Home News Northwestern College hosted 4th Annual Student-Focused CAHIMA meeting

Northwestern College hosted 4th Annual Student-Focused CAHIMA meeting

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[Bridgeview, IL] Last weekend Northwestern College’s Bridgeview Campus (7725 S. Harlem Avenue) served as the host location for the Chicago Area Health Information Management Association (CAHIMA) spring quarterly meeting. Nearly 65 people attended, with the academic program professionals of the Chicagoland area being joined by 13 Health Information Technology (HIT) and Coding students, as well as 3 Northwestern College (“NC”) alumni. The NC alumni not only attended, but also addressed the members present.

In addition to current Northwestern College students, participation included students from Harper College, College of DuPage, Malcom X, and UIC.

Chicago Area Health Information Management Association In 2016, Northwestern College’s HIT Program Practicum Coordinator Andrea Erickson and several other Northwestern College HIT faculty successfully urged the CAHIMA Board to redesign its spring meeting to include a focus on the needs and interests of the students of the 13 accredited HIT Associate in Applied Science (AAS) programs in the Greater Chicago Area. At the time, Erickson also served as the CAHIMA Student Membership Specialist. As a result of their efforts, this spring’s quarterly meeting marked the organization’s fourth meeting boasting a student-focus and design.

This year CAHIMA added a new element to the quarterly meeting with the inclusion of recent graduates (within the last 3 years) from CAHIIM accredited schools. The graduates were not only invited to attend, but some gave short presentations on their personal journeys from student to graduate job-seeker, outlining how they established their professional careers.

Two Northwestern College (NC) graduates were among those that addressed the quarterly meeting, including Veronica Minsky, RHIT, the HIM Director at Chicago Behavioral Hospital and Lake Hospital, and Ying Wu, RHIT, Coder and Documentation Auditor for Lurie Children’s Surgical Foundation. Minsky and Wu shared how they successfully established themselves in the field, while also stressing the importance of continuing education; both are in their senior years at Northwestern College, soon to complete their Bachelors degrees in the Health Information Management program. They also serve on the College’s HIT Advisory Board.

Two graduates of the College of DuPage’s Health Information Technology Program (HIT) also addressed the membership. Leticia Carillo, RHIT, is now employed by Loyola University Medical Center as a Coding Specialist I. Colleen Kerrigan, RHIA, is employed as a HIM Tech at John Madden Mental Health Center of HINES VA Hospital.

The student-focus of the meeting was also emphasized during the luncheon. Students joined the professionals for a meal as well as an opportunity to develop their networking skills. Each student had to introduce themselves during the luncheon and ask the professionals some pre-determined questions. Signatures of the professionals after the dialogue evidenced who the students had conversed with.

The CAHIMA meeting was well-attended by Northwestern College faculty and administration. The CAHIMA President, Deborah Balentine, is an adjunct instructor and course developer at NC. The College’s HIM Program Director, Christopher Wheat, also attended; Wheat is the ILHIMA President. Additional Northwestern College professionals present included Andrea Erickson, CAHIMA Education Chair and Second Year Director, and NC’s HIT lead instructor; NC adjunct instructor Gabrielle Meza, the CAHIMA Secretary-Elect; NC HIM instructor and course developer Karin Weiler, CAHIMA First Year Director-Elect; and NC adjunct instructor Bernadette Guyton, a CAHIMA Volunteer for the quarterly meeting at the College’s Bridgeview campus.

Speakers and topics featured at the quarterly meeting included:

  • Maribel Romero-Velentanga CTR, CPE“The Benefits of an Approved Cancer Program.” She is an Oncology Data Specialist, Data Manager at Swedish Covenant Hospital, a member of NC’s HIT Advisory Board, and a Site Mentor for the NC HIT Professional Practicum Experience.
  • Marta Villarreal, RHIA, CCS-P“Evaluation & Management Coding for Physician Services.” She is with Advocate Health Aurora where she serves as a Health Coordinator, Coding Education and Compliance.
  • Harry Rhodes PhD, MBA, RHIA, FAHIMA, CHPS“Cloud Computing: Evidence Based Privacy and Security Assurance.” He has his own business, Harry Rhodes Health Information Consulting.
  • Darice Grzybowski MA, RHIA, FAHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM and PCS Trainer“Aspects of Coding Productivity and Quality.” She is President of H.I.Mentors, LLC.

About Northwestern College:
Northwestern College (NC) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 263-0456, www.hlcommission.org. The college offers focused career-oriented associate degree and certificate programs with flexible schedules and a supportive faculty. Day, evening, weekend, online classes and online programs are available. More information can be found at www.NC.edu or by calling toll-free (888) 205-2283.

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