Local chapter update: How to create chapter policies for vendor involvement

ACDIS understands the unique and supportive role vendors play in the CDI profession. Their collective expertise, sponsorship, and support represent a vital component of the overall growth of our professional association and the expansion of our local chapters.

There are cases, however, where vendor involvement may not be warranted. This is particularly true on the local level in settings in which individual CDI specialists meet primarily for informal networking purposes.  Local ACDIS chapter leaders should, in conjunction with their chapter members, determine vendors’ scope of involvement. Local chapter members should discuss vendor involvement openly and create a set of policies and/or parameters for vendor participation if they so choose.

ACDIS suggests the following:

1. Local chapters determine whether to allow vendors to attend meetings. 
2. If local chapters do allow vendors to attend their meetings, they should determine their level of involvement. See the toolkit’s vendor involvement resource for suggestions.
3. Local groups should maintain a log of vendor involvement which includes contact information, name of company, nature of involvement, and dates/duration of participation.
4. Local groups should communicate the level of vendor involvement to ACDIS national and reach out to the ACDIS team at info@acdis.org if any questions or concerns arise.

Click here to access the vendor involvement resource for chapter leadership, including a sample letter for in-person event sponsors. You can see the full list of chapter resources available anytime listed beneath the map of the main local chapter page on acdis.org or by clicking here. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the ACDIS team (info@acdis.org) with any questions!

The following is a list of upcoming events for ACDIS local chapters. Visit your local chapter’s webpage on the ACDIS site for additional information about upcoming meetings. To join a chapter if you haven’t already or to update your chapter contact information/affiliation, click here.

October:

• The South Carolina ACDIS chapter is offering an on-demand webinar available from October 1 to December 31, 2023. The program is titled, “Social Determinants of Health - Quality of Care Implications,” and will be presented by Donicia Lee, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS. For information, contact Amy Truitt (amytruitt@hcahealthcare.com).
• The Central Pennsylvania ACDIS chapter meets Friday, October 13, 2023, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., via webinar, for their fourth quarterly meeting. For more information, contact Courtney Spangler (cspangler4@wellspan.org).
• The Illinois ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 12–1 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, "2024 Final Rule from CMS," and will be presented by Maralee Gray, BSN, RN, CCDS. For more information, contact Jeneth Esquivel-Salinas (jeneth.esquivel-salinas@eehealth.org).
• The Wisconsin ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, October 26, 2023, 1–3:30 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Alicia Whiteford (awhiteford@mhemail.org).

November:

• The Kansas City, Missouri ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, November 9, 2023, 2–3:30 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Debra Canova (debra.canova@uhkc.org).
• The CDI Educators ACDIS networking group meets Friday, November 10, 2023, 1–2 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Danielle Martin (dmartin@mercy.com).

December:

• The Georgia ACDIS chapter meets Friday, December 1, 2023, at 9 a.m., via webinar for its fourth quarterly meeting. For information, contact Paula Rector (pcrector@outlook.com)