Local chapter update: Expanding participation in your local chapter

ACDIS will reach out to its membership on an annual basis to promote local chapter growth for those which have a signed agreement on file. In addition, ACDIS editorial staff will reach out to conference attendees from each state to promote any lunchtime or afterhours chapter events at the ACDIS national conference. So please communicate any events you are planning to take place during the conference to us so we can help you get the word out to attendees.

Leaders, however, can further participation themselves as well. One useful method is to periodically return to the efforts that helped you get your group off the ground to begin with, such as calling facilities within your area, using Google to find nearby hospitals, and sending meeting flyers to those area facilities.

Google: Use internet search to find nearby facilities and make some phone calls to connect with underrepresented hospitals. A facility may have an HIM director who is thinking about implementing a CDI program but hasn’t yet, or a facility may just be starting their CDI program and will welcome your call.

Newspapers/online media: Ask the hosting facility to submit a calendar item and/or press release regarding the upcoming meeting to state-wide press and any nearby newspapers.

Related healthcare associations: Just as CDI professionals work alongside HIM, case managers, and other professionals, leaders might consider reaching out to the professional associations which serve them. Consider connecting with chapter leaders from AHIMA and the Case Management Society of America or another association. You can ask them to send your meeting flyer to their members or consider hosting a joint meeting.

Regional meetings: Several states have more than one local chapter. Other chapters may be hosting a meeting near state boundaries. Consider joining forces with other chapter leaders. You can promote each other’s upcoming meetings, gather data from a larger base, and even plan for a regional day-long educational event.

For more tips on running a local chapter and planning events, visit the Local Chapter Leadership Toolkit.

The following is a list of upcoming events for ACDIS local chapters. If you have an upcoming event you would like to include, please email Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org).

April:

• The Colorado ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, April 26, 4-6 p.m., at Centura Corporate Headquarters in Centennial. For information, contact Diane Kohler (dianekohler@centura.org).
• The Utah ACDIS chapter meets Friday, April 27, 5-6 p.m., at the University of Utah Hospital in the Red Rock conference room in Salt Lake City. For information, contact Kerstin Quist (Kerstin.quist@hsc.utah.edu).
• The St. Louis Missouri ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, April 26, 6-8 p.m., at Missouri Baptist in St. Louis. For information, contact Mariann Dinello (mariann.dinello@ssmhealth.com or 314-344-6286).

May:

• The Suffolk County Long Island ACDIS chapter meets Friday, May 4, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook. Please RSVP by April 27. For information, contact scacdis@gmail.com.
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets on Friday, May 18, 12-1 p.m., PST, via webinar to discuss the topic of auditing your CDI program. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The New Jersey (Philadelphia/Delaware) ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, May 30, 8-10 a.m., at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. For information, contact Gina Stewart (gstewart@e4-services.com).

June:

• The South Carolina ACDIS chapter tentatively plans to meet Friday, June 8, at MUSC in Charleston. For information, contact Mary Hopkins (mary.hopkins@hcahealthcare.com).
• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, June 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Agenda to follow. For information, contact Lara Faustino (lara.faustino@bmc.org).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets Friday, June 22, 12-1 p.m. PST, via webinar. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).

Save-the-date:

• The Westchester/Hudson Valley ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, July 12, 2-4 p.m., at Greater Hudson Valley Health System at the Orange Regional Medical Center Campus. For information, contact Kerry Seekircher (kseekircher@northwell.edu).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets Friday, August 10, 12-1 p.m. PST, via webinar. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The North Carolina ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 24, for their summer conference at Mission Health in Asheville. More details to follow. For information, contact the leadership team (ncacdis@gmail.com).
• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, September 14, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Towson. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. For information, contact Candace Blankenship (evalani3@msn.com).
• Missouri's three ACDIS chapters meet Saturday, October 20, for the third annual Show Me State conference at SSM DePaul in St. Louis. For information, contact Mariann Dinello (mariann.dinello@ssmhealth.com) or 314-344-6286.