TRANSFUSION MEDICINE Transfusion Medicine Makes its Mark As more than commitment centers to blood safety and adequacy, transfusion services evolve into the 21st century by redesigning current processes and assessing future prospects. By Michelle L. Paquette With sensitized, refined testing techniques, transfusion medicine is…
Vision 2006 Offers Options for HIM Profession The American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Vision 2006 program gave new life to a dialogue that’s been going on for years in health information management (HIM) circles–how to prepare for the future and expand career opportunities…
What is Injury Severity Scaling? By Elizabeth Garthe, MHS and Nicholas Mango, BS, ME INJURY SEVERITY SCALING IS A method to classify injuries using a standardized terminology and rank them based on certain parameters, such as threat to life. There are two major users…
Confused over the Specimen Transport Regs? Education, Training Important, Say Experts By Gail O. Guterl When it comes to shipping specimens for diagnosis, “better safe than sorry” is a good creed to follow! The best way to be really safe is to get the…
Rheumatology Calming the Fire of Fibromyalgia Examining Symptoms and Strategies By Sally M. Marlowe, BSPA, RN, CS, ARNP “I feel as if a lion were pulling the meat away from my bones! It is tearing, searing pain that travels throughout my body!” –Susan Heisler,…
INFORMATION SYSTEMS The ‘Seven F’s’ to Easier LIS Selection How to make an educated, logical decision for your information system purchase. By Dennis Winsten, MS, FHIMSS Evaluating and selecting a laboratory information system (LIS) can be a long and complex process. Trying to make…
Incentive Spirometry –Effective Tool or Unneeded Cost? By Henry Owens, BS, RRT As health care budgets continue to shrink, providers are constantly being asked to “do more with less.” And, as we’re all aware, respiratory care has not been spared the downside of budget…
AAMT’s CMT Is the Original Certification for Transcriptionists AAMT track AAMT’s CMT Is the Original Certification for Transcriptionists Linda A. Byrne, CMT Attention, medical transcriptionists! Become certified today. No exam, no waiting, no fuss, no bother. Pay the fee and get your credential. And…
Documentation in the Alternative Care Setting Cover Story Documentation in the Alternative Care Setting By Anne Miller Everybody knows that treatment options are different in this environment. Are records kept differently as well? Guided imagery. Therapeutic touch. Herbal remedies. In the past, these alternative…
Coders Can Help Avoid the ‘Red Flags’ that Signal Fraud CODING Corner Coders Can Help Avoid the ‘Red Flags’ that Signal Fraud All reimbursement management staff must take responsibility for the total ‘life cycle’ of the codes generated. Over the last few years, hospitals…