Planning the Annual Meeting and Trade Show is a Piece of Cake… Right?

Imagine planning a wedding.  Some of us had big weddings, some of us had small weddings, and some of us haven’t tackled that dragon. If you have planned a wedding, been in a wedding, or witnessed a friend/family member/coworker plan a wedding, you have a glimpse of what it’s like to plan the OHIMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show.  While the OHIMA Board doesn’t have to pick out a dress/tuxedo or decide who to invite, we must prepare for 900 conference attendees, around 100 exhibitors, 30+ speakers, food coordination (breakfast, lunch, happy hour, etc.), and more all while keeping with the theme. Then, just when this year’s conference is over, we’re already working towards the next one.  And, quite honestly, it’s done with a smile on our faces… due to brilliant planning and organizational skills of our Executive Director, a conference-zilla has yet to be seen!

Many, if not all of you, have attended one of the great OHIMA Annual Meeting and Trade Shows over the years. 39 in-person extravaganzas have been planned and hosted by OHIMA Board Members and Staff. COVID-19 adjusted our plans for the 40^th celebration we had planned for 2020 but, as Lauren shared in her recent blog article, we adjusted our sails and provided the excellent content via a virtual format. So what actually goes into planning the annual meeting and trade show?  Unless you have served on the Board of Directors or worked for OHIMA, you likely have never thought about the behind-the-scenes action. As the Director of Professional HIM Development, I’ll share just a handful of tidbits that go into planning the wonderful Annual Meetings we’ve all come to love and look forward to...

1. The dates are planned YEARS in advance.  Because we book all of the Hilton’s meeting/conference rooms and a big block of hotel rooms, we are always looking to the future. Competing with weddings and other large meetings means we are working 3 or more years out on booking the dates. The OHIMA Executive Director finalizes contracts for the space and makes sure we’re all set.
   
   *** Fun fact: Our conference is so large that the only two Columbus locations that can accommodate our size are the Easton Hilton and the Columbus Convention Center.  The onsite rooms for attendees & speakers, free parking, nearby shopping & eating options, and hospitality of Hilton staff have kept us returning over the years but HIM Board & Staff have had to get creative with the conference schedule in order stay at this wonderful location.
   
   
   
2. Keynote speakers are booked in the summer – usually 8 or more months in advance.  The daily highlight of the conference (other than catching up with old friends, colleagues, classmates, etc) is an exceptional keynote speaker who wakes us up and kicks off the day. Nationally acclaimed speakers are often scheduling their arrangements 10+ months out so we must get on their calendars quickly.
   
   
   
3. Speaking of the theme, the Board selects this at our summer transition meeting – typically held in June.  Here, we all put on our thinking caps, consider hot topics in the HIM industry, and come up with a catchy tag line with accompanying theme. Then we move forward with graphic designs and color schemes.

Whew!  I’m tired already just thinking about the work that needs to be done.  Since I’m the Professional HIM Development Director again for the 2020-2021 association year, be on the lookout for a future blog post with more information on behind the scenes annual meeting planning!

About the Author 

Carol Barnes, MS, RHIA is currently a Director on the OHIMA FY19-20 Board in charge of the Professional HIM Development strategy.  Carol is an adjunct faculty with The University of Cincinnati HIM program.

2020 Updates for Cataract Extraction Procedures

Past “Spotlight on CPT” presented information regarding the correct coding for cataract extractions.  With the January 1^st updates to CPT, there are some revisions and additions that coding professionals should be aware of.  Let’s dive in.

Two existing cataract removal codes 66982 and 66984 have both undergone revision.  For both codes the change is the same and that is the addition of the phrase: without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.  Therefore, the first thing we need to know is what is endoscopic cyclophotocoaguation.  It is a laser procedure that is performed (after a cataract extraction) on the ciliary body in order to control glaucoma.  Here is a link to a very short animation of the procedure: https://www.tysoneye.com/glaucoma-cape-coral/endoscopic-cyclophotocoagulation/

Before we move on, just a little detail on the ciliary body.  As an extension of the iris, the ciliary body is a circular structure and has three main functions.  The first is that it helps the eye maintain focus, also known as accommodation.  Next, it is a support for the zonules, which anchor the lens.  Finally, it produces and reabsorbs aqueous humor.  If too much aqueous humor is produced, it raises the intraocular pressure and can result in glaucoma.

Here is a visual to help identify the location of the ciliary body:

Source: https://www.charllaas.com/the-eye/

Here are the revised cataract extraction codes:

66982 – Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (1-stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique, (eg, irrigation and aspiration or phacoemulsification), complex, requiring devices or techniques not generally used in routine cataract surgery (eg, iris expansion device, suture support for intraocular lens, or primary posterior capsulorrhexis) or performed on patients in the amblyogenic developmental stage; without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation

66984 – Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (1-stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique, (eg, irrigation and aspiration or phacoemulsification; without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation

As you might imagine, if we have the option to assign a code without the cyclophotocoagulation, then we probably have a code(s) that support with cyclophotocoagulation.  That’s precisely what we find with the following new CPT codes.

66987 – (sequenced after complex description code 66982) with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation

66988 – (sequenced after normal description code 66984) with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation

Now, light has been shed on updates to cataract extractions for 2020.


About the Author 

Dianna Foley, RHIA, CHPS, CCS  is OHIMA's Coding Education Coordinator. Dianna has been an HIM professional for 20 years. She progressed through the ranks of coder, department supervisor, and department director, to her current role as a coding consultant. 

She recently served as the program director for Medical Coding and HIT at Eastern Gateway Community College. Dianna earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati subsequently achieving her RHIA, CHPS, and CCS certifications. She is an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer and a a presenter at regional HIM meetings and the OHIMA Annual Meeting.

OHIMA Membership Benefits 101: Member Resources & Discounts

by Donna Edmondson, BS, RHIA & Jenny Evans, MSHI, RHIA, CCS

Each life has been affected by this pandemic and now, more than ever, we need to feel this sense of community.

Did you know that as a member of OHIMA and AHIMA, you are entitled to the following benefits?

• You automatically receive a State Association Membership at no extra cost when you become an AHIMA member

• Access to OHIMA website  www.ohima.org

• On the website you have access to:
• Mission and Vision Statement of OHIMA 
• Events and Education 
• Member-only resources such as scholarship opportunities 
• HIM related blog and other relevant HIM resources 
• HIM Career Link 
• Links to Ohio Regional Associations

• What does a membership get you? 
• Access to 4 free CEUs just by renewing your membership
• Discounts on products and seminars for both OHIMA and AHIMA
• Students and New members have a discounted membership fee
• Access to Engage Communities, HIM Library, and current responses to global HIM topics
• Career Assist and HIM Career Map

• Eligible for a new graduate or established professional scholarship
• Network with other HIM professionals and continue life-long learning

OHIMA and AHIMA are here for you and continuing to improve Health Information Management!

Get involved today! Complete the Volunteer Form on the Call for Volunteers page by 5/31/20!

About the Authors

Donna Edmondson, BS, RHIA is the Director of Government Audits & HIM at UC Health-West Chester Hospital. Jenny Evans, MSHI, RHIA, CCS is Instructor and Clinical Coordinator for the Master of Science Health Informatics Program at The University of Findlay. Both serve as Project Leaders for the Membership Engagement strategy on the OHIMA FY19-20 Board of Directors.