Hello everyone!

Happy New Year!!!!!  I can’t believe that it is 2008 already!  It seems like it was just the beginning of 2007.  The Board of Directors has been very busy the last couple of months.  We started the 2007-2008 year with a board meeting in August.  We have several new members on our board this year and we have a diverse group from all across the state of Alabama.  I appreciate all of the new members being willing to serve this year and for bringing some new suggestions to the table.  We then had a strategic meeting in October and then finished it up in November.  As a Board, we tried to align our strategic plan with AHIMA’s plan as much as possible.  We are doing presentations at the Regional Council meetings through-out the state to inform the AAHIM members of what the plans and goals are for 2007-2009.  We have presented these at two Regional Council meetings so far and will be presenting at the other Regional Council meetings this month or in February.  I would like to thank Donna Stanley, Gloria Allen, and Bob Garrie for presenting these presentations so far.  Below is a list of the AHIMA Strategic Plan and the AAHIM Strategic Plan and Goals for the 2007-2009 timeframe.

          AHIMA Strategic Framework for 2007-2009

·          e-HIM

·          Leadership engagement – Larger, Louder, and Faster

·          Building Value

·          Grow and Strength in AHIMA

AAHIM Strategic Issues for 2007-2009

·          Advance e-HIM practice in our state

·          Increase educational opportunities in our state

·          Increase recognition of HIM issues with State and Federal legislators.  Also ensure active participation in HIM topics that arise in our state

·          Build value in our state membership while providing positive volunteer experiences on our AAHIM Board

To see more details about the AAHIM Strategic Issues and Goals, the complete presentation that is being presented at the Regional Council meetings will be posted on the AAHIM website and on the Alabama Communities of Practice website for everyone to view.

On January 24^th we will be hosting our Annual Coding Symposium at the Bruno’s Conference Center in Birmingham.  The brochure is posted on the AAHIM website and the CoP if you didn’t receive a copy in the mail.  Also, we will be hosting our Annual AAHIM State meeting in May at the Embassy Suites in Huntsville.  We have a limited numbers of sleeping rooms blocked so be sure and make your reservations early!  We have some really great topics and speakers scheduled for both of these meetings.

At our state meeting last year when I did my incoming President’s remarks, I talked about the word TEAM and how it applies to our profession as well as our state.  I don’t want this upcoming year to be about a certain area of the state.  I want all of us to work together as a TEAM to accomplish more and provide more opportunities for our members/non-members.

v       T- Together

v       E – Everyone

v       A – Achieves

v       M – More

I believe that we can achieve more and reach our goals for the upcoming year!  There is a quote from Henry Ford that he once said:  “Coming together is a beginning…..Keeping together is progress…..Working together is a Success!”  If you are interested in volunteering in any position on the Board or running for an office, please email me at laura.mcrea@crmchospital.com.  Let’s all continue to work together as a TEAM to help make AAHIM the best that we can be!

Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to serve on the AAHIM Board and also to serve as the AAHIM President!  I wish all of you the best in the upcoming year and May God Bless You All both personally and professionally.

Thanks again!

Laura McRea, RHIT, CDS

AAHIM President 2007-2008

NEWS

Electronic Death Registry Workgroup 

The Alabama Department of Public Health has established an interdisciplinary workgroup to design the electronic death certificate.  Laura McRea, RHIT, President of AAHIM, and Melissa Keen, RHIT, Coding Roundtable Coordinator, are participating in the workgroup representing the AAHIM.  Sharon Whitehead, RHIA, AAHIM Director, is also participating in the workgroup representing the Alabama Hospital Association.

Target date for testing the software is tentatively scheduled summer 2008 with full implementation tentatively scheduled for late summer or fall 2008.