Local chapter update: How to facilitate a successful local chapter leadership transition

For ACDIS local chapters and networking groups to thrive, each organization needs to foster and mentor a continuous group of potential new leaders. Founding chapter leaders often don’t give much thought about not being a chapter leader. As leaders get to know their chapter members better, they should seek out those who may have past experience on other boards and committee either professionally, with participation in nursing, case management, or coding/HIM associations, or personally, serving on student associations, parent-teachers groups, religious committees, or athletic associations.

“Even minor involvement on groups like this can provide context for a new leader,” says Molly Siebert, past Oregon ACDIS chapter leader and Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) member.

Potential leaders should possess:

• An active ACDIS membership
• Interpersonal, planning, and time management skills
• An ability to delegate and prioritize
• Collaborative expertise
• A passion for the CDI profession

“Leaders should be focused and detail oriented,” says Aimee Van Balen, past-Massachusetts ACDIS chapter leader and CAB member, because there are “a lot of moving parts” required to maintain the chapter and to organize regular events.

Emily Emmons, CAB member and co-leader for the California ACDIS chapter, agrees. “Leaders really need to be good planners,” she says. “That’s the bulk of leadership responsibilities—planning the next meeting, learning from its successes, and moving on to the next event.”

Be sure to review the terms and agreements located in the Official Local Chapter Agreement Form on www.acdis.org, as it contains more specific requirements related to the duties of the three core volunteers needed for a group to become an ACDIS chapter.

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).

May:

• The California ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, May 17, 12-1 p.m. pacific, via webinar. For information, contact Emily Emmons (emily.l. emmons@kp.org).
• 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).
• The Minnesota ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, May 30, 1-2 p.m. CST, via conference call. Click here to download the agenda. For information, contact Sue Taylor (sue.taylor@northmemorial.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).
• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, June 23, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Brady Conference Center, HonorHealth-Scottsdale Shea Campus. Stay tuned for more details. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (azacdischapter@gmail.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.