All Entries Tagged With: "Minnesota"

More than a dozen opportunities to learn locally this spring

Texas: The state-wide TX ACDIS group holds its annual meeting Friday, April 6, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at KPMG Building in Dallas. The agenda includes:

• Registration and networking
• Chapter Business Meeting
• The Importance of Capturing Shock in the ICU Setting, Cindy Pritchett
• Lunch
• IPPS and ICD 10: What the future holds, Beverly Cunningham
• Value Based Purchasing, Scott Robins, MD
• Networking, Q&A

For information, contact Joanne Dukes at 972/566-5526 or email joanne.dukes@hcahealthcare.com.

New Orleans: The NOLA ACDIS Chapter holds its next meeting on April 11, 4-6 p.m., at Semolina’s restaurant in Metairie, LA. For information, email Melissa Mayer melissamayer@ejgh.org.

Indiana: The Central Indiana Chapter is gearing up for its next meeting Wednesday, April 11, 10 a.m. to noon, with featured speaker Nancy Ignatowicz presenting “CDI Success:  How Do You Measure It?”  For information, contact Susan Bradford at 317/776-7285 or by email at sbradford@riverview.org.

PHIMA: The Pennsylvania AHIMA group holds a CDI-related education session on Friday, April 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Wesley Village Conference Area, in Pittston. The agenda includes:

• Continental Breakfast
• Physician Buy In for your CDI Program, David McCann, director, Berkeley Research Group, LLC
• Physician Leadership and CDI Initiatives, Herbert Weinman, MD, president, BCE Technology
• CDI Programs: Why you Need One, Make it Successful, and Justify It, Mario A. Perez, III, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P director, clinical consulting, J.A. Thomas & Associates
• Lunch
• Roundtable Discussion: CDI Programs Implementation and Use, AHIMA CDI Tool Kit
• Review of Documentation Requirements for Optimal Reimbursement, Caroline Rader Znaniec, manager, Health Care Advisory Services, Grant Thornton, LLP

For information, email Eve Ellen Mandler at Eve-Ellen.Mandler@stclair.org.

Nevada: The next Southern Nevada ACDIS meeting will be on Wednesday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. Guest speaker Karen Zaninovich Parker, RHIT, 3M Health Information Services consulting, will discuss how CDI specialists can begin ICD-10 documentation improvement now. She is making a special trip from Utah to join the Nevada ACDIS Chapter group. Attendees are invited to bring a brown-bag dinner. Admission is free. RSVP to Ailsa Kompare by April 16 at 702/343-7232 or email ailsa.kompare@kindredhealthcare.com.

Tennessee: The TN ACDIS and the THIMA host a joint session Friday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., focused on ICD-10 and the CDI program development. The agenda includes:

• ICD-10 and Beyond: The changing world of classification systems, Kathy Hallock, RHIA
• CDI from a Physician’s Perspective, Drew Rothschild, MD
• Best Practices for CDI Programs: Practical advice for improving or creating a successful program, Kyra Brown, RHIA, CCS
• What you should be doing now to prepare for ICD-10: How you can help your physicians improve documentation practices now, James Kennedy, MD, CCS
• Working lunch: HCA’s Approach to CDI.
• Group work: groups will choose a diagnosis or procedure where documentation must drastically change to support ICD-10 coding. The groups will discuss ways to improve documentation practices relative to those situations. In the second half of the group work session participants will discuss how to propose and justify a CDI program to hospital administrations.
• Reports from group work and open forum

Registration is $120. Online registration closes at the end of the business day on Tuesday, April 17th.
Click here to register. For information contact, Wanda M. Johnson executive director, TN Health Information Management Association, Nashville, at 615/242-7275 or email wanda@thima.org.

Michigan: The MACDIS Chapter will hold its quarterly telephone conference call on Thursday, April 19, noon to 1 p.m. The guest speaker is ACDIS Advisory Board member Fran Jurcak, RN, MSN, CCDS, director of CDI Practice for Huron Healthcare in Chicago. She will discuss ICD-10, goals/objectives of a CDI program, CDI staff productivity standards, leading queries,and the benefits of the CCDS certification.

The July MACDIS conference call is in its planning stages. The October quarterly meeting will be a joint regional meeting in collaboration with the Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Northern Illinois, ACDIS associations.

For more information, contact Janet Gentle at 231/487-7509 or email jgentle@northernhealth.org.

New York: The next Albany, NY-regional ACDIS meeting will be held Wednesday, April 25, 2-4 p.m., at the Krause Center at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. For information, contact Lois Rubin at 518/525-1081 or email LRubin@sphcs.org.

Illinois: The next Northern Illinois ACDIS meeting will be held on Friday, April 27, 12:45 p.m., at Centegra Hospital, in McHenry. For information, contact Colleen Stukenberg at 815/599-6820, or email CStukenberg@fhn.org.

Maryland: The MDHIMA hosts its meeting 1-5 p.m., Thursday, May 3, at the Convention Center in Baltimore. The agenda features ACDIS Advisory Board member Robert S. Gold, MD, and discussion of CDI-related efforts including:

• Getting Medical Staff Interested in ICD-10”
• Metrics of CDI
• Writing Effective Queries

For information, visit http://www.mdhima.org/ContactUs.html.

West Virginia: The newly formed West Virginia ACDIS Chapter holds its first meeting Monday, May 14, at 1 p.m., at CAMC Hospital in Charleston. For information, contact Sheila Harrison at 304/389-0689 or email Sheila.Harrison@camc.org.

Kentucky/Illinois: The next session of the Kentucky/Illinois ACDIS Chapter will be Thursday, May 24, 1-4 p.m., at St. Mary’s and Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, KY. For information, contact Rita Fields at or email rita.fields@BHSI.COM.

Georgia: The next meeting of the Southeast Chapter of the Association of Clinical Documentation Specialists will be Friday, June 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA. For information, contact Bonnie I. Epps at 404/712-4550 or email Bonnie.Epps@emoryhealthcare.org.  Visit the Southeast Regional ACDIS Chapter Facebook page for announcements and other information.

New groups, meetings promote CDI efforts in February

New networking groups

Philadelphia: The Philadelphia CDI network has new energy and is planning its first meeting for 2012. For information, contact Judi Bates at Lourdes Health System at 856/757-3161 or e-mail at BatesJ@lourdesnet.org. Or call Debby Dallen at Albert Einstein Medical Center at 856/786-0897 or e-mail dallend@einstein.edu.

Rochester, NY: Ruth Pfrengle, BSN, RN, director of utilization management at the University of Rochester Medical Center, has volunteered to help facilitate networking opportunities in the region. For information, contact 585/273-3816 or e-mail ruth_pfrengle@urmc.rochester.edu.

Texas: Barbara Presley, RN, CDI specialist at the University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin has volunteered to help professionals from the San Antonio/Austin area to network. For information, contact her at 512/324-7679 or e-mail baPresley@seton.org.

Vermont: Suzanne Schultz, RN, BSN, CCM, CCDS, CDI specialist at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, has volunteered to connect CDI professionals in the state. For information, contact her at 802/847-2140 or e-mail suzanne.schultz@vtmednet.org.

Washington: The Evergreen ACDIS Chapter of Northwest Washington seeks new volunteers to help lead the group in 2012. For information, contact Jennifer Woodworth, RN, BSN, CCDS, director of CDI at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle by phone at 206/215-2073 or e-mail Jennifer.Woodworth@swedish.org. Or contact Cathie Murphree, LPN, CCDS, Documentation Improvement Specialist/HIM, at St. Joseph Medical Center, in Bellingham, at 360/788-6300 ext. 3429 or e-mail CMurphree@peacehealth.org.

West Virginia: Sheila Harrison, RN, BSN, CDI specialist at the Charleston Area Medical Center, Teays Valley Division, has volunteered to help get networking efforts started in the state. For information, contact 304/389-0689 or e-mail Sheila.Harrison@camc.org.

February meetings

New Hampshire: The next meeting will be held Wednesday, February 8, 1-2:30 p.m., at Elliot Hospital in Manchester. For information, contact Carla A. Heyn at 603/663-3452 or by e-mail at cheyn@Elliot-HS.org

Albany, NY: The Albany (NY) ACDIS Regional Chapter holds its next meeting Wednesday, February 8, 2-4 p.m., at St. Peter’s Hospital. The group will discuss documentation regarding acute renal failure. For information, contact Lois Rubin at 518/525-1081 or e-mail lrubin@sphcs.org.

Virginia: The next Virginia ACDIS Chapter meeting will be held Saturday, February 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1222 Jefferson Park Ave., in Charlottesville. Each attending facility will present/discuss what works well in their facility and what needs improvements. There will also be a teleconference/webinar presentation by ACDIS Advisory Board member Glenn Krauss.

Continuing its “ACDIS gives back” tradition, UVA has decided to donate to The HAVEN, a safe and welcoming place for the homeless in our community. Donations can range from warm items such as gloves, hats, or scarves to nonperishable food. A complete list can be obtained at www.thehavenatfirstandmarket.org/give/. For information, contact Sequana Webb 434/760-4491 or e-mail sck8u@virginia.edu.

Wisconsin: Will hold its winter meeting Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Wheaton Franciscan Health Care, in Wauwatosa. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. CCDS and AHIMA credits will be offered. The meeting agenda includes:

• “A Clinical Perspective on Chart Review and Diagnoses Assignment: A QIO Reviewer’s Perspective,” by Jessica Whitley, MD, MBA, hospitalist and QIO reviewer.
• “CDI’s Impact on the Recovery Audit Contractor Initiative: Capitalizing on our Strengths to Minimize Hospital Financial Exposure,” by Diane Draize, RN, CPUR, CCDS, CDI specialist at Ministry Health, and Joan Korn, BSN, RN, CDI specialist at Wheaton Franciscan Health Care.
• “What You Don’t Know About Principles of Multiple Significant Trauma is What You Don’t Know!,” by Kathy Thomas, RN, CDI specialist at Wheaton Franciscan Health Care, and Renee Hedtcke, RN, CCDS, at Aurora Summit Medical Center
• Open Discussion/Roundtable: Opportunities for CDI Initiatives in the Ambulatory Care environment as well as inpatient setting beyond reimbursement

Deadline to register is Sunday, February 12. Registration is $25 for WI ACDIS members; $50 non-members.

For information, contact Kathy Thomas, RN, at Wheaton Franciscan Health Care, kathleen.Thomas@wfhc.org; Renee Hedtcke, RN, CCDS, at Aurora Health Care, renee.hedtcke@aurora.org; Diane Draize from Ministry Door County Medical Center Sturgeon Bay  at diane.draize@ministryhealth.org, Joan Korn from Wheaton Franciscan St. Francis in Milwaukee at joan.korn@wfhc.org, or Glenn Krauss, independent consultant, glennkrauss@earthlink.net.

N. Illinois: The next meeting will take place on Thursday, February 16, from noon to 3:30 p.m., at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. The agenda includes:

• Participation in the ACDIS Quarterly Conference Call
• Presentation by Maralee Gray, BSN, CDI specialist at Rockford Memorial Hospital regarding “CDIS and ICD-10 Crossing Over: How to Safely Make it to the Other Side”
• Presentation by Karolee Fill, MSN, APN-CNP, at Northwest Community Hospital regarding “Basic Review of Echocardiography in the Heart Failure population”

For information, contact Nancy R. Ignatowicz at 815/806-2322 or e-mail nancy.ignatowicz@provena.org. Or contact Colleen Stukenberg MSN, RN, CMSRN, CCDS, at 815/599-6820, or e-mail CStukenberg@fhn.org.

California: The California ACDIS Chapter holds its regular meeting the fourth Wednesday of the month, February 22, 9-10 a.m. Those interested in volunteering to help lead the chapter are invited to step forward at this time. For information, contact Dexter D’Costa at 573/529-1791 or e-mail dr_dexterdcosta@yahoo.com.

Maine: The next meeting will be held Thursday, February 23, noon to 4 p.m., at Mid-Coast Hospital in Brunswick. For information, contact Cathy Seluke at 207/872-1796 or e-mail Cathy.Seluke@mainegeneral.org.

New England: The next New England Regional ACDIS Chapter meeting will be held Tuesday, February 28, 2-4 p.m., at Tufts Medical Center, Stearns Auditorium. Janet Cavagnac from Baystate will review ICD-10 coding in 3M software. Participants should bring a 3M equipped laptop if possible. Volunteers are needed to schedule future meeting and help lead the group. For information, contact Kelley Sears at 508/954-7432 or e-mail Kelley.Sears@steward.org.

Georgia (Southeast): The next Southeast ACDIS meeting will be Wednesday, February 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN. For information, contact Bonnie I. Epps at 404/712-4550 or e-mail Bonnie.Epps@emoryhealthcare.org.  Or visit the Southeast Regional ACDIS Chapter Facebook page for meeting announcements and other information.

Upcoming events

New Jersey: The next NJ meeting will take place Friday, March 2. For information, contact Deborah Gardner-Brown at 732/238-4511, or e-mail Deborah@RRA-INC.com.

Tennessee: The next TN-ACDIS meeting will be held at Baptist Hospital in Nashville on Friday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information, contact Sherri Clark at 865/804-6561 or e-mail SClark@mc.utmck.edu.

Long Island, NY: St. Francis Hospital hosts the next networking meeting on Tuesday, March 6, 3-5 p.m. For information, contact Adelaide M. La Rosa at 516/562-6229 or e-mail Adelaide.LaRosa@chsli.org.

Mid-West Regional: The Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota state ACDIS networks’  mid-west regional conference, has been postponed.

Meeting minutes

The following minutes and/or presentations have been made available from the following chapters:

• Southwest Ohio January newsletter
• Minnesota January meeting minutes and presentation regarding shock
• Northeastern Ohio December 2011 newsletter
• Florida November 2011 newsletter

Local Chapters announce December/January meetings

Minnesota

The next meeting of the Minnesota group will be a 3M sponsored event Friday, Dec. 16, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the 3M Innovation Center in Maplewood. For information, contact Mark LeBlanc at Mark.LeBlanc@ParkNicollet.com.

Northern Ohio

The next meeting of the Northern Ohio ACDIS Chapter takes place Thursday, Dec. 8, at Mercy Medical Center in Canton. Steven Robinson, MS, PA-O, RN, CPUR, senior director of CDI for Maxim Health Information Services will discuss the following CMS mandates and concurrent review opportunities:

• CMS current and upcoming mandates
• The importance of documentation in the medical record
• The typical CDI program
• MS-DRG IPPS (CC/MCC lists)
• POA coding
• RAC
• JCAHO quality core measures

For information, contact Kristine Cilona, RN, at Kristine.Cilona@cantonmercy.org.

Southeastern (Georgia)

The next Southeastern Chapter of ACDIS meets Friday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. The agenda includes:

• SECACDIS Chapter meeting
• ICD-10 coding for orthopedics
• E/M coding
• Lunch and networking
• IPPS Final Rule updates applicable to CDI

For information, visit the group’s Facebook page or e-mail james.doster@emoryhealthcare.org.

Central Indiana

The deadline for leadership nominations are due Friday, Dec. 9.  Please take the opportunity to nominate a colleague via e-mail to Carla Payne at cpayne@ecommunity.com. Candidate biographies/forms are due Dec. 12 and membership voting will take place from Dec. 19 through Jan. 9, 2012. There are currently 68 members in the chapter directory.  Please take the time to participate by submitting your nominations today and make this a meaningful election of our chapter leadership.

The next Central Indiana ACDIS Chapter meeting takes place Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. For information, contact Susan Bradford, RN, BSN, by phone at 317/776-7285 or by e-mail at sbradford@riverview.org.

Maryland

The next Maryland Hospital Association Clinical Documentation Improvement Workgroup meets Friday, Dec. 16, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., for a holiday pot-luck lunch followed by its regular meeting from 1:30-3 p.m., at the Maryland Hospital Association Headquarters in Elkridge. For information, Contact Christine Mobley, RN, director of clinical documentation at Prince George’s Hospital Center, at christine.Mobley@dimensionshealth.org, or James Nagel at jen.01@ex.uchs.org.

Click here to read the minutes from the previous meeting.

Northern Illinois

The next Northern Illinois CDI meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. For information, contact Nancy R. Ignatowicz, at 815/806-2322 or by e-mail nancy.ignatowicz@provena.org. Or contact Colleen Stukenberg at 815/599-6820 or CStukenberg@fhn.org.

Maine

The Maine ACDIS Local Chapter will meet at Midcoast Hospital on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. For information, contact Theresa Davis at 207/735-8340 or tdavis@emh.org.

Nevada

The Southern Nevada Association of Clinical Documentation Specialists holds its next meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. Guest speaker former ACDIS Advisory Board member Wendy DeVreugd will discuss “How to measure the success of your CDI program.” RSVP to Ailsa Kompare by Jan. 11, 2012 at 702/343-7232 or ailsa.kompare@kindredhealthcare.com.

California

The next California ACDIS webinar featuring a presentation regarding the role of CDI in RAC reviews and audit prevention will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 9-10 a.m., PST. For information, contact Dexter D’Costa, MBBS, MHA, at Dexter.G.Dcosta@kp.org.

Other chapter news

The North Carolina ACDIS chapter now has a web site. Visit http://ncacdis.org/ to see photos from its November meeting and to learn more about recent events and initiatives. For information, contact Leah Taylor at 704/878-7436, or e-mail Leah.Taylor@iredellmemorial.org.

Editor’s Note: If you are interested in joining an existing local chapter please visit the Local Chapter page on the ACDIS web site. If you do not see a group listed for your area please e-mail ACDIS Associate Director Melissa Varnavas at mvarnavas@cdiassociation.com

Local networking groups plan November/December events

If you don't see your state among those gathering with fellow CDI professionals for networking and education let us know. E-mail mvarnavas@cdiassociation.com.

Connecticut

The CT ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, November 10, 9-10:30 a.m., at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Memorial Campus in Southington. The group will discuss “Principal Diagnosis: What Does It Really Mean?” CE credits for CCDS will be provided. For information, contact chapter leader MaryAnn Shanley at 860/714-1261 or e-mail mshanley@stfranciscare.org or co-leader Alison Yazmer at 860/358-6224 or e-mail at alison.yazmer@midhosp.org.

North Carolina

The next NC ACDIS Chapter meeting will be held Friday, November 11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington. The agenda includes:

• 9-10 a.m.: Sandra Musselwhite of CSG Health Solutions
• 10:15-11:15 a.m.: NC ACDIS business meeting
• 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Lunch
• 12:15-1 p.m.: Pamela Riddle, RHIT, CCS: “2012 Coding changes and hot button topics.”
• 1:15-2 p.m.: Jacquelin M. Smith, RHIT, Data Integrity Specialist: “RAC Issues.”

To register download the form and e-mail it to Brenda.Harris@carolinashealthcare.org. Cost is $20. For information, e-mail leah.taylor@iredellmemorial.org.

South Carolina

The next SC ACDIS Chapter meeting will be held Friday, November 11, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Providence Hospital in Columbia. The agenda includes:

• Laura Nardone, RHIA, CCS, Senior Coding Manager and educator at AnMed Health: “The CDI Role in ICD-10-CM/PCS Transition.”
• Angela Worden, RN, BA/BS, Managing Director with FTI Consulting: “CDI Metrics: Making your program a success.”
• Nita Seel, RN, CCDS, CDI Supervisor Greenville Hospital System: “CCDS Exam: Preparation and What to Expect.”
• Brian Miller and Gayl Kirkpatrick: “3M Demo: 360 Encompass.”

Admission is free. To RSVP, e-mail Dawn Oman at Dawn.Oman@RoperSaintFrancis.com and include your name and the name of your facility. For information about the SC ACDIS Chapter, contact Rebecca “Ali” Williams, by e-mail rawilliams@srhs.com or call 864/560-5701.

Kentucky

The next Kentucky ACDIS networking meeting will be held Thursday, November 17, 1-4 p.m. The agenda includes:

• Acute and chronic respiratory failure
• Discussion of ACDIS audio conference “Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM: Best Practices for CDI and Coding Compliance.”
• Coding and documentation improvement opportunities associated with UTI
• Business meeting

CEUs will be offered. To RSVP, contact meeting host Rita Fields at rita.fields@BHSI.COM. For information or to join the networking group, contact chapter leader Dee Schad at 502/550-0911, or e-mail Dee.schad@clarkmemorial.org.

Wisconsin

The next Wisconsin ACDIS meeting takes place Thursday, November 17, 1-2 p.m., via teleconference. The guest speaker will be Arnold Ardevela, MBA, CCS, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-H, of AE & Associates LLC, regarding HCCs and Medicare’s Value Based Purchasing Program, slated to begin in October of 2013.

The Wisconsin ACDIS Chapter recently re-launched its website http://wisc-acdis.org. For information, contact co-leaders Diane Draize from Ministry Door County Medical Center Sturgeon Bay (diane.draize@ministryhealth.org), Joan Korn from Wheaton Franciscan St. Francis in Milwaukee (jaon.korn@wfhc.org), or Glenn Krauss, independent consultant (glennkrauss@earthlink.net).

Save the date

Northern Ohio

The next meeting of the Northern Ohio ACDIS Chapter takes place Thursday, December 8, at Mercy Medical Center in Canton. The event features speaker Steven Robinson, MS, PA-O, RN, CPUR, senior director of CDI for Maxim Health Information Services. Robinson will discuss the following CMS mandates and concurrent review opportunities:

• CMS current and upcoming mandates
• The importance of documentation in the medical record
• The typical CDI program
• MS-DRG IPPS (CC/MCC lists)
• POA coding
• RAC
• JCAHO quality core measures

For information, contact Kristine Cilona, RN, at Kristine.Cilona@cantonmercy.org.

Southeastern (Georgia)

The next Southeastern Chapter of ACDIS meets Friday, December 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Reservations are requested by Friday, November 25. For information, visit the group’s Facebook page or e-mail james.doster@emoryhealthcare.org.

Minnesota

Note there will be no November meeting for MN ACDIS Chapter members. The next meeting of the Minnesota group will be a 3M sponsored event which takes place Friday, December 16, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the 3M Innovation Center in Maplewood. The agenda includes:

• 8-8:30 a.m.: Check-in and registration
• 8:30 -8:45 a.m.: Ben Oberle, Client Relationship Executive: Welcome 8:45-9:15 a.m.: Brian O’Rourke, Consulting Solution Sales Executive: “ICD-10:  No Time Like the Present.”
• 9:15-9:45 a.m.: Discussion:  “ICD-10 Impact Analysis,” “ICD-10 Progress Made in Your Organization”, “3M ICD-10 Education Program / Translation Management Tool”
• 9:45-10 a.m.: Break
• 10-11 a.m.: 3M World of Innovation Tour (3M Innovation Center Host)
• 11-11:45 a.m.: Debbie Peppard, RHIA, Data Innovation / Clinical Solution Sales Executive: “Coding Data Management – Making Data Actionable.”
• 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Lunch: 3M Innovation Center Dining Room
• 12:30-12:45 p.m.: Ben Oberle, Client Relationship Executive: “3M 360 Encompass System – Seeing the Future, Starting Now.”
• 12:45-1:30 p.m.: Lynn Playter, RHIA, HIM Solution Sales Executive: “3M – Your Partner on the Journey to Coding Excellence.”
• 1:30-1:45 p.m.: Break/door prizes
• 1:45-2:30 p.m.: Brian O’Rourke, Consulting Solution Sales Executive: “Improving Documentation….and Proving It!”
• 2:30-3:15 p.m.: Dan Western, Document Creation/Management Solution Sales Executive: “eHealth Documentation Solutions – Helping Transition to ICD-10.”
• 3:15-3-:30 p.m.: Questions / Answers /Adjourn

For information, contact Mark LeBlanc at Mark.LeBlanc@ParkNicollet.com.

Meeting minutes

Central Indiana

The Central Indiana ACDIS Chapter met on October 12 with nearly 40 attendees, 19 of whom attended via teleconference. The event featured guest speaker Danita Forgey who discussed the transition from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS.

During the meeting the group approved a proposal to formally elect officers. Members of the Central Indiana group will receive an invitation to a closed website that outlines the nomination and voting process. Nominations are due by November 20. Voting will take place between December 12 and January 9. Officers will be announced at the next Central Indiana ACDIS meeting scheduled for January 11. (Note, this meeting will be a teleconference meeting to avoid winter travel.)

For information, contact Susan Bradford by phone at 317/776-7285 or e-mail svradford@riverview.org.

Oregon/SW Washington

The Oregon/SW Washington ACDIS Chapter met October 21 at Providence Portland Medical Center with more than 30 attendees. The event included a live webinar with Cesar Limjoco, MD, VP of Clinical Services for DCBA in Atlanta, and presentations by Hoa Ly, MD, of Legacy Salmon Creek, and Teresa Benson, RHIT, of Providence Portland Medical Center.

The chapter celebrated the expansion of its leadership board with the announcement of nine volunteers who will serve the group in the following roles:

• Juanita Carriveau-President Elect
• Christy Brown- Secretary
• Marjie Aranda-Treasurer
• Tami Robinson-Member Services Director
• Mikala Iris and Marica Pinneau- Communications Officers
• Committee Members:
  • Cindy Fessler
  • Julie Walsh
  • BarDee  Pattle

For information, visit the group blog at http://oregonswwashingtonacdischapter.blogspot.com/

Local networking meetings feature all-day educational events

Central Indiana

The Central Indiana ACDIS networking group meets Wednesday, October 12, at 10 a.m., at IU Health in Indianapolis, for a presentation by Danita Forgey, an independent Consultant with the Indiana HIMA Task Force regarding the “Impact of ICD-10 on Clinical Documentation Improvement.” For information, contact meeting host Susan Bradford at sbradford@riverview.org, or by phone at 317/776-7285.

New York

The Capital (Albany) Region ACDIS group has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, 2-4 p.m. For information, contact Lois Rubin RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS, supervisor of clinical documentation at St. Peter’s Hospital, at 518/525-1081 or by e-mail at LRubin@sphcs.org.

Tri-State (WI, MI, MN)

ACDIS Chapter leaders from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota invite CDI specialists and related professionals to join them for the first Tri-State Regional Meeting Saturday, October 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The agenda includes:

• Registration
• Strategies for dealing with difficult physicians
• Physician query process: The ins and outs
• Lunch
• Continually educating physicians to avoid staleness in your program
• Over documentation: Challenges and solutions
• Collaboration between coders and CDI professionals to break down the silos
• Roundtable discussion

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Participants can earn five CEs for the CCDS credential. A block of rooms has been reserved for October 14 and 15 at $129 per night including taxes. Reservations can be made by calling the Kalahari directly at 877/253-5466; request the WI-ACDIS room block. Note: As the reduced reservation rate has passed, the hotel may charge the the prevailing hotel room rate at its discretion.

Registration is $50. For information, contact Heidi Hillstrom at HHillstrom@slhduluth.com or call 218/249-5461.

Florida

The quarterly FL ACDIS meeting will be held Friday, October 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey. The agenda includes:

• 11-11:30 a.m.: Registration
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Election of officers. Opening comments, survey results; most outrageous convention costume parade with prize winners. Prizes and raffles throughout the day (bring cash).
• 12:30-1:15 p.m.: Lunch and networking
• 1:15-3:15 p.m.: Presentation by Dr. Michaela Dragut, “ICD-10-CM/PCS Clinical Documentation Improvement Hot Topics.” CEUs for CCDS and coding.
• 3:15-4 p.m.: Discussion and closing comments

For information, contact chapter president Virginia Bailey by phone at 727/859-4880; vice-president Charringon (Charlie) Morell at 727/819-2929 ext.2252; or secretary/treasurer Kimberly Richert, at kimberly.richert@baycare.org or by phone 727/725-6248.

Oregon

The Oregon/SW Washington ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, October 21, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland. The agenda includes:

• 8:15-8:45: Registration and networking

  
  

  

  Providence Portland Medical Center in Oregon hosts the next networking meeting there.

  
  

• 8:45-9 a.m.: Welcome and housekeeping
• 9-10 a.m.: Presentation by Cesar Limjoco, VP of clinical services for DCBA, Inc., “Where do I document the diagnosis?” (Live webinar.)
• 10-10:15 a.m.: Break
• 10:15-11:15 a.m.:Presentation by Hoa Ly, MD, utilization management physician advisor at Salmon Creek Medical Center, “Heart failure, coronary artery disease, and encephalopathy.”
• 11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Presentation by Teresa Bensen, RHIT, regional coding supervisor at Providence Health & Services, “ICD-9 changes for 2012.”
• 12:20-1:20 p.m.: Lunch on your own/networking
• 1:20-2 p.m.: Business meeting including financial and officers’ reports and election of officers for 2012.
• 2-3:30 p.m.: Presentation by Nancy Seebert, RN, BS, MA, CDI specialist at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center, “Change & transition: How do I make it through so many changes and how do I help others?”
• 3:30-3:45 p.m.: Break
• 3:45-4:15 p.m.: Panel discussion regarding on CCDS Certification
• 4:15-4:45 p.m.: Wrap-up

Admission is free to members. Annual membership (valid through 12/31/12) is $30. Admission is $10 for non-members. For additional information visit the Chapter Blog at  http://oregonswwashingtonacdischapter.blogspot.com/ or contact chapter president Nancy R. Seebert, 503/674-1820 or by e-mail at nseebert@lhs.org; or chapter vice president Janet Barber by phone at 503/215-0642 or by e-mail at Janet.Barber@providence.org.

Virginia

The fifth quarterly ACDIS Virginia Chapter meeting will be Saturday, October 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. The agenda includes a presentation by Robert Gold, MD, CEO of DCBA, Inc., “CDI Initiatives: Start now for ICD-10.” For information/to RSVP, contact meeting host Linda Steinhoff by phone at 757/312-5154 or e-mail Linda.Steinhoff@chesapeakeregional.com.

California

The next California ACDIS teleconference will be held Wednesday, October 26, 9-10 a.m. The group will discuss the role of clinical documentation improvement program in Recovery Audit Contractor defense. For information, contact chapter leader Dexter D’Costa by phone: 573/529-1791, or by e-mail: dr_dexterdcosta@yahoo.com.

Minnesota

The next MN ACDIS meeting will be held Wednesday, October 26, 1-2 p.m. (Download the meeting minutes from August, or the meeting minutes from June.) For information, contact chapter leader Mark LeBlanc by phone at 952/993-5692 or by e-mail at mark.leblanc@parknicollet.com.

Save the date

South Carolina

The next SC ACDIS Chapter meeting will be held Friday, November 11, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Providence Hospital in Columbia. The agenda includes:

• Presentation by Laura Nardone, RHIA, CCS, Senior Coding Manager and educator at AnMed Health, “The CDI Role in ICD-10-CM/PCS Transition.”
• Angela Worden, RN, BA/BS, Managing Director with FTI Consulting, “CDI Metrics: Making your program a success.”
• Connie Calvert, RHIA, CCS, CCDS, Palmetto Health, “Preparing for the CCDS Exam.”

Admission is free. To RSVP contact Dawn Oman by e-mail at Dawn.Oman@RoperSaintFrancis.com; include your name and the name of your facility. For information about the SC ACDIS Chapter, contact Rebecca “Ali” Williams, e-mail rawilliams@srhs.com or call 864/560-5701.

Connecticut

The CT ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, November 10, 9-10:30 a.m., at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradely Memorial Campus in Southington. The group will discuss “Principal Diagnosis: What Does It Really Mean?” CE credits for CCDS will be provided. For information, contact chapter leader MaryAnn Shanley at 860/714-1261 or e-mail mshanley@stfranciscare.org. Or call co-leader Alison Yazmer at 860/358-6224 or contact her by e-mail at alison.yazmer@midhosp.org.

Kentucky

The next Kentucky/S. Indiana ACDIS networking meeting will be held Thursday, November 17, 1-4 p.m. The agenda includes:

• Acute and chronic respiratory failure
• UTI
• Business meeting

CEUs will be offered. To RSVP, contact meeting host Rita Fields at rita.fields@BHSI.COM. For information or to join the networking group, contact chapter leader Dee Schad at 502/550-0911or contact her by e-mail at Dee.schad@clarkmemorial.org.

Local meetings heat up in June and July

Georgia

Beat the heat with these CDI educational opportunities in June and July

The spring meeting of the Southeast Chapter of ACDIS meets Friday, June 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, GA. The event includes: networking, educational sessions with CEs, door-prizes, and more. To RSVP, e-mail james.doster@emoryhealthcare.org.

California

The next ACDIS-California chapter teleconference will be held Wednesday, June 22, 9-10 a.m. For information, call Dexter D’Costa at 573/529-1791 or e-mail dr_dexterdcosta@yahoo.com.

Minnesota

The next MN CDI networking meeting will be held Wednesday, June 22, 1-2 p.m., featuring guest speaker A. Robert Tucker III, MD, chief medical officer/medical director of utilization management, at a 400-bed tertiary hospital in Northern Virginia. Dr. Tucker will discuss encephalopathy with CABGs.

For information, contact Heidi Hillstrom MS, MBA, RN, CCDS, by phone at 218/249-5461 or by e-mail at hhillstrom@slhduluth.com

Wisconsin

The next Wisconsin ACDIS Chapter teleconference will be held Thursday, June 23, 1-2 p.m. Agenda items include:

• Lessons learned from the ACDIS audio conference Physician Query Workshop
• Results of WI chapter member survey
• Creation of bylaws, formation of a meeting events committee
• Update on the development of a state chapter website

For information, contact Glenn Krauss at glennkrauss@earthlink.net.

New England

The next NE Regional CDS meeting will be held Wednesday, June 29, 12:30-3 p.m., at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA. Please feel free to bring a lunch. The agenda includes a presentation by Ann Wallace, geriatric nurse practioner on the topic “Delirium: Underappreciated and over treated.” The presentation has been approved for 2.0 nursing CE contact hours. For information, contact Kelley Sears, RN, CCDS at Kelley.Sears@CaritasChristi.org.

Tennessee

The Tennessee ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, July 1, 9 a.m. to noon, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, in Knoxville. The agenda includes:

• A presentation by James S. Kennedy, MD, CCS, managing director of FTI Healthcare in Brentwood titled “CDI in an APR-DRG environment: bridging the gap between coders and providers.”
• Discussion of the foundational requirements for establishing the chapter.
• Discussion of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s impending transition to APR-DRGs and its impact on quality measurement and reimbursement.
• Discussion of a pathophysiologic approach to common conditions (e.g., sepsis, chest pain, heart failure, altered mental status, chronic kidney disease) pertinent to APR-DRGs.
• Networking

For information, contact Jennifer Turner, RN, CCDS by phone at 423/778-9225 or by e-mail at jennifer.turner@erlanger.org.

New Orleans

The New Orleans ACDIS Chapter meets Tuesday, July 12, 4-6 p.m., at Semolinas Restaurant at Clearview Mall in Metairie. For information, contact Royceann Brechtel Fugler, RN, BC, MHA by phone at 504/ 456-5186 or by e-mail at rfugler@ejgh.org.

Indiana

The Central Indiana ACDIS Chapter meets Wednesday, July 13, at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital. The agenda features a presentation by Glenn Krauss, ACDIS Advisory Board member and independent consultant regarding strategies to communicate with difficult physicians.

RSVP by Wednesday, July 6 to Wendy Wilson by e-mail at WWilson4@iuhealth.org. For more information, contact Susan Bradford, RN, BSN by phone 317/776-7285 or by e-mail at sbradford@riverview.org

Virginia

The next Virginia ACDIS Chapter meeting will be held Saturday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at August Health in Fisherville. To RSVP, contact Bea Benson, RN, BSN at bbenson@augustahealth.com.

NY/PA 
The NY/PA Regional ACDIS Network holds its next meeting Friday, August 19, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. The event is free. Video conferencing is available to the first 10 registrants who require it. The agenda includes guest speakers:

• Jonathan Elion, MD, founder of ChartWise Medical Systems, who will discuss ethical practices in CDI and the importance of quality documentation.
• Mario A. Perez, III, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, director of coding and documentation compliance at J.A. Thomas & Associates, Inc., who will discuss CDI programs, why they are needed, how to make them successful and how to justify implementation.
• Glenn Krauss, BBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, C-CDIS, CCDS, independent consultant who will discuss the future of CDI programs, understanding the value of CDI beyond financial reimbursement.
• Jean Elsener, RN CPUR, CRN-C, CRN-A CCDS, who will discuss how to craft concise, standardized, and non-leading queries.

Each presenter will speak for an hour, with time for questions and discussion. There will also be time to network, visit with exhibitors, and sign up for raffles.

For information, contact Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS, at 570/882-6094, pager #465; or by e-mail at tiffany_susan@guthrie.org.

May meetings for local chapters

Connecticut

During the next Connecticut ACDIS Chapter meeting on Thursday, May 12, memebers will discuss the creation of chapter bylaws and mission statement, complete a learning module regarding principal diagnosis and share tools for the creation of a chapter resource library. For information, contact MaryAnn Shanley at mshanley24@yahoo.com. Read the minutes from the March meeting.

Illinois

St. Alexius Medical Center hosts the next N. Illinois ACDIS Chapter meeting on Friday, May 13, from 12:30-3 p.m. Possible agenda items include sharing information learned from the 4^th Annual ACDIS conference and recent RAC findings/experiences. For information, contact Ellen Chang, RN, CCDS, Clinical Documentation Manager, at 847/755-7610 or by e-mail at Ellen.chang@alexian.net.

Maine

The next Maine ACDIS Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 17, 1-5 p.m., at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Brewer. Agenda includes:

• Updates from 2011 ACDIS National Conference
• CEUs for local meetings
• Networking
• ACDIS website demonstration
• Group structure

Hawaii

The Hawaii ACDIS Chapter meets Wednesday, May 18, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at Castle Medical Center where attendees will listen to and discuss the HCPro audio conference “Short Stays: A Data Driven Approach to Medical Necessity.” For information, contact Eleu Zane at Eleu.Zane@palimomi.org.

Ohio

The Columbus, OH, ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, May 19th. For information, contact Sheri Blanchard, RN, Clinical Documentation Specialist, at Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at 614/366-4197.

Florida

The next meeting of the Florida ACDIS Chapter themed “Another Day in Paradise,” takes place Friday, May 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, FL. The agenda includes:

• Registration and breakfast
• Margi Brown, consultant: “Blending Denials into the CDI Mix”
• Raffles and networking
• Cortnie Simmons and Cheryl Bowling, Kforce Healthcare: “Translating ICD-9 to ICD 10 for Common Diagnosis
• Lunch and networking
• Cathy Cover, manager of RAC Denials at MPM and Dr. Mark Michelman, physician advisor at MPM: “Sink or Swim: Surviving the RAC Attack

Reserversations requested. Contact Iris at 561/745-5783. First time attendees are welcome. CEUs cost $10.

Be sure to visit FL ACDIS’ Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/acdisflorida and its new website http://flacdis.org/.

Click on this link to read the latest FL ACDIS Newsletter.

Wisconsin

The First Annual WI ACDIS Conference will be held on Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, in Wauwatosa. The meeting titled “Clinical Informatics for the CDIS Query Process,” includes:

• “Recognition of Atypical Clinical Presentations and the Query Process” by Dr. Gamal Eskander
• “Highlights of the 4th Annual ACDIS Conference including legal perils of physician querying” by Lynn Sisler, Diane Draize, and Glenn Krauss.
• “Sharing of CDIS Best Practices from WI ACDIS Members,” a panel discussion.
• “Recognition of Query Opportunities,” role playing participations of verbal and written query dissemination.
• “The Expanded Role of CDI specialists,” discussion of how to collaborate with case management.

CCDS CEUs offered. Buffet Lunch will be provided and ample time will be available for chapter networking. RSVP required. Registration will be from 9-9:45 a.m. Meeting will start promptly at 10 a.m. Registration fee is $20 and includes lunch, drinks, and morning coffee.

For information, contact Diane Draize at Diane.Draize@ministryhealth.org or by phone at 920/743-5566 ext. 3143; Joan Korn at Joan.Korn@wfhc.org or by phone at 414/647-5248; Glenn Krauss at GlennKrauss@earthlink.net or by phone at 603/303-3337.

California
The next California meeting takes place Wednesday, May 25, 9-10 a.m., via webinar. For information, contact Dexter D’Costa, dr_dexterdcosta@yahoo.com.

Minnesota

The next Minnesota ACDIS Chapter teleconference meeting will be held Wednesday, May 25, at 1 p.m., hosted by North Memorial Health Care in Robbinsdale, MN. For information, contact Nancy Barnes at Nancy.Barnes@NorthMemorial.com or call 763/520-1974. Or contact MN Chapter leader Heidi Hillstrom by e-mail at hhillstrom@slhduluth.com.

April and May meetings sprout CDI networking opportunities

California

The CA ACDIS Chapter meets Wednesday, April 27 9-10:30 a.m., for a recap of the 4^th Annual ACDIS Conference and

webinar demonstration of 3M coding and reimbursement software for assigning DRG and other benefits (SOI/ROM determination, DRG Options/PDX, MCC/CC analysis). For information, contact Dexter D’Costa, MD, manager, clinical documentation program, quality improvement & patient safety, by phone at 650/723-5343 or e-mail at dr_dexterdcosta@yahoo.com.

Minnesota

Heidi Hillstrom MS, MBA, RN, CCDS, Clinical Documentation Management, at St. Luke’s Hospital, hosts the next MN ACDIS Chapter meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 1-2:30 p.m. For information, contact 218/249-5461 or e-mail hhillstrom@slhduluth.com.

Virginia

The VA ACDIS Chapter meets Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Chippenham Hospital in the Levinson Heart Hospital in Richmond. Lunch will be provided. RSVP required. Contact Angelisa.Romanello@HCAHealthcare.com.

Illinois

St. Alexius Medical Center hosts the next N. Illinois ACDIS Chapter meeting on Friday, May 13, from 12:30-3 p.m. Possible agenda items include sharing information learned from the 4^th Annual ACDIS conference and recent RAC findings/experiences. For information, contact Ellen Chang, RN, CCDS, Clinical Documentation Manager, at 847/755-7610 or by e-mail at Ellen.chang@alexian.net.

Maine

The next Maine ACDIS Meeting will be held Tuesday May 17, 1-5 p.m., at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Brewer. Agenda includes:

• Updates from 2011 ACDIS National Conference
• CEUs for local meetings
• Networking
• ACDIS website demonstration
• Group structure

Ohio

The Columbus, OH, ACDIS Chapter meets May 19th. For information, contact Sheri Blanchard, RN, Clinical Documentation Specialist, at Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at 614/366-4197.

Florida

The FL ACDIS Chapter holds its next quarterly meeting Friday, May 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Jupiter Medical Center. Agenda includes:

• 9-10 a.m.: Registration/Breakfast
• 10-11 a.m.: Cathy Cover, Manager of RAC Denials Morton Plant Mease, “Sink or Swim:  Surviving the RAC Attack”
• 11 a.m. to noon: Margi Brown, Consultant, “Blending Denials into the CDI Mix”
• Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch/Raffle
• 1-2 p.m.: Cortnie Simmons and Cheryl Bowling, Kforce Healthcare, “Translating ICD-9 into ICD-10 for Common Diagnoses”

Please RSVP by May 2 to Iris at 561/745-5783. First time non-member attendees are welcome for free. CEU’s are $10.

Wisconsin

The First Annual WI ACDIS Conference will be held on Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, in Wauwatosa. The meeting titled “Clinical Informatics for the CDIS Query Process,” includes:

• “Recognition of Atypical Clinical Presentations and the Query Process” by Dr. Gamal Eskander
• “Highlights of the 4th Annual ACDIS Conference including legal perils of physician querying” by Lynn Sisler, Diane Draize, and Glenn Krauss.
• “Sharing of CDIS Best Practices from WI ACDIS Members,” a panel discussion.
• “Recognition of Query Opportunities,” role playing participations of verbal and written query dissemination.
• “The Expanded Role of CDI specialists,” discussion of how to collaborate with case management.

CCDS CEUs offered. Buffet Lunch will be provided and ample time will be available for chapter networking. RSVP required by May 9. Registration will be from 9 to 9:45 AM. Meeting will start promptly at 10 AM, please plan on arriving on time. Registration fee is $20 and includes lunch, drinks and morning coffee

For information, contact Diane Draize at Diane.Draize@ministryhealth.org or by phone at 920/743-5566 ext. 3143; Joan Korn at Joan.Korn@wfhc.org or by phone at 414/647-5248; Glenn Krauss at GlennKrauss@earthlink.net or by phone at 603/303-3337.

NJ ACDIS meeting next week, more March events

Maryland

The Maryland CDI group meeting takes place Friday, March 18, 1:30 p.m., at the Maryland Hospital Association in Elkridge, MD. Contact Christine Mobley, RN, director of clinical documentation at Prince George’s Hospital Center, at christine.Mobley@dimensionshealth.org or 301/618-6507.

Long Island

The Long Island New York ACDIS Chapter meets at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Tuesday, March 22, 3-5 p.m. For information, contact Adelaide M. La Rosa, RN, director of clinical documentation improvement at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn by phone at 516/562-6229 or by e-mail at Adelaide.LaRosa@chsli.org.

Northeast Regional

The next New England CDI networking meeting will be held at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston Tuesday, March 22, 1-3 p.m. For information, contact Patty Spry and Kelley Sears, co-chairs at pattyspry2@yahoo.com or sears.kelley@yahoo.com.

New Jersey

The NJACDIS quarterly education meeting will be held Friday, March 25, from noon to 4:30 p.m. at 385 West Ferris

Street Suite E, in East Brunswick, NJ. The event features an electronic medical record (EMR) simulation from medical billing company MTBC and presentation “Meaningful Use and Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH): Integrating the CDI professionals in ambulatory care.” The simulation provides:

• an overview of the three stages of Meaningful Use
• a look at  patient portal
• an examination of the architecture of the EMR
• an opportunity to view  how CDI professionals can be supportive in the transition of the EMR, PCMH and Meaningful Use-driven Incentives

The event agenda includes:

• Registration noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Lunch 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Presentation 1:30-2:45 p.m.
• Break 2:45-3 p.m.
• Presentation 3-4:15 p.m.
• Questions/announcements 4:15-4:30 p.m.

Registration is $27 for members, $24 for additional participants from the same facility, $30 for non-members, $27 for additional non-member participants from the same facility, $20 for AHIMA or nursing students.

To register, visit http://www.knowledgeconnex.com/RRA/register.htm.

For information, contact Deborah Gardner-Brown, RHIT, CCS, C-CDI, at 732/238-4511, or e-mail Deborah@RRA-INC.com, or contact Melanie Halpern, RN-BC, MBA, CCDS, CCRA, Clinical Documentation and Coding Integrity Supervisor at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, NJ, at melanie.halpern@gmail.com.

Minnesota

The next Minnesota ACDIS Conference call will be held Wednesday, March 23, 1-2 p.m. Send meeting agenda items to Sue Baklarz, RN, Clinical Documentation Specialist at St. Cloud Hospital, by Thursday, March 17 BaklarzS@centracare.com. For information, contact Mark LeBlanc, RN, MBA, CCDS, at Park Nicollet Health Services by phone at 952/993-5692 or by e-mail at mark.leblanc@parknicollet.com.

Tennessee

Jennifer Turner, RN, CDI specialist at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga hopes to gather CDI professionals in the state for local networking meetings. The first meeting will be Thursday, March 31, 1-4p.m., at Erlanger East/ Women’s East Pavilion, in Chattanooga. Contact her at Jennifer.Turner@erlanger.org or by phone at 423/778-9225.

Nevada

In Las Vegas, Ailsa Kompare, RN, BS, ACM, CCDS, clinical documentation improvement specialist for Kindred Hospitals, is planning a networking meeting. The first meeting will be Wednesday, May 11, 6 p.m., at Kindred’s Flamingo Campus. General networking is on the agenda as well as a presentation “Clinical Documentation Integrity: It’s not just about reimbursement,” by Sherry Siewers, RN, Desert District Director of Case Management for Kindred Healthcare, which has been approved by Nevada State Board of Nursing for 1.0 Continuing Education Hours. Contact her at ailsa.kompare@kindredhealthcare.com or by phone at 702/343-7232.

February meetings feature detailed agendas

Indiana

The Central Indiana ACDIS Chapter meeting was re-scheduled from January to Wednesday, February 2, 10 a.m. to noon, at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville, IN.  The agenda includes:

• Review and discussion of local member survey
  • Meeting topic and speakers suggestions for 2011

    
    

    

    Don't miss a chance to network with CDI from your state!

    
    

  • Vendor participation
  • Chapter dues
  • Chapter leadership
  • Term service of executive team
  • Nominations for leadership positions/officers
• ICD-10 Education, with Indiana Health Information Management Association Task Force leader Danita Forgey

For information, contact Susan Bradford, RN, BSN, Clinical Documentation Specialist at Riverview Hospital by phone at 317/776-7285 or by e-mail at sbradford@riverview.org.

Kentucky

The Kentucky ACDIS Chapter will meet Thursday, February 10, 1-4 p.m., at the be Jewish Hospital downtown campus. For information, contact Dee Schad, RN, BSN, CCDS, by phone at 502/361-6492 or by e-mail deanna.schad@jhsmh.org.

Georgia

The Southeast Regional ACDIS meets Thursday, February 24, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Redmond Regional Medical Center, in Rome, GA. For information, and to reserve your spot, contact Melanie Thompson at melanie.thompson@hcahealthcare.com or call 706/802-3803 by February 16.

Ohio

Sheri Blanchard, RN, CDI specialist at Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute is set to start a networking group in the Columbus, Ohio area. Those interested are welcome to attend a meeting Thursday, February 17, 1-3 p.m., at OSUMC/The James Cancer Hospital. Contact her by phone at 614/ 366-4197 or e-mail Sheri.Blanchard@osumc.edu.

Wisconsin

The next Wisconsin CDI Chapter meets Thursday, February 17, 1-2 p.m., featuring Gamal Eskander, MD, speaking on several different clinical disease processes. For information, contact Glenn Krauss director, Clinical Documentation Improvement Services for YPRO Corporation at glennkrauss@earthlink.net.

Oregon

The Oregon/SW Washington Chapter of ACDIS meets Friday, February 18, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin. The agenda includes:

• Continental breakfast
• Business meeting:
  • President Report
  • Secretary/Treasurer Report
  • Officers‘ presentation
  • Survey results
• Presentations:
  • “Physician Best practices and CDI involvement,” Hoa Ly, MD, CDI Physician Advisor
  • “How to attain “buy-in” and compliance from physicians,” Elise Fulsang, MD, CDI Physician Advisor
  • Audio conference: Surgical Complications

For information, contact Nancy R. Seebert, RN, BS, MA , Clinical Documentation Specialist at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center 503/674-1820 or by e-mail at nseebert@lhs.org; or contact  Janet Barber, BSN, RN, MBA, Clinical Documentation Specialist by phone at 503/215-0642 or by e-mail at Janet.Barber@providence.org.

California

The California ACDIS Chapter hosts its monthly conference call Wednesday, February 23, 9-10 a.m. For information contact Dexter D’Costa, MD, by phone at 650/723-5343, or by e-mail at DD’Costa@stanfordmed.org.

Minnesota

Minnesota CDI holds its next meeting Wednesday, February 23, 1-2:30 p.m. Contact Mark LeBlanc, RN, MBA, CCDS, at Park Nicollet Health Services by phone at 952/993-5692 or by e-mail at mark.leblanc@parknicollet.comfor dial-in instructions.

New York

The Albany, NY, ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. For information, contact Lois Rubin, RN, BSN, CPUR, CCDS, lead clinical documentation specialist in the case management department at St. Peters Hospital in Albany, at LRubin@sphcs.org.