President's Message

Everyone I talk to these days seems apathetic. The new "ahdi doesn't represent transcriptionists," "Why bother joining an organization--what's it going to do for me?" My mother always told me that you get out of something what you put into it. The same holds true for the newly named AHDI-CO. Whatever we are willing to put into it, in equal measure we will receive benefit from it.

One of our problems, as demonstrated perhaps by my repeat presidency this year and the dissolution of the once highly successful Mile High Chapter, has been the same people doing the same things year after year. We need an infusion of "new blood," a transfusion, as it were. In the ahdi-WS chapter where I live, we have gained a few new transcriptionists but none of the coders, billers, tumor registrars, etc., our new name represents. They have their own professional organizations but few belong to them. Nonetheless, we want and need them to join us. We have nearly identical continuing medical education credit requirements. We should be able to work together to achieve great educational meetings.

When I first joined AAMT many years ago I was the only "outhouse" transcriptionist in Western Colorado. I joined then because there were so many things I needed to learn and because I didn't want to feel alone. Meetings were so exciting--not just because of speakers but because I got to "network" with other transcriptionists. At lunch and break times we would cluster and an example would be raised. "What would you do in this situation?" I'd be amazed at having had most of those problems arise in my own work. Hearing other people's solutions inspired me. Everyone said, "'They' should write a book!" Well, now they have. Several, in fact. The fact that we now have online, CD, and hard copy references is great! These give our work a constant format, a "correct" way of doing things (though we occasionally still have to bow to our clients' odd ways). In a sense, however, the availability of reference materials seems to have erased the need for interaction with other people.

As I took this position in January I tried hard to think of ways to instill my passion into members and potential members. Everyone is so busy! And so tired!! Weekends are often the only time we have to spend quality time with our families, the only time to clean our homes, the only time to pursue recreation and hobbies. Yet, I'm asking that we give up at least 6 weekends per year to pursuit of excellence in our profession. Meetings are important. One of the things I have heard complained about for years is that "we" are not taken seriously. "Everybody" thinks they could do this. "If you can type, you can do medical transcription." Okay, so you know that's not true. Let's set about to prove it.

My personal goals for this organization this year are, first, to have every single member achieve, or begin working to achieve, a certification--either RMT or CMT, and for those who are already credentialed to maintain it by fulfilling those continuing education credits. I would like everyone to become willing to hold an office--this is one of those things that is necessary to become a "Fellow." "Fellowship" is a big deal to doctors. Many of them have at least one fellowship listed after their medical credentials. They know that leadership and outstanding effort is required to become a Fellow.

Secondly, I would like to double our membership. For example, I know there are over 200 medical transcriptionists here in the Grand Valley; we average fewer than 30 at our ahdi-WS meetings. Why? Let's find out what the needs are and begin to fulfill them, each in our own areas. Years ago when I was researching how to begin a successful small business I was told "Find a need, then fill it." It's sort of like "If you build it, they will come," from the movie Field of Dreams.

My third goal is to provide the best possible experience at our state convention this year. Work on that has begun. Dates will be announced in March. It will be held in the Denver area and promises to be OUTSTANDING!

Let's try being a little gung-ho this year. No more, "Let somebody else do it." Let's become the best state association in the country. Working together we can achieve so much. Let's not leave a single transcriptionist behind. Okay, enough cliches, though these are true rather than trite. We can do this, shall we?