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Editor's e-Note
Confused about what computer-assisted coding (CAC) can and cannot do? As adoption rates grow, it’s important that HIM leaders become well versed in the technology’s capabilities.

This month’s E-News Exclusive examines a few of the myths and truths associated with CAC.

Lee DeOrio, editor
e-News Exclusive
Time for a CAC Check-In? Progress and Predictions for HIM
By Mary Beth Haugen, MS, RHIA

The past three years witnessed tremendous growth in the use of computer-assisted coding (CAC) systems. Many hospitals and health systems decided to move forward with CAC implementations during repeated ICD-10 delays. In fact, according to a 2017 WinterGreen Research report, the overall CAC industry is expected to see continued adoption with the overall market rising to $5.1 billion by 2023.

Financial executives purchased CAC systems with expectations for better coding consistency and productivity savings. However, not all CAC implementations have lived up to these vendor promises—at least not yet. This article discusses the current state of CAC, impact on coders, and best practices to ensure systems continue to evolve and improve over time.

Full Story »
AMIA News
AMIA Announces 2017 Signature Award and Leadership Award Recipients

This year’s Signature Awards and Leadership Awards were presented at the AMIA Leadership Dinner during the AMIA 2017 Annual Symposium, which took place November 4–8 in Washington, D.C.

The symposium draws 2,500 attendees for an event featuring 600-plus papers, panels, and posters. The AMIA Signature Awards program provides an opportunity for AMIA members at different stages of their careers to be recognized for significant contributions to the field of informatics.

“It is an honor to recognize these remarkable leaders in informatics,” says Thomas Payne, MD, FACP, FACMI, AMIA board chair and medical director of IT services at the University of Washington’s UW Medicine. “We celebrate their exceptional accomplishments and commitment to AMIA’s mission."

Read more »
 
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Preventing Stress, Avoiding Burnout
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Is It Possible to Curtail Copy and Paste?
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In Case of Emergency ...
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Ask the Expert
Have a coding or transcription question? Get an expert answer by sending an email to edit@gvpub.com.
Industry Insight
AHDI Announces Smith as 2017–2018 President-Elect

The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) is pleased to announce Director-at-Large Joyce Smith, AHDI-F, was elected as the president-elect for the 2017–2018 term by the National Leadership Board. Smith will serve under the leadership of President Leigh Anne Frame, CHDS, AHDI-F.

“With 20-plus years of leadership experience in health care documentation at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as her longstanding commitment to AHDI and its members, Joyce will be an integral part of successfully moving AHDI forward. I have no doubt that we have the right group of dedicated and highly skilled professionals in place to face the challenges ahead," says Sheila Guston, CHDS, AHDI-F, interim CEO of AHDI.

Read more »
Tech & Tools
NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates Integrated Into MEDITECH's Web EHR
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is collaborating with MEDITECH to integrate the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates (NCCN Templates) into MEDITECH's Web EHR as standard cancer treatment protocols for use at point of care. As part of the integration, MEDITECH's Web EHR will provide clinicians direct access to the NCCN Templates and will link to NCCN.org and the corresponding NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. The information contained in the NCCN Templates enhances patient safety by empowering health care providers to standardize patient care, reduce medical errors, and anticipate and manage adverse events. NCCN continues to expand its library of chemotherapy order templates to work toward improved safe and effective use of drugs and biologics in cancer care. Learn more »

Medical Transcription Course Introduced by New York Institute of Career Development
The New York Institute of Career Development has announced the launch of its online Medical Transcription Course. In this self-paced, easy-to-follow course, students will learn to effectively transcribe all types of necessary health care documents with a focus on transcription technology, standard practices, and health care record keeping. Students will have access to a network of advisors by phone and e-mail for academic support and career assistance. The course prepares students to take the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist exam administered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity; the cost of the certification exam is included in the course tuition. Learn more »

Samsung, TigerText Deliver Communications Solution
Samsung Electronics America, Inc, and TigerText have announced a strategic partnership to deliver an all-in-one, purpose-built health care solution for improving the way care teams communicate and coordinate efforts. The solution is designed for use by clinical staff members within hospitals and care facilities and combines the security, dependability, and ease of use features of Samsung’s smartphones with the advanced real-time communications platform capabilities of TigerText. TigerText’s clinically integrated workflow engine, TigerFlow, centralizes information from systems such as the EHR, nurse call, admit/discharge/transfer, scheduling, imaging, and labs into a single interface for real-time, mobile-centric notifications and communication. The solution is currently certified and deployed on the Samsung Galaxy J7. TigerText is also available on Samsung’s full lineup of mobile devices including the flagship Galaxy S8 and Note 8. Learn more »
 
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