I don’t know about you, but I cannot believe that we are in the holiday season, almost ready to move into a new year. Seems like 2007 just got started, and here we are, jumping into 2008!  Just a few days ago it was July, then Thanksgiving… time just seems to move so quickly! As I am writing this, we are experiencing heavy snowfall in the Salt Lake Valley. It is so nice to be able to stay inside, comfortable and warm, and look out my window at that beautiful winter wonderland! Staying true to our theme for this year, “Change is everything,” there were many changes this year in our association, changes happening in our profession, and most all changes that are helping to unite our association and propel our profession into the future. Work continues in the Clinical Documentation Architecture for Common Document Types project, known more commonly to us as the CDA4CDT. This project is designed to create universal guidelines and templates for the most common types of dictated clinical documentation, in the hopes that by establishing industry standards, this will help ensure the interoperability of Health Information Management (HIM) systems and the effective exchange of data between healthcare providers. We are also working with the group “Oasis,” a national nonprofit educational organization, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for mature adults. Our association’s work with Oasis may open new doors for healthcare documentation professionals by being able to provide assistance to our seniors who may not have ever had access to their medical records and may not know what they contain, or how to go about finding out. This can help to further their participation in their own healthcare and healthcare decisions, which is something that I am personally involved with with my mother and I am very aware that this is definitely needed. We are very excited about this new venture!  Right now, our education approval program has approved a total of 13… yes, 13 schools, with more on the way very soon, we hope! The registered apprenticeship program is still alive and well, and although not going as strong as we would like it to be, it is still a national apprenticeship available to students. The Military Spouse program is going strong, with our own CEO, Dr. Peter Preziosi, having attended, via special invitation by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor of our nation, to attend the kickoff of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, in the Pentagon Auditorium… in the Pentagon! How exciting is that!!! AHDI is now having monthly webinars online through AHDI on becoming an MT, “the profession that moves with you”!! There are also credentialing exam bulk discounts currently available for groups of 10 or more who register and pay for CMT/RMT, and a new membership (not a renewal) is now available with a $15 discount, but only until December 20! So if anyone is considering joining our association, now would be a great time to bring them in!  Also in the news… we now have 2 brand new educational chapters that have been approved by AHDI! They are the TRS Institute (TRSi), and M-TEC! They both have wonderful new leaders and have a lot of very contagious enthusiasm! We also have 2 corporate chapters that have had their informational and are ready to begin electing officers, one here at Webmedx and the other at TRS. We are very excited about these new groups and hope other schools and corporations follow their lead! * * * * * * * * At this time of family gatherings, warmness, and the opening of our hearts to others, I want to thank all of you for allowing me to serve you in 2007, and I look forward to traveling the road with you again in 2008! May you all have a very safe and happy holiday season, may your days be merry and bright, and may the new year bring wonderful new beginnings for you! MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKAH, HAPPY KWANZAA, FELIZ NAVIDAD, MELE KALIKIMAKA, and… a VERY SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Jacque Taylor, FAAMT
Secretary-Elect and Director, AHDI
Delegate, HOD (members at large, Region 1)
Past-President, Online Chapter of AAMT (now Online Association of AHDI)
Member, Utah-Idaho Regional Association of AHDI (formerly Utah State Association)
Co-Chair-Elect, Component Association Support Team (CAST)
Co-Chair-Elect, Membership Advisory Council (MAC)
Board Partner, Region 1 and co-Board Partner Region 2, Student Alliance, Legislative Issues Group Advocacy Summit, May 15-17, 2008
Be a part … Be an Advocate!
Please join us for our 3rd annual lobbying and education summit!
Jacque Taylor, AHDI-F; Proud Graduate M-TEC, Secretary/Director-AHDI, Candidate for Speaker of the House-Elect, Member OA-AHDI, Member UT-ID AHDI, Member M-TEC-AHDI , Board Partner Student Alliance, LIG, Region 1-AHDI, Co-Chair CAST/MAC, Member Bylaws/Awards Committees Check out my website and the Student Alliance, OA-AHDI, local chapters and state/regional associations, to see if there is one near where you live!
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