October 2008 - Posts

Filling in the Blanks
October 29, 2008 12:37 PM by Cheryl McEvoy

Earlier this month, attendees at the 2008 American Health Information Management Association Convention and Exhibit got a glimpse of what may be to come in the future of health care—namely, personalized genomic medicine, or customized care based on that Read More...

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See You in Grapevine!
October 15, 2008 8:09 PM by Lynn Jusinski

Well, it's over, and what a conference it's been. The 2008 AHIMA Convention wrapped up today with a stirring presentation by Chris Gardner, the author of "The Pursuit of Happyness." Audience members laughed at certain points and welled with emotion at Read More...

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ROI To the HIE (Or: 'How Many Acronyms Can HIM Create?')
October 15, 2008 6:52 PM by Cheryl McEvoy

As someone who recently went through the hassle of filling out paper forms at a new physician's office only to be reprimanded for failing to send my medical records ahead of the appointment, I can understand why health information exchange (HIE) is a Read More...

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Looking Forward
October 15, 2008 10:39 AM by Lynn Jusinski

Yesterday's general sessions were all about looking to the future of health care, and, as Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, MSHA, FACP, FACML, clinical services, HCA, said at his presentation, HIM professionals are optimistic, not just hopeful, about what lies Read More...

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There's a Party Going on Right Here
October 15, 2008 1:57 AM by Cheryl McEvoy

After beefing up on ICD-10 and RACs this afternoon, convention-goers got to let off some steam and show off their moves tonight at the President's Premier Celebration. This year's party turned back the clocks to the "hippie 60s" and "funkadelic 70s," Read More...

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Lots to Learn
October 14, 2008 1:03 AM by Lynn Jusinski

I'm always amazed by just how much there is to learn in the HIM field, and that's never more apparent than when I'm out at conferences. This year's AHIMA Convention has been packed with interesting sessions and general sessions that really show just how Read More...

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Seeing Green
October 13, 2008 3:52 PM by Cheryl McEvoy

With the traditional red ribbon cutting, the AHIMA exhibit hall is open and the convention is in full swing. As a first time attendee, I found it difficult to imagine the expansive displays of software and services, and I can't wait to mill about the Read More...

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Interaction Is the Name of the Game
October 12, 2008 3:53 PM by Lynn Jusinski

Students filed into rooms 611-612 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle and came armed with questions and prepared to interact. Speaker Barbara Black, MBA, SPHR, director of human resources with Care Communications Inc., Chicago, opened Read More...

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Get to Know Your Data
October 12, 2008 3:51 PM by Cheryl McEvoy

From the moment I stepped on the hotel shuttle bus in sunny (yes--sunny!) Seattle, I have encountered countless convention-goers excited about all the week has to offer. From Allentown, PA to Topeka, KS, everyone was talking about EHR, the legal health Read More...

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What's On the West Coast
October 10, 2008 11:36 AM by Cheryl McEvoy

Before I wind my watch to Pacific Time, I thought I'd scan health care headlines from the West Coast. In California, the Governator just vetoed a legislative bill 2 years in the making that would have required medical facilities to inform patients of Read More...

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Oh, the Anticipation!
October 10, 2008 8:49 AM by Cheryl McEvoy

Hard to believe, as I have yet to pack my suitcase, but I'm off to Seattle tomorrow morning for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) National Convention. I look forward to meeting our HIM leaders and readers, but for those of Read More...

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See You in Seattle!
October 10, 2008 7:43 AM by Lynn Jusinski

Here at ADVANCE , we're gearing up for the AHIMA Convention and Exhibits, held this year in Seattle. Note to the other attendees: it will be a bit chilly out there. I'm packing as many sweaters as I can fit into my bag. It hasn't been much warmer here Read More...

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A Supreme Controversy
October 8, 2008 3:02 PM by Cheryl McEvoy

Privacy issues are tipping the scales of justice as the Supreme Court of Ohio will determine whether private health information can be released in a civil case against Planned Parenthood. The parents of a minor who got an abortion at Planned Parenthood Read More...

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CMS Announces RAC Contractors
October 7, 2008 9:03 AM by Lisa Algeo

On Oct. 6, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the names of the new national Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs). The new RACs are: Diversified Collection Services, Inc. of Livermore, California, in Region A, initially working in Maine, Read More...

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Your First Day
October 2, 2008 4:06 PM by Lynn Jusinski

I've had my fair share of jobs. I worked as a server at IHOP. I washed dishes at a fairly swanky ski club in the mountains. I pushed around carts in a Michael's craft store warehouse (and let me tell you, boxes of marbles are heavy), and I even bundled Read More...

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Just a Little Bit of History Repeating
October 1, 2008 7:29 AM by Lynn Jusinski

OK, so maybe it's not exactly the same story, but it's pretty darn close. In a recent article I did, I talked to Marne Gordan, GRC market manager for Armonk, NY-based IBM Tivoli Software, and I asked her if a situation like the Lubna Baloch case could Read More...

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