoping we’d finish up that …
We’ve all been glued to our televisions this past 2 weeks, watching the disaster in Haiti unfold. It’s been incredible to watch the devastation, the rush to help the survivors, the incredible spirit of the Haitian people. I watched one woman who was buried alive and stuck for 36 hours before they got her out. Her husband waited the whole time, believing she was alive and focusing efforts to get her out. And when she was finally evacuated from the building, she sang a song of thankfulness.
Then I watched Anderson …
By Sandy Shumaker, CMT, AHDI-F
AHDI-West Legislative Liaison
Over the last year, fellow MTs have asked me this question often with regard to Advocacy and to be perfectly honest, I’m not quite sure. One day, I was registering for the annual California state meeting in Sacramento and the next, I’m advocating for our profession in Washington DC. Quite a stretch for an MT from Glendora, CA! But thinking back, perhaps it was a very logical step and one that needed to be taken on my part.
It was February 2009 …
