In This Issue:
 Letter From The President
Events
ICD-10 White Papers and Event Recap
Advocacy
Membership
Spotlight on the Sponsor
Financial Report
Letter From The President
Rachel Halonen
GCC Members –
It’s hard to believe that it’s already 2011. The second quarter for our chapter has been a host of eventful programs covering a wide range of HIT topics. In January, we provided both a webinar and program event with a panel covering the implementation strategies and challenges in preparing for ICD-10. Both events brought forth the industry challenges being faced in converting from ICD-9. A panel of local hospital CIO and CFO experts described their timelines and processes for engineering this core taxonomy replacement in time for the 2013 deadline imposed by CMS.
On February 4th, the professional development committee hosted a student event at the Mid-America Club on the 80th floor of the Aon Center in downtown Chicago. This was an HIT leadership exchange career discussion for students. It offered a panel discussion with local professionals who discussed potential paths students might take to advance their healthcare informatics careers.
The national HIMSS convention was held in sunny Orlando, Florida, this year from February 20-24. Once again, the GCC HIMSS chapter hosted their annual national HIMSS conference reception at the Peabody Hotel on Monday February 21st from 6:00-8:00pm. This year’s party was well attended with close to 200 attendees. As always, chapter members had a chance to network with each other, meet old friends, and make new ones.
We are also very excited to announce our Spring program on April 6th featuring Steve Lieber, HIMSS CEO. Steve will be addressing the GCC HIMSS members on the state of the industry's response to the first deadline for Meaningful Use reporting. Lieber will also describe HIMSS Analytics' design of an Ambulatory EMR Adoption Model and will provide the latest statistics on national adoption rates of EMRs across the care continuum. The Chicago chapter of HFMA will co-sponsor the event with us, and the financial implications of meaningful use, bundled payments, and other aspects of health reform will be explored. Don’t miss this event as it will definitely be one of the best of the year.
Please be sure to check out our website at www.gcchimss.net. If you have any questions or ideas as to how to improve the GCC HIMSS Chapter, please feel free to contact me anytime at rachelhalonen@me.com or (773) 633-3448.
We look forward to seeing all of you at our 2011 programs!
Rachel Halonen
President, GCC HIMSS
Director, Ambulatory Information Services
Lancaster General Health
rachelhalonen@me.com
Fall 2010 Provider CIO Dinner
Keri Christensen
Several local-area provider CIOs attended the Fall GCC HIMSS Provider CIO dinner, held Thursday, November 11, 2010 at Francesca's Amici in Elmhurst. The participants provided valuable suggestions and insight as to how GCC HIMSS could interact with their organizations. Topics for educational forums were discussed. Organizational leaders also shared their thoughts, plans and concerns around topics such as Meaningful Use.
GCC-HIMSS Holds Successful Second Annual Student Event
Nadene Chambers
In the continuing tradition of offering an educational and networking forum for students in the Greater Chicagoland community, GCC-HIMSS held a student event at the Mid-America Club on Friday, Feb 4, 2011. The event was titled “Health IT Leadership Exchange: Career Advice for Students”. Approximately 51 attendees participated in the event where the following speakers discussed HIT career pathways and options:
*Kenny Bozorgi, MD, Magma Health Systems
*Mimi Broeker, NorthShore University Health System
*Charles Colander, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare
*Imran Khan, MS, CPHIMS at Advocate Health Care and GCC-HIMSS Professional Development Committee Chair.
Several sponsors and recruiters contributed to making the event possible that include HITEKS, Medix, Surgical Information Systems and TEK Systems. The event was a great success. Respondents to the program evaluations reported that most (91%) thought the speakers were excellent. Respondents also reported that the presentations were relevant to their student status, enhanced their knowledge on succeeding in HIT and met their expectations overall. Attendees enjoyed the benefits of networking with each other and GCC-HIMSS members at the pre-event reception and with the speakers and recruiters after the event.
This program would not have been possible without the hard work of all our volunteers. They displayed excellent teamwork and worked on a variety of assignments before and during the event.
The event exceeded our expectations, proving to be a great opportunity for students in our chapter to learn more about the organization, what GCC-HIMSS can provide for them as they advance in their careers and the ways in which they can continue to support the chapter, particularly as future volunteers. On behalf of the GCC-HIMSS board, we would like to thank all the participants, speakers, sponsors and volunteers for supporting this event, and we look forward to equally successful events in the future.
Nadene Chambers
2010-2011 Student Liaison and Chair, Student Promotion Sub-Committee of the Professional Development Committee
HIMSS11 GCC Reception
Susan Wozniak
The GCC HIMSS Social Event has always been a popular event at the HIMSS Annual Conference drawing attendees from the chapter as well as former members who come back to see old friends. This year's social event, held at the Peabody Hotel on Monday February 21st from 6:00-8:00pm was well attended. An estimated 200 people came to reconnect, network, eat, drink, and be merry.
Rachel Halonen, Greater Chicago Chapter President, thanked our guests and the Elite Vendor Sponsors for their support of the chapter. Our Elite Sponsors are Laurus Technologies, 3M, Burwood Group, More Direct, and Beacon Partners. Best Buy gift cards awarded to 2 lucky attendees in a raffle at the end of the evening.
It’s an event you don't want to miss next year in Las Vegas!
GCC Upcoming Events
Janet Guptill
On Wednesday, April 6th GCCHIMSS will be co-hosting an event with the First Illinois chapter of HFMA and proudly welcoming Steve Lieber, CEO of HIMSS, for a stimulating discussion on the strategic importance of investing in IT, both for mid-term yields relative to meaningful use and for long term financial management of clinical operations. Lieber will also provide a snapshot of the state of the industry with regards to meeting meaningful use criteria to date. This is a not-to-be-missed key event! We will be meeting at the TrippLite facility, the former Spiegel building, just a mile west of the White Sox Cellular Field. Mark your calendars for this exciting event!
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls has been a uniquely Chicago resource for over 150 years. A lifetime home for children who have been abandoned, neglected, and abused, Mercy provides everything a family should be, for the rest of these children's lives. Most go on to college and jobs and families of their own. GCCHIMSS joined other Chicago healthcare management professionals on December 14th 2010 at Mercy Home to share in the hope and joy of the season. We will be there again this December 2011 so plan to join in. We are also planning a Careers in Healthcare event with our co-host CHEF where we meet the kids and offer career planning advice, so stay tuned!
GCC HIMSS Career Development Event
ONC Workforce Development
Imran Khan
The Professional Development Committee of the Greater Chicago Chapter (GCC) of HIMSS …
Is pleased to invite you to our spring program featuring a panel of experts comprised of professionals who will discuss the specifics of the Office of the National Coordinator Health Information Technology (ONC) Workforce Development Program and how individuals can take advantage of this opportunity to develop their career.
Summary of Program
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics approximates a shortage of about 50,000 Health Information Technology (HIT) workers over the next five years. To help address this growing demand, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has funded the HIT Workforce Development Program - $84 million in stimulus-funded grants to create intensive HIT curricula lasting six (6) months or less in community colleges and twelve (12) months or less at four-year universities. The courses will prepare individuals to fulfill the HIT Workforce Specialty Roles Identified by the ONC.
Join the Greater Chicago Chapter of HIMSS for a discussion with our panelists about:
•The specifics of the ONC HIT Workforce Development Program
•The twelve (12) HIT Workforce Specialty Roles identified by the ONC
•The employment lookout in diverse organizations for individuals in different career stages
•The ONC grant application process
Of course, there will be ample time for audience Q&A, so bring your questions and ideas too.
Our panelists include:
•Roger L. Holloway, FACHE
Co-Director IL-HITREC, Executive Director, Rural Health Resource Services,
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
•Abel N. Kho, MD, MS
Co-Executive Director, CHITREC
Co-Director Medical Informatics Program & Assistant Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
•Mark D. Crockett, MD, FACEP
President, Emergency Care Division, Picis (now part of Ingenix)
Rosemont, IL
When: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: The Mid-America Club, 200 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago, IL
Registration Fees:
$20 for GCC HIMSS Members;
$45 for Non-Members (includes $30 for GCC HIMSS membership)
6:00 – 6:30 Registration and Networking
6:30 – 6:50 Introductions by Panelists
6:50 – 7:45 Panel Discussion
7:45 – 8:15 Open Q&A
8:15 – 9:00 Appetizers and Networking
Register online at www.gcchimss.net
Preparing for ICD-10
Katie Mackle
Preparing for ICD-10: A Discussion of Implementation Strategies – January 20, 2011
The recent education program ‘Preparing for ICD-10: A Discussion of Implementation Strategies’, hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn at O’Hare provided an insightful look at the ICD-10 implementation requirements and the results effort and timelines required by healthcare organizations.
The program featured both ICD-10 experts and local health system leaders, who provided a both the expertise as well as tactical insight into how best to initiate ICD-10 implementation efforts. The speakers included:
• Keynote Speaker: Caroline Piselli, Director of ICD-10 Program Management, 3M Health Information Systems
• Moderator: Cindy Grant, ICD-10 Service Offering Lead, Courtyard Group
• Panelist: Dave Miller, Executive Director, Application Systems, University of Chicago Medical Center and Biological Sciences
• Panelist: Brian Washa, SVP Business Services, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Caroline Piselli’s keynote address emphasized the need for an integrated strategic roadmap to address all federal regulatory requirements and detailed the action required to implement ICD-10. She began by defining ICD-10, including the increased level of granularity as compared to ICD-9. Piselli then discussed the impact and some of the challenges associated with the conversion to ICD-10, including the perception that implementing ICD-10 is a coding issue, the impact on productivity, the training requirements to enable coders to code in ICD-10, and vendor readiness. Piselli concluded her presentation by reviewing the ten steps to successful ICD-10 implementation, including:
1. Provide organization-wide education / awareness
2. Appoint an interdisciplinary steering committee
3. Develop an ICD-10 strategy and plan
4. Determine functional area opportunities and gaps
5. Initiate interdisciplinary project management
6. Partner with vendors
7. Establish a payer implementation plan
8. Provide detailed training
9. Simulate and manage change
10. Implement successfully
The panelists, Dave Miller and Brian Washa, then provided an overview of how their organizations are approaching the planning for the ICD-10 implementation. The panelists agreed that significant effort will be required in order to successfully implement ICD-10, however with adequate planning and an interdisciplinary approach that they were confident their organizations would be successful. They noted that conducting a readiness assessment, working closely with their vendors, ensuring coders are adequately trained, and acknowledging that this conversion affects far more than just their coding departments were all critical.
The moderator, Cindy Grant, then provided insight into Canada’s experiences implementing ICD-10 in 2001. She emphasized that planning was key to success and that organizations required 3 years to prepare for the implementation. She also stated, to many audience members’ dismay, that coder productivity dropped when ICD-10 was implemented and did not return to pre-ICD-10 levels.
Grant then opened the panel to questions and the resulting interactive audience Q&A was thought-provoking and informative. Slides from all the keynote presentation, as well as whitepapers from 3M and Courtyard Group, are available on the GCCHIMSS website at www.gcchimss.net/newsletter/newsletter.html.
For more information, please see the links below:
ICD-10 WhitePaper
ICD10 Crosswalk Primer WEDI Index
Piselli Wall Boucher HFM Article
The federal government has mandated that the United States adopt ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS by October 1, 2013. Why is this mandate occurring now and what will it mean for your organization?
Click here to learn more on what this means for your organization
IL HIT Advocacy
Health Information Technology Personal Advocacy for Illinois Residents
Keri Christensen
Members of Congress and their staff want to understand the impacts of healthcare reform and its effect on their constituents. Who better to educate your elected officials and their staff than you? The purpose of this HIMSS Advocacy Tool Kit is to provide you, our HIMSS member, with up to date information and leave behind materials in order to be prepared for a meeting with your Member of Congress or legislative staff. These materials will help give guidance on how to conduct a visit, keys for success as well as pertinent information to enhance the content of your visit.
RESOURCES
Who are your US House Representative and US Senator?
Who are your Illinois State Representative and State Senator?
http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
What legislation is pending nationally?
http://capwiz.com/himss/issues/alert/?alertid=15153691&type=CO
HIMSS Advocacy and Public Policy webpage:
www.himss.org/advocacy
Advocacy Center and Toolkit
www.himss.org/advocacy/links_toolkit.asp
GETTING STARTED
We are excited that you have chosen to become active and schedule a meeting with your elected officials! Steps 1 and 2 will be different, depending on if you want to meet with a State official or a US official.
US Senator and Representatives
To begin with,
1. Research who are your Members of Congress. Visit the Award-Winning HIMSS Legislative Action Center
www.himss.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp
and simply enter in your zip code to view your elected officials and their contact information. You will also need to decide if you want to meet him/her or staff in the district office or in Washington, D.C. Contact information for the Capitol Hill office and all district offices will be listed on the Legislative Action Center.
2. Email HIMSS and let us know when you have scheduled a meeting with your Member of Congress at advocacy@himss.org
Now What?: Now that you have a meeting scheduled and have let HIMSS know, visit the HIMSS Advocacy Toolkit and download supporting documents to help enhance the productivity of your meeting! HIMSS will continue to add valuable and timely content to the HIMSS Advocacy Tool Kit that will enhance the quality of your meeting. Check back frequently to see if there are any additional materials you should include. GOOD LUCK!
IL Senator and Representatives
To begin with,
1. Research who are your Members of the Assembly. www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
and simply enter in your zip code to view your elected officials and their contact information. You will also need to decide if you want to meet him/her or staff in the district office or in Springfield, IL.
2. Email HIMSS and let us know when you have scheduled a meeting with your representative at gcchimss@gmail.com
Now What?: Now that you have a meeting scheduled and have let HIMSS know, visit the HIMSS Advocacy Toolkit and download supporting documents to help enhance the productivity of your meeting! HIMSS will continue to add valuable and timely content to the HIMSS Advocacy Tool Kit that will enhance the quality of your meeting. Check back frequently to see if there are any additional materials you should include. GOOD LUCK!
NEXT – for both US and IL
3. The HIMSS Advocacy Toolkit includes several resources to help you plan a visit with your elected leaders.
www.himss.org/advocacy/links_toolkit.asp
4. Arranging and Following up on a Visit
Sample Letter of Invitation to a Site Visit: for use if you would like to invite an elected leader to tour your facility.
Sample Letter of Meeting Request for use if you would like to visit your elected leader to discuss HIT.
Sample Letter of Thank You: for use if you would like to thank your elected leader for a past visit.
Seven Secrets for Success: suggestions to make your visit smooth and successful
5. Materials For Your Elected Leader
What is HIMSS? Fact Sheet- In case your Member of Congress or staff may not be familiar with HIMSS, this fact sheet will give them an introduction to the organization and the many activities that HIMSS hosts.
HIMSS Principles of Government Initiatives- Each year, HIMSS creates principles for all stakeholders to consider for inclusion as provisions in any legislation proposed by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures to transform healthcare or for inclusion in federal and state regulations.
HIMSS Updated Recommendations for Health IT and Healthcare Reform (11/2/09)
HIMSS State Chapter Meeting- Customize this sheet with your contact information! This outlines the type of resources you can offer your legislator to help them in the decision making process
Your Business Card- Never forget to include contact information so that your decision maker can follow up with you if they need help from their local subject matter expert!
GCCHIMSS Member Activity Rewards Program Update
Susan Wozniak
Have you heard about this year’s new chapter program? As a GCCHIMSS member, you have an opportunity to win prizes just by getting involved with the chapter. Attend a program, participate on a committee, or write an article for our quarterly newsletter. Did you advance to HIMSS Senior or Fellow status – that’s an entry! Did you speak at one of the chapter events? Another entry!
Are you going to the HIMSS Annual Conference in Orlando later this month? The board is looking for assistance at the registration table at our social event on Monday, February 21st. Volunteering to work the table gives you two benefits: An entry into the drawing and free registration for the social! How can you lose!
We already have over 180 entries into the drawing with at least two more educational programs this year. Prizes include Gift Cards, new tech-gear, and a year’s paid dues for a HIMSS national membership.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Susan Wozniak, GCCHIMSS Past-President, at Susan.wozniak@allscripts.com.
GCC HIMSS Mentoring Program
Sandra LaShear
In response to a strong interest from our members, the Greater Chicago Chapter of HIMSS is conducting a pilot mentoring program. Four individuals graciously agreed to serve as mentors providing coaching and advice based upon their expertise and experience for our first class of mentees. Beginning in September 2010, and continuing through February 2011 mentors and mentees are meeting once per month for one to two hours.
Midway through our pilot mentoring sessions, we will interview all mentors and mentees before the next March 2011 class formation to see what worked and what didn’t. It is our goal to organize the mentoring program so that all parties benefit, learn, and grow from their participation.
We are now taking applications for Mentors only, for the March 2011 class. Since we match mentors and mentees based upon their experience level we are looking for applicants at all levels of expertise in all health IT disciplines. If you are interested in being a mentor please contact Sandra LaShear at sandra@sammartech.com providing her with the following information:
1. Mentor Name
2. Name of the organization where you work
3. Organization type: provider, university, consulting, application developer, etc.
4. The position you hold and the number of years in that position
5. Contact information (phone and email address)
6. Mentoring Focus (i.e. departmental level management, project management, technical specialty)
Please identify what you would like to focus your mentoring activities on in a one paragraph profile
Please use ‘GCCHIMSS Mentor Application’ as the subject of your email to Sandra.
CPHIMS Study Group
Katie Mackle
Are You Interested in Participating in CPHIMS Study Group Sessions?
The Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) is considered “a mark of distinction” in the world of Health IT. This professional certification is ideal for all Health IT professionals that helps validate your skill, knowledge and abilities. Here are a few ways the certification can help you to distinguish yourself from others:
• Provide yourself with skills and tools to help you make a difference in your career, your organization, and your community;
• Demonstrate your commitment to continuing professional development;
• Expand your career opportunities;
• Enjoy the pride of recognition of knowing that you are among the elite in a critical field of healthcare; and
• Hold a premier credential based on a sound assessment to distinguish yourself in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
For more information about the CPHIMS certification, please click here.
GCC HIMSS is currently assessing the interest in CPHIMS study group sessions. The sessions would be facilitated by individuals who are CPHIMS certified. If members are interested in getting together to study for the exam then we will coordinate evening or weekend sessions at a location convenient to those interested in participating.
If you are interested in participating in CPHIMS study group sessions please contact Katie Mackle. A survey will then be sent to determine the most convenient dates and location for the group.
Spotlight on the Sponsor
Healthcare leaders are wrestling with a number of complex issues – healthcare reform, meaningful use criteria, improving patient safety and outcomes, new care models such as medical homes and ACOs, as well as the complex transition to ICD-10.
“Hospitals and health systems are under tremendous pressure to maintain care excellence while dealing with rising costs, evolving regulations, and ongoing economic pressures.” says JaeLynn Williams, senior vice president, operations, for 3M Health Information Systems. “Improving the performance of our healthcare system is without a doubt one of the most important challenges facing our nation.”
Defining times are making the role of the IT executive even more critical. No longer just accountable for the systems that hold data, IT professionals are called on to apply this critical data to solve problems and transform their organizations for long-term, value-driven growth. What can be done now to address today’s challenges?
“The good news is there is much that can be done,” reports Williams. “Hospitals are only beginning to tap the potential gains from health information technology.”
3M Health Information Systems
For more than 25 years, 3M Health Information Systems has created innovative technology solutions that respond to customer needs and help organizations worldwide improve documentation, quality, and financial performance. 3M offers integrated software and services for clinical documentation improvement, computer-assisted coding, quality and performance management, data standardization and interoperability, revenue cycle management, and ICD-10 transition planning.
Here are just a few examples of how 3M products are helping clients improve clinical and financial outcomes along the healthcare continuum:
• Comprehensive ICD-10 modeling and code translation services, clinical documentation assessment services and ICD-10 claims impact analysis services help facilities take strategic advantage of ICD-10’s potential for clinical, financial, and operational improvement. 3M ICD-10 solutions are built on more than15 years experience in developing and maintaining ICD-10 products and services around the world.
• 3M computer-assisted coding technology improves coder productivity, speeds up reimbursement, and improves accuracy. A recent 3M study found that time spent coding can be reduced by an average 29 percent using 3M Codefinder Computer-Assisted Edition Software.
• 3M’s market-leading clinical documentation improvement software and services help facilities improve the accuracy of quality outcomes data and promote increased case mix index, typically by 2 percent to 4 percent, with a potential 4:1 return on investment. Many customers of the 3M DRG Assurance Program and 3M Clinical Documentation Improvement System have been able to recoup program costs within five months.
• More than 5,000 customers worldwide rely on the 3M Coding and Reimbursement System to capture full and accurate reimbursement. 3M coding, compliance, and revenue cycle solutions help reduce compliance vulnerability, manage cost, prevent potential take-backs, and avoid claims denials from the start by proactively addressing regulatory compliance issues such as HACs, POA, and RAC audits.
• Using the 3M Healthcare Data Dictionary, a controlled medical vocabulary server that provides a road map to the content and structure of patient data, integrated delivery networks (IDNs) can implement industry-standard vocabularies and enhance the transfer of patient data, connecting thousands of providers, departments, and facilities.
• New 3M mobile tools for physicians link speech recognition, dictation, and transcription with coding solutions to improve access to patient information, streamline workflow, and reduce transcription turnaround time.
A Focus on Real Value
“At 3M, providing real value comes down to aligning the company’s strategy and internal processes with those of its clients. This requires an open dialogue about how we’re doing and how we can become easier to do business with,” Williams says. 3M Health Information Systems continually enhances processes for pricing, contracting, software implementation, delivery of services, and ongoing support to align with clients’ operational needs. The value—for clients and for 3M—comes in making sustainable changes to core processes within a hospital’s workflow that can impact overall revenue, reduce costs, address quality and compliance, and increase productivity.
“Today, we’re faced with great challenges and unprecedented opportunities,” Williams says. “All of us involved in health information technology – provider, consultant, and vendor – must work together to harness a chain reaction of new ideas that will help transform how health care is practiced and managed, so the goal of a sustainable health care system can be achieved.”
FY2011 Finacial Report
Greater Chicago Chapter
Dave Miller
Financial Report
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President
Rachel Halonen
Lehcar Consulting
Past President
Susan Wozniak
Allscripts
Secretary
Becki Lapke
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Treasurer
David Miller
University of Chicago Medical Center and Biological Sciences
Sponsorship Chair
Michael Carr
MaxIT
Communication Chair
Mary Jane Rouchka
Sprint-Nextel, Indirect Channel
Communication Chair
Anthony Beard
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Professional Development Chair
Imran Khan
Advocate Health Care
Education Program Chair
Janet Guptill
Thomson Reuters
Education Program Chair
Laura Bagus
Edward Hospital & Health Services
Nursing Informatics Special Coordinator
Ruth MacCallum, BS RN-BC
Ingenix
Student Liaison
Nadene Chambers
DePaul University
Member-at-Large
Lynn Ferino
Central DuPage Hospital
Member-at-Large
Jennifer Bloomquist
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Member-at-Large
Janice Wurz
Impact Advisors
Member-at-Large
Katie Mackle
TELUS Health Transformation Solutions
Member-at-Large
Jeff Danto
Deloitte
HIMSS Staff
Stephanie Serra
HIMSS
HIMSS Staff
Jessie Bird
HIMSS
HIMSS Staff
Jordan Blinn
HIMSS
GCC HIMSS Web Site:
www.gcchimss.net
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Premier
Partner
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