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GHIMA News and Events

2009 GHIMA Annual Meeting
EHR Seminar
Georgia Medical Record 2008 Copy Fees
GHIMA Library
GHIMA e-Newsletter
Delegate News
Mentoring Program
My PHR
Regional Meetings
GHIMA Awards
GHIMA Scholarships
GHIMA Volunteer Opportunities
 


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2009 GHIMA Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars for the 2009 GHIMA Annual Meeting to be held in Savannah, GA at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center on August 5-7, 2009.  The host hotel is the The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.

Interested in speaking?  Click here to complete the online speaker application.
 

If you attended the 2008 Annual Meeting and have not received your online evaluation/CE email, please contact us.

Georgia Medical Record Copy Fees - Effective July 1, 2008

 

Current

Effective
July 1, 2008

Search, Retrieval, and Other Direct Administrative Cost

Up To:

$24.86

 

 

No Change in Existing Rate Structure

Certification Fee

Up to per record

$9.32

Copying Cost for Records in Paper Form

Per page for pages 1 - 20

$0.93

Per page for pages 21 - 100

$0.80

Per page for pages over 100

$0.63

 Note – Rate do not apply to records requests necessary to make or complete an application for a disability benefits program

GHIMA Library

The Georgia Health Information Management Association has developed a GHIMA Library (distance education program).

Educational CDs may be checked out by Regional Presidents, Vice Presidents and Educational Chairpersons. Regions may check out the CDs no earlier than 2 weeks prior to the educational session and must return the CDs to the Central Office no later than one week after educational session.

When returning the CDs, the region will need to send a list of attendees and a check for the reimbursement. The charge for each rental CD is $10.00 per person. The region may keep 50% of the fees ($5.00), the other 50% ($5.00) is sent to GHIMA.

Once the program is complete, the participants will be directed to AHIMA’s website to complete a survey and get their CEU form.

Contact Barbara Jett, GHIMA Central Office Coordinator at centraloffice@ghima.org or (770) 926-0769 to check out an educational CD.

CD TITLE

CEU’s

FEE

Coding for Inpatient Rehabilitative Services  (September 2006)

Two  (2)

$10.00

ICD – 9 – CM Updates for FY 2007 (September 2006)

Two  (2)

 

DRG FY 2007 Update  (October 2006)

Two  (2)

$10.00

DRG FY 2007 Update  (October 2006)

Two  (2)

 

CPT Update  (December 2007)

Two  (2)

$10.00

Concepts of Coding CDI Programs (January 2008)

Two  (20

$10.00

Effective Coding under MS-DRG’s    (February 2008)

Two  (2)

$10.00

Present on Admission Reporting (February 2008)

Two  (2)

$10.00

GHIMA e-Newsletter

Take a look at our latest e-newsletter.

Get Our Newletter
 

Does GHIMA have your correct email address?  GHIMA uses AHIMA's email addresses to distribute e-newsletters as well as other important GHIMA information.  To update your membership profile, go to AHIMA's Update My Profile and select "My Contact Information".

 
Delegate News

House of Delegates Electronic Vote - September 15 – 26, 2008

Submitted by Ralph Morrison, 2nd Year Delegate

The following items were presented to the active membership of GHIMA during the business meeting on August 21, 2008. Delegates were instructed to vote informed on all items during the electronic voting period. The voting period will start on September 15, at 9:00 a.m. CT and will end on September 26, 2008, 5:00 p.m. CT.

The action items that are being presented as business before the House of Delegates (HOD):

  • Bylaws Amendments on the Nominating Committee
  • Revision to the Standards for Ethical Coding
  • 2009 Nominating Committee Election

1) Bylaws Amendments on the Nominating Committee

Increase the terms of the appointed member position from one-year to two-year terms in order to keep consistent with the terms of elected members of the The 2008 Nominating Committee is proposing a bylaws amendment to:

a. specify the number of members appointed by the Board of Directors each year and

b. also ensure appropriate continuity of membership to sustain the Nominating Committee processes.

The amendment will require a 2/3s vote to approve with prior notice.

2) Revisions to the Standards for Ethical Coding

Motion: I move to approve the Standards of Ethical Coding.

The motion is proposed by:

  • Laurinda Harman, PhD, RHIA
  • Virginia Mullen, RHIA
  • Gail Garrett, RHIT
  • Lou Ann Schraffenberger, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
  • Shelley Safian, CCS-P, CPC-H, CHA
  • Maggie Foley, PhD, RHIA, CCS
  • Nelly Leon-Chisen, RHIA
  • Kathleen Schwarz, MS, RN
  • Sue Bowman, RHIA, CCS
  • Rita Scichilone, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, MHSA
  • Crystal Kallem, RHIT
  • Allison Viola, MBA, RHIA

Supported by the Professional Ethics Committee and Quality Initiatives and Secondary Data and Clinical Terminology and Classification Practice Councils

The motion will require a simple majority to approve with prior notice.

3) Nominating Committee Election

Motion: A motion is not required; by virtue of casting a vote on the ballot of Nominating Committee candidates satisfies the instruction of this HOD action.

The HOD action to elect the Nominating Committee satisfies the AHIMA bylaws. The CSAs of Alabama-Missouri are eligible to submit a candidate for the 2009 Nominating Committee by August 1, 2008. Three members will be selected by delegates via a secured ballot to serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2009-December 31, 2010.

The AHIMA Council on Certification’s withdrawal of the RHIA exam eligibility action item was noted.

Georgia delegates will update GHIMA members on the voting results upon receipt from AHIMA.

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House of Delegates Vote - Proposed Action Items and Vote in Seattle

Submitted by Ralph Morrison, 2nd Year Delegate

1) Proposed Privacy & Security Resolution

2) Proposed Credential in Health Data Analytics

3) Proposed Bylaws Amendments on Certification Governance

ACTION ITEM TITLE: Resolution on Privacy and Security

MOTION: I move to approve the Resolution on Privacy and Security.

The motion was made by the Missouri Health Information Management Association

Supported by the Privacy and Security Practice Council

RATIONALE:

At Winter Team Talks in Washington DC, it was suggested a resolution be drafted to address the number of highly publicized breaches that are occurring. The resolution asks that AHIMA members call on healthcare organizations to educate on the use of health information management, that HIM professionals be on the forefront, and that AHIMA endorse consistent healthcare policies and establish standards.

BACKGROUND:

The House of Delegates Team on Best Practice and Standards reviewed the proposed standards and were supported as written. Also, the proposal was shared at Summer Team Talks without comment.

REFERENCES: See proposed resolution below:

Title: Healthcare Organizations Must Create Consistent Privacy and Security Practices

Submitted by the Missouri Health Information Management Association

Supported by the Privacy and Security Practice Council

In 2007 and 2008 a number of patient privacy breaches have made the headlines. From the many highly publicized breaches of celebrities’ health information to the 3000 electronic patient records on a laptop stolen from the trunk of a car, it is obvious that the privacy and security standards are much too lax for many healthcare providers and health plans. Such deficient standards undermine public confidence in the privacy and security of electronic health records, which could hinder their future adoption and undermine President Bush’s call for most Americans to have access to an interoperable electronic medical record by 2014.

AHIMA is committed to being the leader in protecting health information from inappropriate use and disclosure, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of identifiable health information by applying privacy and security measures to enhance public confidence in the protection of data.

Whereas, patients have a fundamental right to health information privacy and security;

Whereas, the media has reported the improper access and disclosure of several celebrities’ health information;

Whereas, there have been many instances of stolen computers containing unencrypted, non-secure health information;

Whereas, health information should only be accessed by those who need the information for continuity of care, payment, healthcare operations, and/or applicable laws, based on the concept of minimum necessary;

Whereas, health information must be kept in a secure and reliable manner that ensures its accuracy and integrity;

Whereas, health information professionals have the expertise in privacy and security of health information and must abide by AHIMA’s Code of Ethics to protect the confidentiality of health information;

Therefore, be it

Resolved, that AHIMA members call on healthcare organizations to educate users of health information about the need for improved and consistent information privacy and security and the role HIM professionals have in protecting and securing information;

Resolved, that AHIMA call on healthcare organizations to improve privacy and security of health information through greater attention to the concept of minimum necessary, encryption of health information and use of biometric-based keys;

Resolved, that HIM professionals be on the forefront of auditing and monitoring access to individual health information, especially high-profile patients;

Resolved, that AHIMA endorses consistent internal sanction policies that are enforced equally across all disciplines when a privacy or security breach is discovered and external penalties for organizations that do not take appropriate steps to prevent privacy or security breaches.

Resolved, that AHIMA supports efforts to establish consistent patient health information privacy and security legislation to establish standards for national health information exchange and eliminate confusing and contradictory state regulations.

New Credential in Health Data Analytics

In 2007, the AHIMA Council on Certification (CoC) was charged to determine the need for a new credential in HIM, to increase the size of the HIM-certified workforce and to further engage new, non-certified members at a professional level. Subsequently, the CoC presented a plan to develop a new credential in the area of Health Data Analytics. The CoC reports that the majority of the feedback it has received from HOD members has been positive. The CoC based its proposal to establish the new credential on the results of a 2006 job analysis study, which indicated the “emergence of a ‘data analytics’ domain as being both substantive and distinct as a full-time role in and of itself. They also noted that the study suggested that the performance domain associated with this role would increase in both importance and prevalence through the next 5-7 years. Although a definite title for this role has not been determined at this time, a CoC job analysis task force has developed this statement describing the job: “The Certified Health Data Analyst (working title) professional provides expertise to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into accurate, consistent, and timely information. This individual balances the ‘big picture’ strategic vision with the details of the project. Duties include communicating with individuals and groups at multiple level internal and external to the organization. Therefore, this professional possesses broad knowledge of the processes and outputs of many departments within the organization. In addition, this professional possesses the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.”

The CoC task force also identified the following job competencies as fundamental skills for this new credential:

1. Data Management

  • Assist in the development and maintenance of the data architecture and model to provide a foundation for database design that supports the business’ needs.
  • Establish uniform definitions of data captured in source systems to create a reference tool (data dictionary)
  • Formulate validation strategies and methods (i.e., system edits, reports, and audits) to ensure accurate and reliable data.
  • Evaluate existing data structures using data tables and field mapping to develop specifications that produce accurate and properly reported data.
  • Integrate data from internal and external sources in order to provide data for analysis and/or reporting.
  • Facilitate the update and maintenance of tables for organizations’ information systems in order to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data.

2. Data Analytics

  • Analyze health data using appropriate testing methods to generate findings for interpretation.
  • Interpret analytical findings by formulating recommendations for clinical, financial, and operational processes.
  • Validate results through qualitative and quantitative analyses to confirm findings.

3. Data Reporting

  • Design metrics and criteria to meet the end users’ needs through the collection and interpretation of data.
  • Generate routine and criteria to meet the end users’ needs through the collection and interpretation of data.
  • Generate routine and ad-hoc reports using internal and external data sources to complete data requests.
  • Present information in a concise, user-friendly format by determining target audience needs to support decision processes.

The CoC has proposed the following standards for initial certification:

1. Baccalaureate degree or higher and a minimum of five years of healthcare data experience;

 or

2. Healthcare Information Administration credential (RHIA) and a minimum of one year of healthcare data experience.

They evidently intend to verify healthcare data experience through the application process, which will require submission of a resume describing work related experience in healthcare data management, analysis, and reporting. They propose to utilize the current CE structure and requirements, as defined for the RHIA and/or multiple credentials, for maintenance of the Health Data Analytics credential.

3rd Party Accreditation of AHIMA’s Council on Certification

A bylaws amendment has been proposed with the intent of gaining third party accreditation for the AHIMA Council on Certification (CoC). The CoC is responsible to create and maintain credentialing and re-credentialing processes for AHIMA, to include developing the future direction of AHIMA credentials, overseeing all aspects of test development, as well as administering policies and procedures pertaining to certification maintenance for all AHIMA credentials. The substance of the proposal is to transfer the powers and duties of approving the standards for initial certification and the standards for maintenance of certification from AHIMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) to the CoC. The CoC says that in order to receive the third party accreditation, by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it must demonstrate autonomy in decision-making and protection from undue influence with respect to essential certification elements (i.e., standards for initial certification and the subsequent maintenance of certification for all AHIMA credentials).

As in accreditation by the JCAHO for hospitals, this accreditation process is voluntary and only granted to an organization that has met predetermined and standardized criteria in the areas of competency, authority, or credibility. The CoC indicates that such third party accreditation offers value to AHIMA in that:

1. It will enhance the competitive value of AHIMA credentials, by demonstrating independent verification of the validity of credentialing process, providing a means to differentiate AHIMA credentials from those of competitors.

2. Encourage both domestic and international confidence in the AHIMA certification programs.

3. Promote consistency and equivalency of multiple exam forms by adopting evidence-based best practices confirmed through independent peer review.

4. Reduce multiple audits and remove portability barriers to trade and/or globalization in working towards the goal of ‘certified once – accepted everywhere.’ CoC representatives have indicated that when and if third party accreditation is achieved, that the CoC will continue to be a standing committee of AHIMA. GHIMA members are encouraged to learn more about this proposal by researching the associated threads on the Communities of Practice and to share their opinions with their elected GHIMA leaders, so their views can be reflected when the Georgia delegates vote on this issue in the House of Delegates.

 

If you have questions or wish to comment on any AHIMA issues, contact one of the 2008-2009 GHIMA Delegates listed below:

President:  Lori Nobles, RHIA
Past President:  Ginna Evans, MBA, RHIA
President Elect:  Bob Lantis, MHA, RHIA
Delegate (2nd yr):  Ralph Morrison, RHIA
Delegate (1st yr): Ginna Evans, MBA, RHIA

Mentoring Program

GHIMA has established a mentoring program.  A GHIMA Mentor will provide insight into career paths and development for those individuals new in the profession and have indicated that they would like assistance from a mentor. Learn more.

My PHR

Learn more about GHIMA's My PHR initiatives!

Regional Meetings

For information regarding regional health information management associations in Georgia to include contact names and meeting dates, click here.

GHIMA Awards

Please support GHIMA by recognizing the outstanding contributions made by its members. Take a look at some of the previous GHIMA award recipients and learn more about the awards.

Congratulations to the 2008 GHIMA Award winners!

Award Recipient
Champion

Loren Brumbaugh

Clinical Site Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Augusta
Distinguished Member

Ginna Evans, MBA, RHIA

Distinguished Service Ralph Morrison, RHIA, CPC
Mentor Betty Gentry, RHIA, CTR
New Graduate Award Ginna Marshall
Outstanding New Professional Sangeeta Baurai, RHIA
Established Professional

Kay Zettler, RHIT

Nominate Someone for a GHIMA Award Today!


GHIMA Scholarships

Congratulations to the 2008 GHIMA scholarship recipient! 

Carlissa D. Smith, CPC, CPC - H, Clarkson College

Online Scholarship Application

 

GHIMA Volunteer Opportunities

Elected Positions:

Please take a moment to nominate someone for the GHIMA Board of Directors. We are looking for individuals to run for the following elected positions: President-Elect, Director, Delegate, and Nominating Committee. Take a look at the GHIMA Policies and Procedures for position job descriptions.

Volunteer Interest for Elected Positions
Candidate Bio Submission Online Form

Appointed Positions:

Interested in volunteering for a GHIMA committee?


Last Updated: 01/01/2009

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