Sharon, our Executive Director, writes today about resolutions.  I seldom make New Year's  resolutions, because experience tells me I won't keep them.  But maybe it's time for a couple-

1. Blog more frequently.  I'm chagrined to see how rarely I write here.  Mostly it's because, like everyone, I'm extraordinarily busy.  But that's no excuse.  I actually put a reminder on my calendar to pop up twice a week- it doesn't help, I ignore it.

2.  Seriously, and I'm getting personal now here- I resolve to try and solve my insomnia.  As I write this, I'm so exhausted I'm almost ill.  I've suffered from insomnia for many, many years.  I've tried many things, some of which work sometimes, and many of which don't work at all.  I so far refuse to try pills, because, well, I'm stubborn.

I don't have any trouble falling asleep.  I've fallen asleep at a rock concert.  I just have trouble staying asleep.  This wouldn't be a problem. really, if it just happened once in a while, but it happens most nights.  I will wake up once, twice, three times and stay up an hour each time. wide awake.  This morning I woke at 2 am and couldn't go back to sleep.  People are no longer surprised to get email from me in the dead of night.

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I hope you were able to attend the ANI last week in Florida.  What a great experience it was, as always!  From the beautiful location to the great education to dancing at the banquet- it's something I look forward to every year. 

A few things that stand out to me- Jan McInnis was hysterically funny and I learned some tricks that I'll be able to use in real life- like say what everyone's sarcastic inner child is thinking ;) .  Tim Moore produced an amazing video extolling the benefits of A to the A to the H-A-M membership.  And Paul Miller gave an informative talk about the goings-on in Washington.

The banquet was held outside on the lawn, and even though it was Florida warm and humid, it didn't stop anyone from dancing.  I got a temporary tattoo to go along with my real ones- maybe next time, a real tattooist?????

And finally, there was the best thing about the experience- the chance to see friends once again, and make new ones. 

This week, the CPAM/CCAM exams are being taken.  I personally...

I'm excited about the upcoming ANI!

The Summer Coaching Webinar series just ended last week,  I always enjoy presenting these, and I know that people who are going to take the CPAM have a higher chance of passing if they listen in.  We got some good suggestions from some new participants- Candace Osborn, Candy Edie, Montine Moser, Donita Moore, Julie Lee and Kathryn Ward were on hand at various times to share their testing experience and offer study suggestions.  One great suggestion we heard was to use your own facility's data to perform the calculations you'll be tested on!

Before you know it, the fall exam week will be here.  Before that, if you are attending the ANI, I hope you can take advantage of the live coaching session that will be offered there.  It's always very informative, and a blast as well!  If you're there, look me up and say hello.

I hope you enjoyed your summer and found time to get away.  As always, please let me know of anything we can do to improve our Professional Certification program.  You can email me at ebaptist@perrymemorial.org or call 815-876-4419.  I look forward to hearing from you.

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Summer is here (meteorological summer, anyway) and that means it's time for our annual CPAM Coaching Webinars.  The webinars are a four part series of 2 hours each, with each part focused on one section of the CPAM exam.  The webinars follow the Coaching Kit layout, but because we can't interact, we don't use some of the Kit's available tools.  Instead, we ask quite a few practice questions, and we include time for Q and A in each session.  We find that people who participate in the webinars have a higher pass rate than those who don't.  You can sign up for the webinars at http://www.aaham.org/MembersOnly/OnlineMemberRegistration/tabid/535/Default.aspx

Here is the schedule:

- Patient Access: Held on July 27, 2012 - Billing: Held on August 10, 2012 - Credit & Collections: Held on August 24, 2012 - Revenue Cycle Management: Held on September 7, 2012

It's an opportunity for study, but also...

Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at Wisconsin's joint Revenue Cycle Co-op.  I talked about Certification and the benefits it has for you both personally and professionally.  I spoke with a number of people before and after my "speech" and I was happy to learn that more companies are pursuing technical certification for staff members, and there is a growing interest in professional certification.  For only $100-200 dollars, you can make an investment in your career that will show everyone you know your stuff!  And you will have the satisfaction of achieving something that is difficult and worthwhile.

The drive from my house to Madison WI is a beautiful one.  It was a gorgeous sunny day yesterday, and Highway 151 is an uncrowded road.  What a remarkable opportunity to ponder all the blessings I have.  It also gave me time to think about the certification program and the things we want to work on next.  I believe we are many steps closer to being able to provide feedback on tests.  I'll keep you posted...

Well, it's Friday, and if you're like me, it's the welcome almost-end to a very long week.  One of the things that I like about PFS management is that there's always some new problem to deal with.  It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy that sort of thing, I know.  But in AAHAM you will find a lot of like-minded individuals and you may be one!  Still, dealing with constant change can be time-consuming and exhausting!

This is the week that folks are taking the CPAM and CCAM exams.  If they already took it, they're welcoming this Friday even more that I am, and if they didn't, I bet they're nervous as heck.  I don't know about you, but no matter how much I prepare for something, I am sure that I will fail miserably.  Usually I do OK, but that doesn't stop the freak out!  I hope every one of them does well.  We do try to provide a multitude of tools, and we are constantly trying to improve them.

By the time I make my next entry, we'll be in the thick of grading exams.  Don't forget to help Lois Wakefield out be being a grader!

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 Technology is great- until it doesn’t work.  We’ve been online with our CPAM/CCAM grading for several years now, and until this time it has been very smooth.  This time, however, a glitch caused a problem in getting some of the final results out of the system, and that meant a delay in getting letters out telling people if they made it, or didn’t.

I know how hard it is to wait for something like this.  Back a LONG, LONG time ago, when I took the CPAM, it took several months to find out your results.  We are committed to a far tighter timeline these days, and Lois Wakefield has worked incredibly hard to marshall and guide her graders, but still we fell short of where we wanted to be with getting results out.  The issues have been resolved and the letters are going out today! 

Changing the subject, very soon we will be making some changes to certification procedures.  To quote a letter that was emailed recently:

Effective in January we are rolling out important changes to the way the Professional...

Greetings!  I'm just back from another fabulous ANI- it's always so exciting to see my AAHAM friends, and there was some great education in a wonderful location.  CPAM Coaching was presented by Lois Wakefield, Tamora Ellis and VIrginia Berney- it was well received and we hope to offer an expanded session next year.

Before you know it the CPAM and CCAM exams will be upon us.  If you are taking it this time I hope our initiatives have been helpful.  I believe that the availabity of the Study Manual will lead to higher pass rates, which is a good thing!

There will be more updates to come and I am looking forward to telling you how the tests went.  To anyone reading this who has not signed up to grade, Lois needs you!

 

Liz