AHDI-West Celebrates National Medical Transcription Week May 20–26, 2012

1. AHDI-West CelebratesNational Medical Transcription WeekMay 20–26, 2012

2. Regina Holliday, Patient Advocate, Artist, and Keynote Speaker at ACE 2012 in Indianapolis, IN Read her blog about the poster

3. Kat King, AHDI-FAHDI-West President 2012Rogue River, Oregon What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? We have the opportunity and responsibility to create and preserve the patient's story. Our mission is for it to be complete, accurate and securely available for continuity of care. What is your claim to fame? I'm known as Kat-in-the-Hat. I love doing so many things…some days it’s just hard to decide which one. LOL!! I’m very proud to be part of this amazing association and serving as AHDI-West’s President for 2012.

4. Polly Foncannon-Chambers, RHIALong Beach, California What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? Being an integral part of the recording of patient care. What is your claim to fame? I have a love of pigs. I had a pot belly as a pet and whenever my friends see a pig of any type, they think of me.

5. jean j [jj] Zwang, CMTPhoenix, Oregon What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? The learning process which continues even after 45 years and YES! That is correct! What is your claim to fame? I have sung with various concert choirs in Germany/Austria/Czech Republic, the British Isles, in Carnegie Hall/NYC, in China as part of the pre-Olympics celebrations, Prague/Vienna/Salzburg, and Italy last summer when we sang for a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

6. Carol Lundberg, CMTStayton, Oregon What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? The best thing is being looked upon as a professional who takes their career seriously. What is your claim to fame? My claim to fame around the hospital is that I'm a grandma that rides her own Harley Davidson! It's a 2006 Deluxe with a dog carrier to carry my Cocker Spaniol, Roxie. My other claim to fame is our home business sorting alpaca fiber from farms across the US. Last year we sorted 50,000 lbs for producing 100% alpaca blankets made by Pendleton Mills.

7. Julie GerrenCaldwell, Idaho What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? I love being part of an inhospital network working for the good of the patient and doing my very best to make sure that patient receives the most accurate information as possible. What is your claim to fame? My hobby is playing computer games and bingo; watching my grandkids play all sorts of ball, soccer, football, baseball, softball, etc.I am well known for my intelligence for one and for my big mouth for two.

8. Lora HeitholdMT certificate, BS in Sociology & Human ServicesCarroll, Nebraska (a neighbor of AHDI-West) What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? Even though I am not new to the medical field, I am new to the transcription field & some days I don't know how you all do it. The medical field and all the challenges is brings us on a daily basis. What is your claim to fame? I love to attend church, write, quilt, knit, garden, cook & being with family & peers & listening to others stories.

9. Diana Matina Coulouris, CMTVacaville, California What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? Meticulous nature of the work. What is your claim to fame? Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. I'm a musician/pianist/composer.

10. Sandy Shumaker, CMT, AHDI-FGlendora, California What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? It's exciting to be part of the healthcare delivery system that is undergoing such change. It encourages us to stay on topic of relevant topics and engaged in what is happening to us as well as to all patients. What is your claim to fame? Love to travel with family and friends. Just got back from a 10-day trip to Spain!

11. Sharon Wulbrecht, CMTLa Verne, California What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? Being of service to others by providing accurate documentation for patient's medical records and personally being able to provide this service from my home office. What is your claim to fame? I love physical activity as in weight lifting, specifically CrossFit, cycling, swimming, running, triathlons and hiking. I love to travel anywhere!I'm most well-known for my love of participating in any of these above activities!!

12. Kathy MorrisVentura, California What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? Belonging to a team with similar objectives and pride to provide quality reports to each and every patient's record. What is your claim to fame? Claim to fame is my hand-made yeast breads.I own a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner and take to the local shows in the county.I sing in the choir at church, we have such diversity!

13. Sherry Radley, MASan Ramon, California What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? I like the fact that I can use the knowledge I gained from studying biology/physiology in college (even though it was only 2 years' worth) and that it gives me an edge as far as spotting dictation errors/anatomy/physiology/etc. and being able to confidently give the correct answer. There are times when I feel I have helped save a life! What is your claim to fame? I have been engaging in "lightweight" landscaping and gardening, helping my husband rehabilitate our backyard and seeing the progress. I also have a thing for photography, albeit I am an amateur, but I have taken some pictures that I am particularly proud of, in various places!

14. Christina Foster, CMTMesa, Arizona What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? One of the things I enjoy most about my job is learning. I think that everyday, I learn something new! It may be a medication I have never heard of, a disease syndrome I have never come across before, a new treatment for a condition. The technical aspect of transcription may be set, but there are always new stories, and medicine is full of change.

15. Charlene Thiessen, B.A., M.Ed., CMT, AHDI-FPhoenix, Arizona What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? Knowing that what I do really makes a difference to patient care. We may be the "invisible" group, but that doesn't mean we don't contribute. What is your claim to fame? Imake jewelry from beads and glass. I also make the glass pendants that I put in my necklaces. I love melting glass and seeing how it can change in the process of being fused.

16. Allison JaegerFunk, NE What is the best thing about being an MT and/or part of the healthcare delivery team? I learn something new every day. Also, I thoroughly enjoy the fact of the value that I help bring to the plate when it comes to helping guarantee a quality health record for the patient. Being able to tell their (health) story as accurately as possible through their visits to the doctor is very important to me. I matter because of the patient. What is your claim to fame? I used to read a lot and even crochet before I started working but now I don't do those very much anymore. I'd love to start them up again or at least be able to do them a bit. The other things that keep me busy are just being a mother and stay-at-home/work-at-home everything person for my family. That is pretty time-consuming all by itself.

17. We thank you for all you do on behalf of the industry and the patient. Feel free to share this with your fellow colleagues so we can continue the celebration all week!Your AHDI-West Board of Governors