May 12, 2010

Hello,

I would like to thank you for allowing me to serve as your President this year.

In alignment with the Strategic Plan for AHIMA and FHIMA, the regional chapters have been assigned the task of coming up with a detailed plan of how, we as a profession, are going to deal with the challenges ahead of us. The GCHIMA is part of the team whose key priority is “Workforce Readiness.” We are to create an ICD-10 Task Force with clear charter, purpose and goals. Our target date for completion is December 2010.

Another initiative is to “establish expectations with Regions to perform at least one workshop on a HIM Hot Topic per calendar year.” As part of this initiative we are to track educational offerings by regional associations, also due by December 2010.

As you can see, GCHIMA is getting off to a good start with this month’s Symposium, offering very “hot topics.” I hope that everyone take advantage of the inexpensive educational meetings that our association offers. I urge everyone to talk to their co-workers and encourage then to attend. I also urge directors, managers, supervisors to support their employees by allowing them the time off to attend the meetings.

The GCHIMA Board of Directors is working on reaching out to all counties, as well as establishing remote meeting attendance.

This year it is our privilege to be the host of the AHIMA annual meeting in Orlando, and with FHIMA annual meeting in July, I know that it is hard to attend all of them. But, no matter which you choose I urge you to get involved.

Have a wonderful summer!

Iris Alcantara, RHIA, CCS