Local chapter update: Tips for starting a chapter

In the immediate wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many chapters across the country went on hiatus or disbanded entirely due to limited (or nonexistent) volunteers to fill open leadership roles. In the last year, however, many new volunteers have reached out to relaunch old chapters or start chapters in their region for the very first time. In the last few months, chapters have relaunched in the Greater New England region and Colorado, just to name two of the many.

If you’ve been wanting to start a chapter in your region and aren’t sure where to start, we have some resources to help you!

On the Local Chapter and Networking Group page of the ACDIS website, just under the interactive chapter map, you’ll find a number of resources in the Leadership Toolkit. Those under the “Getting started” header are specifically designed to help you as a new chapter leader. We encourage you to take a look at the resources and read up on what it means to lead a chapter. In that section, you’ll find:

• A first-year chapter guide, which includes information about finding chapter leaders, members, and speakers, hosting your first meetings, and surviving the first year
• The ACDIS Local Chapter Agreement Form, which is the official agreement form signed by chapter leaders and representatives from ACDIS national
• A leadership types guide, which will walk you though potential leadership structures for your new chapter

Once you’ve reviewed those resources, reach out to the ACDIS team at info@acdis.org and we’ll help guide you on your next steps to start the chapter of your dreams!

We can’t wait to see how your local CDI community blossoms this year!

The following is a list of upcoming events for ACDIS local chapters! Visit your local chapter’s webpage on the ACDIS site for additional information about upcoming meetings. To join a chapter if you haven’t already or to update your chapter contact information/affiliation, click here.

August:

• The Florida ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, August 3, 2024, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in person. For information, contact Peggy Hickman (peggyhickman40@gmail.com).
• The Colorado ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 4–5 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Delirium, Dementia and Encephalopathy: The Impact of Neuropsychiatric Diagnoses,” and will be presented by Merle Zuel, RN, CCDS. For information, contact Merle Zuel (zuel@mac.com).
• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 16, 2024, 12–1 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Documentation Opportunities in Mental Health Population,” and will be presented by Fahad Sohail, MD, CCDS. For information, contact Florence Blough (fblough@umm.edu).
• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 23, 2024, 12–1:5 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Delirium, Dementia and Encephalopathy: The Impact of Neuropsychiatric Diagnoses,” and will be presented by Dawn Valdez. For information, contact Dawn Butler (dbutler@honorhealth.com).
• The California ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, August 28, 2024, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Patient Safety Indicators: Exclude Them from Your Bucket List,” and will be presented by Vicki Galyean, RN, BSN, CCDS. For information, contact Alma Yap (rnalmay@gmail.com).

September:

• The Virginia ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 6, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Simplifying Encephalopathy,” and will be presented by Sandra Love, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CPC, and Joanne Wilson, RN, CCDS. For information, contact Amanda Palacios (amanda.palacios@rivhs.com).
• The Indiana ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 20, 2024, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. in person at The Forum Event Center in Fishers, IN. For information, contact Sara Booker (indianaacdis@gmail.com).
• The CDI Educators Networking Group meets Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:30– p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Danita Arrowood (darrowood@finthrive.com).
• The Maine ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 27, 2024, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., in person and via webinar. For information, contact Elizabeth Davis (elizabeth.davis@ensemblehp.com).

Fall 2024:

• The Virginia ACDIS chapter meets Friday, November 15, 2024, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Lessons Learned: How a Definition Defines Sepsis Outcomes,” and will be presented by Alexis Wells, MSN, RN, LSSYB, CCDS, and Stacie Gandee, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, LSSYB. For information, contact Amanda Palacios (amanda.palacios@rivhs.com).
• The Georgia ACDIS chapter meets Friday, December 6, 2024, via webinar for its fourth quarterly meeting. For information, contact James Doster (james.doster@atriumhealth.org).