AHDI Industry Update & Annual Business Meeting Recap

The AHDI Industry Update & Annual Business Meeting wrapped up earlier this morning, and there was a lot of information for attendees to take in. Some of the highlights included:

• Lots of emphasis by CEO Peter Preziosi and others that medical transcription is changing but we're not going away. Emphasis on the need to position ourselves as knowledge workers and not "productionists."
• Treasurer Sherry Doggett reports that AHDI is in the black, great improvement since 2005.
• Director of Professional Practices Lea Sims announces that AHDI will be changing credentialing testing providers after the current contract with Prometric expires in December of this year. Beginning in 2011 the new testing service provider will be Criteria, which will offer both onsite and secure webcam-proctored online testing options for credentialing candidates. Another significant change in the testing procedure will be a two-tiered exam consisting of both RMT- and CMT-level questions. If candidates pass the RMT level, they will then be given the opportunity to take the CMT-level portion of the test.
• Nick Mahurin talks about the Health Story Project and the progress that has been made in creating standardized templates for use in electronic medical record systems.
• Scott Shalett reports on the Dewey Square Group's advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., but points out that legislators listen to what's being said in their home districts at least as much as they do to what's being said in D.C. Also talks about the importance of having conversations with non-governmental entities, associations, etc. to make the case that the healthcare industry needs our skills in order to get to meaningful use. He emphasizes the importance of turning challenges into opportunities.

These are just some of the highlights of the session. We were able to stream live video of the session, another step forward for the association in terms of engaging members and nonmembers alike.

That's it for now, more to come!

Jay