HIM Transitions

Expectations

2009-11-16T12:20:00Z

My daughter received her first progress report from the International Bacceularate school she attends. She was disappointed in her grades this first quarter because she did not get straight A's, as she was accustomed to. I have to admit, I was probably as upset as my daughter about her grades. As it turns out, the grades school-wide were not what the kids or parents expected. A letter went out to all parents from the principal that informed us he expected these grades and was not alarmed by them....(read more)

HI&T Week

2009-11-09T12:36:00Z

November is not only the start of the holiday season, but also the time of year when HIM professionals celebrate Health Information and Technology (HI&T) Week. This is our week to pat ourselves on the back and celebrate the achievements made during the year. I am sure that HIM professionals across the country will showcase their departments and take the time to appreciate the hard work by HIM staff. I remember all the HI&T celebrations over the years. Activities included HIM open houses to...(read more)

No Rest for the Weary

2009-11-02T12:11:00Z

I have been trying to get the flu shot for the last few weeks. As you know from watching the news, the flu shot is in short supply. After my third attempt, the nurse practitioner promised to call me as soon as a new shipment arrived. I thought with all the overly anxious people walking in to get the shot, the last thing she would want to do is call one of us. Well, much to my surprise, she called me late Monday night and said she had just received a shipment of the flu vaccine. I told her that I...(read more)

HIT Jobs in High Demand

2009-10-26T11:08:00Z

The introductory course I teach in health information technology (HIT) gives students the basics on health information. This week I did a lecture on the diversity of career options available in HIT. Students coming into the program are usually familiar with coding and transcription, but they are not familiar with other positions within HIM. They were surprised to learn their options include compliance, consulting, privacy and electronic health records (EHRs) to name a few. So far, most students are...(read more)

H1N1 Flu Hits College Campuses

2009-10-19T11:13:00Z

There has been so much attention on the H1N1 flu in my kid's school district. My daughter's middle school has reported two confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu, and there have been a tremendous number of kids out with flu-like symptoms. My daughter missed 2.5 days of school with flu-like symptoms. Schools are asking that children and teachers stay home if they are running a fever or have flu-like symptoms. Hand sanitizers are placed front-and-center in all stores. I have stocked up on hand sanitizers...(read more)

Stress Management

2009-10-12T19:16:00Z

My daughter transferred to a new school this year. She had no interest in transferring to this school, but like all parents I overruled her objections so she can be prepared to compete in the highly competitive world we live in. The curriculum at the new school is extremely challenging. My daughter has homework every day, including weekends. She is often up late during the week completing assignments. She has several teachers during each term, and they all have their own Web sites, which students...(read more)

The Virtual Lab

2009-10-06T19:03:00Z

I have been learning how to use the American Health Information Management Association virtual lab applications for the HIT program. The virtual lab simulates various HIM functions, such as release of information, master patient index (MPI), chart deficiencies and the encoder, which gives students exposure to the electronic health record (EHR) and computerized HIM functions. When I started out in the HIM program years ago, everything we learned was demonstrated as a manual function. These manual...(read more)

The Vanishing Textbook

2009-09-28T11:30:00Z

I remember being in elementary school and how everyone was extremely excited about going to the library to check out books. My friends and I looked forward to this day all week; we could not wait to check out our favorite books. We would check out the same books over and over again, no matter how many times we had read them. There is something about that old musty smell you only get from the pages of a library book. As I progressed through the educational system, I still looked forward to going through...(read more)

ICD-10 Anxiety

2009-09-21T11:34:00Z

I try to attend coding updates annually, and I always learn something new. I attended a workshop this week on the 2010 ICD-9 changes. The amount of information is just mind-boggling. It is a good thing I don't have to perform coding for a living. The rationale behind using the new codes can be more confusing than the codes themselves. There was also information on what we should be doing as coders, directors, documentation specialists, etc. to prepare for the implementation of ICD-10. An unofficial...(read more)

Office Hours

2009-09-14T11:08:00Z

One of the perks of working from home is that you get to set your own office hours. There are no employees, boss or co-workers that you must make time for during an 8-hour day at the office. When I want to start my day, I simply go upstairs to my home office and start working. My schedule is not written down, it's all in my head. No need to post office hours again. Well, so I thought. My kids always come into my office when I in the middle of finishing up something that needs to go to my students...(read more)

Not Another Test

2009-09-09T11:49:00Z

I was thrilled to pass the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) certified professional coder (CPC) test on the first try this past spring. The experience was nerve wracking, and I didn't think I would survive it. Well, you are reading this blog, so I obviously lived through the experience. I anticipated keeping up with all the changes and keeping my skills up. I was planning on the CPC being my last certification exam. However, the AAPC had other ideas. All credentialed AAPC members will...(read more)

Volunteering

2009-08-31T11:15:00Z

When I moved to North Carolina several years ago, I volunteered my time at a local shelter. I was hesitant at first because I didn't think I could really be of any help to these people in need. Once I was convinced by the shelter director, I signed up to volunteer a few hours on the weekend. Looking back at this experience, I learned a lot about myself and the difference you can make in a small way. I have been thinking about getting involved with the regional and state health information associations....(read more)

A New Toy

2009-08-24T12:57:00Z

I discovered a new technology toy this weekend. It's called Voki and it allows you to create an audio message with cool characters. You can select a character and change their hair color, eyes, skin tone and even apply makeup. I found a character I liked and created a perfect image. The Voki can be used for social networking to talk with your friends. It can be used to send e-mails and post on your blogs. The problem with some technical applications is that they can be so difficult to use. Because...(read more)

Fall into the Season

2009-08-17T11:17:00Z

Next week marks the beginning of the fall semester at the community college where I teach in the medical assisting program. I am looking forward to meeting new students and getting back in front of the class. It's such a good feeling to see these excited faces in the classroom. The only difference this time is I will be teaching full-time at an online university. In the past, I worked on a contract basis, which meant I took teaching assignments that fit my schedule. My courseload will be pretty full...(read more)

Back to School

2009-08-10T11:13:00Z

We are nearing the end of summer, and it is time for kids across the country to go back to school. The retailers have started the full-scale assault on parents to get to the mall and buy their kids clothes, shoes, computers and other items that your kids cannot live without. Oh, how could I forget those back to school supplies. My school district provides an online list of school supplies by grade level. These lists are just ridiculous. Why does an elementary kid need so many supplies? My kids are...(read more)