What I want to see at ACE
Chad Sines
Each year about this time we gather for ACE. While some see this as a time of fun, it is much bigger with the potential to really affect change. We network, set a year agenda, contemplate where we went wrong, and praise our successes. Most importantly, we change direction when outcomes have not been as expected. Why is this year so interesting? With the loss of the HOD, the new Board, has the ability to move their agenda forward quicker than the previous HOD/BOD governance. There is also a new CEO in place. Simply put, this is not the same AHDI as it was last year.
This year’s ACE is poised for some amazing changes and a new direction for the Association. Typically ACE is the time for big announcements when year-long pushes will be announced. We should be hearing some major WOW announcements that wake up the industry and the membership with a message that unequivocally says “We are listening and things are changing now.”
So here are some things I am looking see in the forefront.
Credentialing- We dropped the ball since last ACE when we voted to make mandatory credentialing a reality. We passed the vote but our actions did not back up our words. Will 2011-2012 be the year that we actually move forward with real, unavoidable change? Will we require all new directors to have the RMT or CMT? Will all ACCP-approved programs be required to use all CMTs as instructors as well as have a CMT program director? Will CDIA be asked to get onboard or will there continue to be a rift between the two partnered groups? If the rift continues, how will it complicate our ongoing concern for a credentialed work force.
Financial Stability- What is the plan to move AHDI towards a more fiscally-sound association. Since my entry as a delegate about 6-7 years ago, the issue of troubled finances has plagued the association. Declining membership numbers, the economy, etc are some issues that are at play. AHDI has been tightening the belt for a long time. With expenses reduced and still concerns, how will AHDI introduce new revenue streams?
Membership Numbers- Harking back to when I first joined AHDI, our professional members (not Associate aka those who are members tied to a product) were much higher than have been seen over the last six years. Now, membership numbers are not the only factor pointing to success, it is critical as it is revenue as well as indicates an industry confidence by the number of individuals pledging their time and money towards your cause. While I have not seen the numbers for this year, we seem to have been trending down. How will AHDI address this in a meaningful way?
Our Purpose- What is AHDI? What is its meaning in an industry that looks to minimize the transcriptionist? With a move towards all of healthcare documentation, how does AHDI differ from AHIMA? How can it compete with new associations and credentials that are more than transcription focused. Can we be more than Coke versus Pepsi?
Retooling the Workforce- This one may irritate many, but life is about change. Sadly, one of our industry’s biggest shortcomings is in accepting and responding favorably to change. We also tend to be weak in embracing and mastering new technology. Every transcriptionist is aware that documentation is no longer simply typing what is dictated. More and more it is inputting into an EMR. New EMR vendors have some interesting ideas on how our jobs are going to evolve over time. The new HITECH laws have really affected how we all do business. Many MTs are also expanding into coding and billing. None of this is bad. In fact, this is the opportunity that transcriptionists have begged for. The chance to be relevant and the chance for others to know just how relevant they are. How will the Association get the message of positive retooling to a work force that is still in shell shock over speech recognition, EHR, and the doomsday sayers who try to convince them that they are going away? How can we rapidly retool in time for changes that happen almost in real time.
Our New CEO- I am excited to hear our new CEO’s message and plan for the association. Any time you bring in new leadership, things should change. Typically this is when corporations make a massive positive change or experience great turmoil. We have some great minds in leadership, so we should be hearing some great ideas.
The same direction means the same stagnation. The worst thing to hear from ACE would be nothing new, no change, no new goals, no stirring the pot.
So what are you looking to hear, see, experience from this ACE?
Chad C. Sines, MS, MBA, AHDI-F
AHDI-Southeast Delegate