Local Chapter Update: Consider volunteering to help your networking group grow

Local ACDIS chapters provide a vital networking and educational service to clinical documentation improvement specialists in a given state, geographic region, or specialty area. These groups are led by volunteers who help hosts organize events, identify potential speakers, and connect with ACDIS National to provide continuing education, raffles, and other items. Volunteering need not be a daunting task—as outgoing leaders and national representative provide guidance and ongoing support—but can serve as a tremendous professional learning and networking opportunity in its own right. For additional information, email Melissa Varnavas at mvarnavas@acdis.org.

All local chapter members are required to complete the online chapter membership roster. If you are not currently a member of your local chapter but wish to join a group near you, visit the local chapter pages of the ACDIS website for more information.

The following groups are planning upcoming events:

• The Suffolk County (Long Island, New York) ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, January 15, 9:30-11:30 a.m., at Stony Brook Hospital to discuss ICD-10 challenges and opportunities. RSVP by January 8, to scacdis@gmail.com or call Patti McKenna at 631-447-3001.
• The Philadelphia/S. New Jersey Chapter meets Thursday, January 28, 8-10 a.m., at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The group is actively seeking leadership volunteers. For information, contact Deborah Dallen at dallend@einstein.edu.
• The Texas ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, January 29, noon, central, for a webinar. The group is also actively seeking volunteers to serve on the leadership committee. For information, email texasacdis@gmail.com.
• The North Carolina ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, February 5 at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte. For more information, email ncacdis@gmail.com or visit its Facebook page www.Facebook.com/TexasACDIS.
• The Florida ACDIS Chapter meets Saturday, February 13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note the correction of location as this event will be held at the Doctors Hospital of Sarasota. The agenda includes presentations on ICD-10-CM/PCS, endovascular cardiac procedures, stroke, endocarditis, raffles, lunch, and more. The Florida Chapter seeks volunteers for new its 2016 leadership team. For information, email Joannie Crotts at Joannie-Crotts@smh.com.
• The Kentucky/Southern Indiana Chapter meets Thursday, February 18, 1-4 p.m. For information, email Rita Fields at rita.fields@BHSI.COM.
• The Central Pennsylvania ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, February 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at     Lancaster General Suburban Outpatient Pavilion. The group is currently seeking additional volunteers to help the leadership committee in 2016. For information, email Lori LaFaver at Lori.LaFaver@readinghealth.org.
• The Minnesota ACDIS Chapter meets Wednesday, February 24, for a teleconference. For information, contact Teresa Hegard at Hegard.Teresa@mayo.edu.
• The NYC5B (New York City Five Boroughs) ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, February 25, 5-7:30 p.m., at the Hospital for Special Surgery. For information, visit their blog or email nyc5b.acdis@gmail.com.
• The South Carolina ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, February 26, at Trident Medical Center, in Charleston. For information, email PJ Floyd at floyp@musc.edu. Registration is currently closed for this event. Email PJ Floyd to reserve a spot on the waiting list in case of cancelations.
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• The Hawaii ACDIS Chapter meets Wednesday, March 9, noon to 2 p.m., at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. For information, email April Ramos at apramos@Queens.org.
• The Massachusetts ACDIS Chapter meets Tuesday, March 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. Mitchell Levy, MD, chief of critical care medicine and member of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign executive committee will present. For information, email Aimee Van Balen at AVANBALEN@Lifespan.org.  
• ACDIS Greater St. Louis Missouri Chapter meets Wednesday, April 13, 6:30-8 p.m. at Missouri Baptist. For information, contact Michael McKelvey mpm2239@bjc.org.