Local Chapter Update: Meeting attendance picks up

Just as ACDIS and the CDI profession have grown over the years, so too has involvement in the more than 40 local chapters around the country. This month a number of events have “sold out”—meaning that interest in attending the event exceed the event room size. In some instances that meant greater than 50 attendees and other events drew registration of more than 100 participants.

Chapter leaders do their best to accommodate as many attendees as possible and have even opened waiting lists for those who were late to register and couldn’t get in. While these events may be full, we encourage those interested in networking to reach out to local leadership and join them for future events or to volunteer to help host or plan an event at your facility.

The following listing includes upcoming meetings to mark on your calendar. For additional information about local chapter activities, getting a networking group going in your area, and a calendar of events across the nation visit www.acdis.org.

Missouri
The St. Louis Regional ACDIS Chapter meets Wednesday, September 9, 6-8 p.m., at the SSM Health St. Joseph in St. Charles. For information, contact Mariann Dinello Mariann_Dinello@ssmhc.com.

South Carolina
The South Carolina ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, September 11, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in Tidelands Health Willbrook Center in Pawleys Island (commonly referred to as Litchfield Beach). The agenda includes:

• “CDI: Out of the Silo and Into the Arena,” by Joni Dion, RHIA, CDIP, CCDS, CPC, Associate Director of Berkeley Research Group, LLC.
• “Second Level CDI Review Process,” by Cindy Kicklighter, RN, MSN, CCDS; from MUSC
• “Emerging CDI Trends and Physician Documentation,” by John Zelem, MD, FACS, Vice-President, Compliance and Physician Education, Executive Health Resources
• “A Review of ICD-10 Cardiovascular diagnoses,” by Karen Carr, RN, Grand Strand Hospital
• “ICD-10 Jeopardy,” by Valerie Miller, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDI Coordinator, Tidelands Health
• SC ACDIS Business

The cost for meetings is $10 for SC ACDIS members; $20 for non-members. The deadline for registration was September 1 and registration is currently closed. For information, email PJ Floyd at floyp@musc.edu.

Texas
The newly re-organized ACDIS Texas Chapter holds its first meeting Thursday, September 10, noon to 1 p.m., central. Guest speaker is Richard Pinson, MD, FACP, CCS, regular contributor to ACDIS and author or several publications. For registration information, contact TexasACDIS@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page www.Facebook.com/TexasACDIS.

Connecticut
The Connecticut ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday September 10, 1:30-3 p.m., at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. Lunch will be provided. For information, contact MaryAnn Shanley Maryann.Shanley@baystatehealth.org. 

Michigan
The Michigan ACDIS Chapter meets Saturday, September 12, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. The agenda includes:

• "What's new in CDI,” by Fran Jurcak
• "HCCs: Understanding risk stratification,” by Dan Dooley
• "CDI in the Emergency Department: Closing the gaps,” by Joann Ferguson
• "Metrics: Using data to Drive Performance,” by Susan L. Fantin and Shawn M. MacPhee
• "Centers of Excellence Model for CDI,” by Sheila Bowlds and Deb Zettner
• "My CCDS Exam is Scheduled: Now what do I do?” by Angela Green

Event sponsors include: host Beaumont Hospital; speakers from Accretive Health, Anthelio, The Claro Group, Huron Consulting, St. John's Health, Indiana University Health; lunch and raffle sponsor CDI Search Group; and MedPartners.

Cost is $110. For information, contact Susan Haley at SHaley@accretivehealth.com.  

Massachusetts
The MA ACDIS Chapter meets, Friday, September 25, 10 a.m. to 1p.m., at Newton Wellesley Hospital. Eleanor Paglia, MD, will present on pneumonia, and Joel Auslander, MD, will present on AKI, Cardiorenal Syndrome, and Cor Pulmonale. Lunch will be provided, and admission is now full, at 50 people. If you registered for the event but cannot attend for any reason, contact Cathy Farraher at 617-243-6397 or cfarraher@partners.org, so she can open space for those on the waiting list.

New York
The next quarterly Suffolk County Long Island ACDIS chapter meeting will be held on Thursday, October 8, 1-3 p.m., at CHS Melville Headquarters. For information, email scacdis@gmail.com or call Patti McKenna at 631-447-3001.

Louisiana
The New Orleans ACDIS Chapter meets October 14, at Ochsner Health System. For information, contact Melissa Mayer at melissamayer@ejgh.org.  

Illinois
The Northern Illinois ACDIS Chapter seeks a host for its October event. If your facility can welcome fellow CDI specialists for a networking event please contact Colleen Stukenberg at CStukenberg@fhn.org.