Local chapter update: Need help with your next virtual meeting? Check out this guide!

In the past few years, many local chapters have gone partially or entirely virtual for their meetings. To assist leaders in making the best of a virtual platform, the ACDIS Chapter Advisory Committee developed a virtual meeting guide tip sheet. As part of the Local Chapter Leadership Toolkit (available under the chapter map), this virtual guide includes advice about general remote meeting ideas and recommendations, virtual meeting platform options, and tips for hosting a meeting. Here is an excerpt on the latter section below!

Tips for hosting a meeting:

• Be mindful of time zones, and ensure meetings are during typical business hours for all attendees.
• When possible, consider contacting national ACDIS and opening up your meeting to other local chapters across the country.
• Remember to take breaks! Particularly if holding multiple education sessions, build in a break after the first meeting for your teams and start your meeting at 15 minutes after the hour.
• Provide global numbers. Most platforms provide default call in numbers for your meetings to reflect where your attendees are joining from. Check to determine if the platform also provides a generic, toll-free dial-in option but remember, most folks are using their computer speakers and microphones instead of their phones these days.
• If possible, have at least two members of the leadership team as organizers or panelists during the call.
• One can introduce the speaker and provide opening remarks, and the other can monitor the chat and question sections of the platform or help handle technical problems.
• At the outset of the program be sure to:
  
  • Welcome everyone.
  • Introduce yourself and other chapter leaders on the line.
  • Remind attendees to mute their lines when not speaking and to avoid using the hold button.
  • Hold music will disrupt the call for everyone.
  • Remind attendees of the CEU availability and how they can expect to receive them.
  • Review the agenda.
  • Introduce the speaker and hand the program over to him/her.
• Turn off notifications for other applications. That way you will not get distracted with email and messaging pop-ups. Alternatively, choose to share a “clean” screen which allows you to have other apps and tools open for quick and easy navigation without distracting the audience.

For more tips on hosting a virtual meeting, make sure to check out the virtual meeting guide here! As always, reach out to the ACDIS team at info@acdis.org with any questions.

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 Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 23, 2024, 12–1:15 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).
• The North Carolina ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, August 28, 2024, 12–1 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “The Role of an Advanced CDI Program in a Clinical Validation Denial Appeals Process,” and will be presented by Tamara Hicks, MHA, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, CCDS-O. For information, contact Kay Blue (kblue2@solventum.com).

September:

• The Pediatric Networking Group (APDIS) meets Thursday, September 5, 2024, 3–4:30 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “Decoding AKI- Mastering KDIGO Guidelines and Its Application,” and will be presented by Anjali Baji, RN, MSN. For information, contact Amy Bush (bush-amy@cooperhealth.edu).
• 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 Illinois ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 1–2 p.m., via webinar. The program is titled, “2025 Final Rule from CMS,” and will be presented by Maralee Sherman, BSN, RN, CCDS. For information, contact Emilie Navidad-McDermid (enavidad@uic.edu).
• The Indiana ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 20, 2024, 8 a.m. to 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 Wisconsin ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, October 24, 2024, 1–3 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Alicia Whiteford (WisconsinACDIS@gmail.com).
• 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).