It was an incredible end to a very busy busy month! I was fortunate to be chosen to speak at the AAPC National Convention in Long Beach, CA. We spent 4 days learning about the new changes on the horizon for ICD-10 and the challenges it will present for those of us coding for physician based services, and also for those who will be coding for hospital and facility based services. Some of the great presentations were for EHR electronic health records and the implementation of the record into the office and facility. I was able to take advantage of the presentations on OB global packages, and MIS (minimally invasive surgery) that some OB/GYN practices are currently doing in the office setting. Another really great presentation was the Anatomy Expo, and hospitalist services being utilized in the nation.

The AAPC also shared with us some fabulous speakers, on how to make your voice heard in Washington DC, how to keep motivated in times of personal and professional struggle, and also how we as members can contribute and volunteer for local, regional and national office with the AAPC.

I was fortunate to get to present my favorite educational session on the application of the daVinci and Zeus robotics currently being used in the world today. I was also fortunate to have this presentation noticed by ADVANCE Web… http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/hi_1/archive/2011/04/19/aapc-wraps-up-successful-conference.aspx.

This just reinforced the feeling, that even though we may not think we have made a difference, having my presentation noted in a national publication was AMAZING. I feel so blessed and grateful.

On Friday of this week, I also got to present this same session (but a shorter version) for the IdHIMA state convention. Again, it was a BLAST!!! This is one of my favorite presentations to do, and there is so much in it… I am just so grateful and blessed for these opportunities.

Next on the Lori-Lynne agenda is to test for my ICD-10 trainer’s certificate in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho in 3 weeks. It will be 3 days of intense learning & training sponsored by my IdHIMA chapter scholarship, and AHIMA national organization. So if any of you are interested in getting the training for yourselves and/or your office or organization, please contact us through the IdHIMA or AAPC Idaho chapters, and we’ll be happy to get this going for you. Drop Dead date for implementation of ICD-10 is October 1^st 2013. (closer than we like to admit).

To wrap this all up… attending a national convention is always fun and informative. If you want any detailed information regarding the classes that were presented in Long Beach, the web link is included below. You can get access to the entire event for a small fee, or you can order specific presentations only.

http://www.dcprovidersonline.com/aapc/?event_id=AAPC102&search_filter=&pageno=7

Thanks again & keep up the great coding and billing that you all do on a day-to-day basis. We are so lucky to be able to do what we love, and help so many, who have helped us be our best!