Local chapter update: Quarterly meeting advice

Local chapters can hold meetings in whatever format works best for them. ACDIS recommends meeting a least quarterly to maintain momentum, relationships, and informational efforts. For some chapters, however, monthly, bi-annual, and annual meetings work better.

Last week, we put together some tips for those chapters holding monthly meetings and this week we want to share a few about quarterly meetings.

Most ACDIS chapters meet quarterly. The duration of these meetings varies from chapter to chapter, with some holding full-day meetings, other holding half-day sessions. Chapter leaders should ask their members what they prefer. However, longer meetings with more continuing education credit opportunities can serve to entice greater attendance.

For the most part, chapters that meet quarterly also rotate meeting hosts around the state or region. This enables CDI specialists who cannot make long-distance travel plans to attend at least one session annually.

Keep in mind your region’s weather patterns and other scheduling conflicts such as holidays and high work-volume periods when creating your schedule. Regardless of which months you choose for quarterly meetings, think about them in terms of the seasons to keep your schedule straight. For example:

• Winter (December-February):
  
  • Individual facility to share goals and program growth strategies
  • Review of ethical CDI practices/physician query guidelines
• Spring (March-May)
  
  • Discussion of upcoming ACDIS national conference plans
  • Request ACDIS-related audio conference on-demand. Chapter leaders are entitled to two free products per year at the discretion of the ACDIS national leadership, per the Local Chapter Agreement Form
• Summer (June-August):
  
  • Members who attend the ACDIS national conference should divvy up sessions and report back take-home lessons to those who may have been unable to attend
  • Roundtable query workshop: Attendees should bring redacted examples of medical records and review them together
• Fall (September-November):
  
  • Election of chapter officers/change of chapter leadership (as warranted)
  • Plans for the following year’s event calendar
  • Rules and regulatory changes (IPPS, OPPS, ICD-10 code changes, DRG shifts, etc.)

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).

March:

• The Minnesota ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, March 29, 1-2 p.m. CST, via conference call. For information, contact Faye Bakke (faye.bakke@essentiahealth.org).
• The Maine ACDIS chapter meets Friday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. For information, contact Cathy Seluke (cathy.seluke@mainegeneral.org).

• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, March 30, 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Baystate Health Education Center in Holyoke. For information, contact Jessica Barbeiro (jessica.barbeiro@steward.org).

April:

• The Idaho ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, April 4, 12:30 p.m., mountain time, at St. Luke's Health System in Boise. For information, contact Susie Curtis (curtisus@slhs.org).
• The Heart of Missouri ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, April 5, 6-8 p.m., at Nuance in Columbia. For information, contact Karen Elmore (kelmore@bjc.org).
• The Washington Evergreen and Oregon ACDIS chapters meet for a joint meeting Friday, April 6, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at PeaceHealth in Vancouver. Please register by March 15. For information, contact the Evergreen chapter leadership team (evergreenACDIS@gmail.com) or Linda Dawson (linda.dawson@providence.org).
• The Central Pennsylvania ACDIS chapter meets Friday, April 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Lancaster General Hospital offsite. For information, contact Deanne Wilk (dwilk@pennstatehealth.psu.edu).
• The Florida ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, April 7, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Cape Coral Hospital in Cape Coral. Agenda details to follow. For information, contact Deb Dallos (deb-dallos@smh.com).
• The Westchester/Hudson Valley ACDIS chapter meets on Thursday, April 12, 2-4 p.m., at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, in the Centennial Room. Click here to download the event flyer. For information, contact Kerry Seekircher (kseekircher@northwell.edu).
• The Wisconsin ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, April 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Wheaton Franciscan Medical Building Conference Center in Milwaukee. Lunch will be served. For information, contact Diane Draize (diane.draize@ascension.org).
• The Central New York chapter meets Thursday, April 19, 1-3 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, featuring a discussion on new types of myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation by Gregory Kenien, MD, physician champion for St. Joseph’s. RSVP by April 13 to Jennifer.Walts@sjhsyr.org.
• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, April 20, 12-2 p.m., at the Maryland Hospital Association in Elkridge. For information, contact Candace Blankenship (evalani3@msn.com).
• The Indiana ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, April 21, 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Click here to download the agenda. Click here to download the registration form. For information, contact Leigh Wolff (lwolff@beaconhealthsystem.org).
• The Michigan ACDIS chapter meets on Wednesday, April 25, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. The topic will be clinical validation. For information, contact Susan Fantin (susan.fantin@comcast.net).
• The Colorado ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, April 26, 3-7 p.m., at Centura Corporate Headquarters in Centennial. For information, contact Diane Kohler (dianekohler@centura.org).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets on Friday, April 27, 12-1 p.m. PST, via webinar to discuss the topic of auditing your CDI program. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).

Save-the-date:

• 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 North Carolina ACDIS chapter meets on 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).
• 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.