Director’s Note: Important dates regarding the 4th Annual ACDIS Conference

There are a mere 75 days left until the 4^th Annual ACDIS Conference in Orlando (April 7-8). Amazing how quickly the hands on old father time’s clock spin. It seems like just yesterday we were unpacking the boxes from the Chicago conference last June and here we are again preparing for two-plus very full days of CDI education and networking fun. To get the most from this year’s event and to save the most on registrations fees, here are a few important dates to keep in mind.

• Monday, January 31, 5 p.m.: The nomination period for the 2011 CDI Professional of the Year award closes. The 2011 ACDIS annual conference committee will choose one CDI Professional of the Year Award winner and two winners of Recognition of CDI Professional Achievement. They will be honored during a special luncheon at the conference. To submit a nomination, download the attached CDI Professional of the Year nomination form. After you fill out the form, submit it to ACDIS Director Brian Murphy via e-mail at bmurphy@cdiassociation.com. If you have a worthy colleague or mentor to nominate, please send your application in, we’d love to hear from you!
• Friday, February 4, 5 p.m.: Conference early bird rate ends. Those registering by this date receive the discount rate of $795 for non-members and $695 for ACDIS members. Teams of five non-members cost $3,180 and $2,780 for members.
• Friday, March 11, 5 p.m.: Hotel reservation early bird rate ends. This year’s conference will be held in sunny Orlando at the Hilton in Walt Disney World Resort across from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista. What better way to end a day full of educational adventures than with an additional one or two with Mickey Mouse and friends? Discounted rooms costs $149 a night and are available on a first-come, first serve basis. Last year’s discounted hotel rooms sold out quickly prior to the actual deadline, so we recommend making your reservations as soon as possible.
• Friday, March 18, 5 p.m.: Applications due to sit for the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist exam. The annual paper-and-pencil administration of the test will be held Saturday, April 9, at the Hilton Walt Disney World® Resort from 8–11 a.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m. However, Candidates must complete and submit an application form by March 18. Visit www.hcpro.com/acdis/certification.cfm to learn about prerequisites or to apply.
• April 6, 8 p.m.: Come out a day early (or send your physician advisors) to our pre-conference event The Physician Advisor's Role in CDI: A Collaborative Approach for Success. This one-day seminar provides an in-depth session on the essential functions of the physician advisor and his or her successful integration with the CDI department. We’re offering discounts for those attending both events.

1. Fran Jurcak: Ensuring accurate hospital and physician profiles and reimbursement through appropriate documentation
2. Juanita Seel: Keeping the momentum going in a mature CDI program
3. Abby Steelhammer: CDI and its benefits on quality, safety, and reducing readmissions and HACs
4. Melinda Fleet: ACDIS Texas state chapter poster
5. Michelle Johnson: CABG and valve replacement patients: How CDI improved documentation to justify GMLOS
6. Jennifer Noel: Implementation of a physician query dashboard, the benefits of data transparency and its impact on physician compliance
7. Charrington Morrell: Navigating the Medicare documentation jungle
8. Jean Sands and Karen Newhouser: The EMR and CDI: Plusses and pitfalls
9. Veronica Hussey: An alternative approach to CDIP staffing within the academic medical center setting
10. Andrea Burrier and Lisa Shank: The one ...the only...APR-DRG system in Maryland: Concurrent review with MD query response rate
11. Michelle Madison: Decreasing post-procedural complication rates through improved clinical documentation, coding and provider education
12. Virginia Bailey: A cooperative team approach to reducing length of stay
13. Bonnie Epps: Improving severity of illness and risk of mortality quality indicators through CDI
14. Janet Gentle: Career ladder: Promoting excellence and opportunity for nurses in CDI and other specialty roles
15. Janet Greene: From paper to web: Sharing a multimedia methodology for physician education
16. Lori Hickey: Reduction of diagnoses from MCC to CC status: A look at acute renal failure and a forecast of metabolic encephalopathy
17. Mel Tully: Clinical integration: Implementing the concept and the role of CDI
18. Denyatta Henry and Dawn Beebe: Development of a standardized query policy and forms and impact on response rate
19. Ina Corley and Donisia Lee: “WHO DAT talking about CDI”: Super Bowl 2009 champion Saints football theme