Local chapter update: What does it take to be a chapter leader?

The ACDIS Local Chapter Agreement Form sets out the expectations for official local chapter leadership in both their relationship to ACDIS national and to the chapter itself. For those new to a leadership position, or those unfamiliar with the agreement form contents, let’s look at those responsibilities.

In relation to ACDIS national and to other team members, chapter leaders agree to:

• Choose three officers from different healthcare organizations and who are current ACDIS national members
• Provide officers’ contact information and signed agreement form by January 30 of each calendar year
• Inform the two remaining team leaders (within 30 days) if you can no longer fulfill your duties
• Strongly encourage all local chapter members to join the national ACDIS organization
• Regularly provide updates to national on membership activities
• Provide ACDIS national with ongoing updates regarding local chapter organization structure and developments as well as meeting and event information, which ACDIS shall publish at its discretion

In relation to meeting planning and facilitation, local chapter leaders agree to:

• Hold at least two meetings per year for its local chapter membership (though ACDIS national recommends quarterly meetings)
• Communicate with national prior to cancelling any previously scheduled event to discuss alternatives
• Apply for CCDS continuing education credits where applicable at least 30 days prior to the live event

Though those duties may seem high-level at first glance, ACDIS national has a number of resources available to chapter leaders which provide specific guidance and suggestions for everything from meeting agendas, to leadership transitions, to bylaw development. All these documents can be found in the Local Chapter Leadership Toolkit.

In exchange for chapter leaders’ service, ACDIS national provides support and materials (at the discretion of ACDIS leadership) to facilitate chapter events. Additionally, local chapter leaders (and members who use the online membership roster) receive discounts on their national membership.

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 Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org).

July:

• The Kansas City Missouri ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, July 11, 2-3 p.m. CST, via webinar. For information, contact Angelica Naylor (angelica.naylor@nkch.org).
• 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, with special guest ACDIS Director Brian Murphy. For information, contact Kerry Seekircher (kseekircher@northwell.edu).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, July 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., via webinar. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (evergreenacdis@gmail.com).
• The Michigan ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, July 25, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. The topic will be “Coding highlights on the horizon for 2019.” For information, contact Susan Fantin (susan.fantin@comcast.net).

August:

• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter, along with the New England components of AHIMA, meet Friday, August 3, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Baystate Health Educational Center in Springfield. Click here to register, registration limited to 200.  For information, contact Aimee Van Balen (avanbalen@lifespan.org).
• 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 on Friday, August 24, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for their summer conference at A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center in Asheville. Please register by Friday, August 17, by clicking here. For information, contact the leadership team (ncacdis@gmail.com).
• The Kentucky and Indiana ACDIS local chapters meet Friday, August 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Baptist Health in Louisville, Kentucky. The registration fee is $85 until August 3, at which point the fee is $95. Click here to download the registration form. For information, contact Susan Snyder (ssnyder1@bhsi.com).

Save-the-date:

• 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).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, September 28, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Trios Women's and Children's Hospital in Kennewick. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact the leadership team (evergreenacdis@gmail.com).
• The Arizona ACDIS chapter and the Arizona component of AHIMA meet on Saturday, October 6, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at MIHS in Phoenix. For information, contact Debra Beisel Denton (debra.beiseldenton@mihs.org).
• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, October 17, 1-4 p.m., at Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island. For information, contact Joyce Williams (JWilliams@Lifespan.org).
• 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.