Local chapter update: Apply for continuing education units (CEUs)

Local chapters and networking groups should seek to obtain continuing education units (CEUs) for the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) and CCDS-Outpatient (CCDS-O) credentials from ACDIS. The application is available to download from the ACDIS website and must be completed 30 days prior to the scheduled chapter meeting. 

The completed application can be emailed to Melissa Varnavas at mvarnavas@acdis.org.

After ACDIS reviews and approves the application, they will provide the CEU certificate for the leaders to print and disseminate to attendees. If necessary, ACDIS will also provide an explanation of why the application was declined or needs to be revised.

The leadership team should delegate someone to handle this process. All CEU applications must come from a member of the leadership team. Please do not relegate this responsibility the event host or event speakers. This requirement is meant to ensure the integrity of the application process and to eliminate confusion, duplication, and errors within the process.

Please also assign a member of the leadership team to deliver the CEU certificates to the meeting attendees. This may be done by printing the certificates and handing them to attendees at the close of the event. It may also be done electronically via email following the completion of an online evaluation form or membership roster. Leaders should discuss a process for this and add a description of this process to the chapter’s formal policies and procedures.

ACDIS cannot assist in the application process for other association CEUs. Chapter leaders seeking to obtain CEUs from the American Nursing Association, American Health Information Management Association, American Academy of Professional Coders, or other organization should reach out to those groups for further information. Some may allow the CCDS/CCDS-O CEUs to crossover, some may charge a fee for CEU applications and processing. For example, according to AHIMA’s website:

“Q: Can I use CEUs earned through organizations other than AHIMA?

A: Yes, provided they qualify as valid continuing education activities and are relevant to HIIM. See page 6 of the Recertification Guide for qualifying activities for details.”

The following is a list of upcoming events for ACDIS local chapters. If you have an upcoming event you would like to include, please email Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Carolyn Riel (criel@acdis.org).  

January:

• The Ohio ACDIS chapter meets via webinar Friday, January 24, at noon, for “CDI/ACDIS State of the Industry,” featuring ACDIS Editorial Director Melissa Varnavas. For information, contact Linda Canoy (linda.canoy@bjc.org).
• The Michigan ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, January 29, 12-1 p.m. for a webinar titled “Leveraging Epic Tools for Optimal Risk Adjustment,” with Rachel Phillips and Jennifer Arend. For information, contact Patty Vitasinksi (pvitasi2@hfhs.org).

February:

• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Friday, February 7, 12-1:15 p.m., for a webinar titled “How to Handle the Problematic Problem List,” featuring Deanne Wilk who presented on the topic during the 2019 ACDIS Symposium Outpatient CDI event. For information, contact ME Van Gelder (mvangelder@honorhealth.com).

March:

• The Tennessee ACDIS chapter meets Friday, March 27, at Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation in Memphis. For additional information, contact Kristie Perry (kristie.perry@erlanger.org).

April:

• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Friday, April 17, 12-1:15 p.m., for a webinar titled “Joining Forces: How Ambulatory CDI Can Collaborate with Inpatient Efforts,” featuring Jennifer Boles and Lori Ganote who presented on the topic during the 2019 ACDIS Symposium Outpatient CDI event. For information, contact ME Van Gelder (mvangelder@honorhealth.com).