Credentialing: - Association for Healthcare Documentation

Credentialing:
It’s About the “We,” Not the “Me”
Recipe for Credential Success
The “Secret Sauce”
Continuing Education
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
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Where Health Information Experts Come Together
NOVEMBER 2009 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 6
EMPLOYERS GUIDE PAGE 43

EDITOR’S MESSAGE
The Credentialing Dilemma:
It’s About the “We,” Not the “Me”
“Credentials are the concrete substance of credibility.”
– T. Falcon Napier¹
For as long as I have been a member/leader in AAMT
and AHDI, I have heard many articulate and passionate
debates about the value of professional credentials in
our sector. It seems there is always a well-seasoned MT
out there who is quick to jump on our Facebook page
or our blog to complain about the lack of acknowledgement
of credentials by our employers and purchasers.
The vast majority of those posts focus on the fact that the
MT hasn’t seen any personal benefit from earning these
credentials, either by experience or observation.
Sadly, many MTs are stuck in that “me” mindset
about credentialing, believing that the only reason
credentials exist is to earn them more money or recognition.
Professional credentials exist first and foremost
to establish and legitimize a profession, not to feather
the cap of the individual. While advanced degrees and
credentials can signify a greater value-add to an industry
(and demand potentially higher wages once that value
In healthcare delivery,
professional credentials are king.
is demonstrated in a widespread fashion), entry-level
degrees and credentials are about building infrastructure
in an industry and promoting standards that elevate the
industry in the eyes of purchasers and stakeholders.
In healthcare delivery, professional credentials are
king. Everyone of significance on the healthcare team has
a discrete body of knowledge, accountable scope of practice,
regulatory and/or standards-setting representative
organization, and professional credentials that speak to
all of the above. Medical transcription as a questionable
allied health partner continues to flounder in the periphery
of acknowledgement because we collectively refuse
to embrace that model of professional advancement for
our sector.
In this issue we will look at these topics in greater
detail, exploring the pros and cons, hows and whys of
AHDI’s credentialing exams and what those credentials
can do for our sector if we can move MTs from “me” to
“us” in their approach to the subject. P
Lea M. Sims, CMT, AHDI-F
Editor-in-Chief
Director of Communications & Publications
AHDI
reFerenCe
1. Napier, T. Falcon. “Do You Lack Professional Credentials?”
Article Alley. 28 March 2007. 8 September 2009. http://www.
articlealley.com/article_141746_50.html
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
1

CONTENTS
1 Editorial
Lea M. Sims, CMT, AHDI-F
7
President’s Message
Susan Lucci, RHIT, CMT, AHDI-F
11
Student Scene
Cassie Uber
24
News and Who’s Who
27
Events
28
Grassroots
Brenda J. Hurley, CMT, AHDI-F
29
Component Spotlight
Sherry Martin, CMT
32
CMT Prep Quiz
Deb Schreiber, CMT, AHDI-F
1 clinical medicine
33
Component Corner
34
Let’s Talk Terms
AHDI Research Team
38
Funny Bone
Richard Lederer, PhD
41
2009 Article Index
43
Employers Guide
FEATURES
14
REcipE FoR cREdEnTiAl SUccESS: ThE “SEcRET SAUcE”
Tammy Moore, CMT, AHDI-F
1 professional development
18
conTinUinG EdUcATion:
A commiTmEnT To liFElonG lEARninG
Kim Buchanan, CMT, AHDI-F
1 professional development
23
2009 hAll oF FAmE SpoTliGhT
novEMBER 2009 voL. 5, IssuE 6
2 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

AHDI
Capturing America’s
Healthcare Story
ThE FinE pRinT
This symbol identifies creditworthy items preapproved by Ahdi. To earn cE credit,
cmTs should submit a brief (200-word) summary of a preapproved article. Article
summaries preapproved by Ahdi can be written and submitted at the end of your
recertification cycle every 3 years. do not submit them upon completion. permission
to reproduce copies of articles for educational use may be obtained from the editor at
lsims@ahdionline.org.
cmTs may opt to take the online quiz in lieu of an article summary for any article
where this symbol is also indicated. You can find these cE quizzes at the Ahdi
website under professional development/continuing Education/publications.
look for this symbol throughout the magazine in 2009 to indicate tips and strategies
for “going green.”
The statements and opinions contained in the articles of Plexus are solely those of the
individual authors and contributors and not Network Media Partners, Inc. The Publisher
disclaims responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas or
products referred to in the articles or advertisements.
TO SUBMIT CONTENT FOR PUBLICATION: AHDI welcomes industry contributions, and
all submissions for publication are welcome for review and consideration by the editor
and the AHDI publications coordinator. Any individual or group interested in submitting
an article or column content should follow the guidelines below for submission:
1. Articles must be submitted in MS Word format, Arial 12 pt font, and should not
exceed 4 single-spaced manuscript pages (some exceptions will be made depending
on content).
2. Articles should include full name and contact information for each author/contributor
as well as a brief bio (2-3 lines) for each author/contributor.
3. Consider including a 15- to 20-question multiple-choice quiz with your article to
facilitate online continuing education (CE) access for credentialed MTs.
4. Articles must be submitted with a signed Author Agreement. An Author Agreement
for both Plexus and Health Data Matrix can be requested from the publications coordinator
at kwall@ahdionline.org.
5. Articles should be e-mailed to lsims@ahdionline.org or mailed to
6221 Devonhurst Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32258.
6. Author Agreements should be signed and faxed to 209-527-9633 or mailed to the
address above.
NOTE TO REAdERS: In keeping with other publications in the industry, Plexus has
been edited to comply with the style and standards as outlined by the American Medical
Association (AMA) Manual of Style, 10th ed. In any instance where the application of
AMA style conflicts with The Book of Style for Medical Transcription, 3rd edition, the AMA
standard is used to comply with industry publishing standards, because those outlined
in The Book of Style for Medical Transcription, 3rd edition are specific to documentation in a
transcription setting and not to formal publication.
4 novEMBER 2009
november 2009
Vol. 5, no. 6
editor
lea m. Sims, cmT, Ahdi-F
lsims@ahdionline.org
AssociAte editors
connie chaplan, mpA
RuthAnne m. darr, cmT, Ahdi-F
debra hahn
senior PublicAtions coordinAtor
Kristin Wall, Ahdi-F
kwall@ahdionline.org
desiGn
network design Group
Jen Smith, Art director
jsmith@networkmediapartners.com
Austin Stahl, Graphic designer
AdvertisinG
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network media partners, inc.
410-584-1952
ahdi@networkmediapartners.com
megan crawford, Advertising coordinator
Plexus (ISSN: 1938-453x)
is published bi-monthly by the
Association for healthcare
documentation integrity
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The Book You
Reach for Most
The Book of Style for Medical
Transcription, 3rd edition.
For coated:
Blue: 534
Green: 382
For uncoated:
Blue: 547
Green: 380
Chapter Chapter 1: 1: Types, Types, Formats, Formats, and and TATs TATs
This widely acclaimed industry standards manual has long been the trusted resource for
data capture and documentation standards in healthcare. The 3rd edition will deliver
a streamlined and strategically reorganized flow of critical data, enhanced
explanation of standards and practical application, robust examples
taken from clinical medicine settings, trend notes that identify
the impact of technology on the state of the industry, and
new chapters on security/privacy, standardized templates
and nomenclatures, the electronic health record, and
speech recognition editing.
The BOS 3rd edition is now
available for purchase.
New pricing for 3rd edition:
$50 members, $70 nonmembers.
Visit us online
(www.ahdionline.org)
for ordering information.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The Long and Winding Road
SUSAN LUCCI, RHIT, CMT, AHDI-F
2009 AHDI PRESIDENT
Is it even possible that 2009 is nearly over? It seems like
it just started a very short time ago. This has certainly
been an eventful year for us all. The closer we get to
healthcare reform, the more the debate heats up and resolution
seems a long way off. However, I have no doubt
that we will reform health care. The discussions around
quality patient care and improved patient outcomes
make me smile because these are the right conversations
for us to be having.
So at nearly the end of the year, what core values have
prevailed for our association’s members? What are the key
focus areas that keep all that we contribute to health care
visible and less likely to create further marginalization for
us? Below is my Top-10 list why it is more important than
ever to become fully engaged in AHDI:
1. Getting our workforce credentialed
2. Having better tools to help us improve accuracy,
quality, and to keep us productive (such as with
Benchmark KB)
3. Developing new quality standards for our entire
sector
4. Advocating for legislation that ensures quality and
complete documentation for every patient
5. Enabling technologies like the Health Story Project
that keeps the “narrative imperative”
6. Providing continuing education and networking with
other professionals in the business
7. Staking our claim to new job roles before they evolve
and get assigned to other allied health professionals
8. Keeping innovative approaches to the association so
that there really is something for everyone
9. Connecting on Facebook as an alternate, fun way to
stay in touch with fellow MTs and stay up to date on
AHDI information
10. Twittering about what is happening at every event
Getting credentialed and staying credentialed is more
important than ever before. As work migrates to EHR
and templated systems for clinician self-entry, we are see-
ing a contracture of work volumes. In times of economic
downturn, you must set yourself apart from the competition
for your job and demonstrate your commitment to
life-long learning. There are no other members of the
healthcare delivery team who aren’t required to hold a
credential or licensure. Getting credentialed is competency-based
testing that clearly says, “I am a professional,
and I am committed to excellence.”
Benchmark KB, our 2009 Innovation Through
Technology award-winning product, has provided medical
transcriptionists (MTs) a resource that has never
before been conceived in a powerful and proven way by
There are no other members of the healthcare
delivery team who aren’t required to hold a credential
or licensure.
combining tools that are reliable, trustworthy, and available
24/7, with ongoing updates. Is it any wonder that
people are raving about the results and success they are
achieving with this product?
How quality is measured has always been a bit
nebulous. What really matters regarding quality and
the garden variety of plans and programs out there have
been the Heinz ® 57 confusion factor for hospitals and
consumers for far too long. This year our association,
in collaboration with AHIMA and MTIA, embarked on
a brave journey to bring reason and consistency to the
process by defi ning clear principles with a group of participants
from various backgrounds in health care to gain
the broadest scope of how best to defi ne quality.
Advocacy in the volatile world of rapid legislative
change in Washington, DC, is crucial. We must be represented
in terms of the value that we bring to healthcare
reform. Simply stated, we must convince decision-makers
voLUME 5 • ISSUE 6 novEMBER 2009
7

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
that health care without quality documentation cannot
result in the best outcomes. Our presence and our interest
in patient safety and improved care outcomes will
resonate with lawmakers—and now with more scrutiny
placed on patient privacy and breach notification, this is
paramount. We are the ones who have been safeguarding
patient information for all these years. We must continue
to advocate for these issues, and we must have a
larger, louder voice each year in DC. I encourage you to
get involved with the legislative issues group today. One
person can make a difference.
Possibly the single most important technology
innovation today in the delivery of healthcare documentation
is the Health Story Project (www.healthstory.com).
What this does to standard dictation and transcription
is nothing short of the “wow” factor. This is the key that
will unlock narrative text into the EHR in a minable,
structured manner. When physicians have the option
to continue to dictate (since it is their preferred method
for documentation) and do not have to resort to selfentry
methods, they can remain productive. Physicians
are being pressed to see more patients and to do more
than they have ever done before (think about healthcare
reform and millions more people seeking treatment and
care). Now consider that it is predicted that there will
be a shortage of about 200,000¹ primary care physicians
occurring in less than 11 years (2020-2025). Then
try to conceptualize the impact to physicians if they
are not enabled to get the whole story documented in
the fastest possible way. Do you see the potential train
wreck if we have a solution that enables dictation and
Our interest in patient safety and improved care
outcomes will resonate with lawmakers.
transcription to continue to be the preferred, fastest,
most complete method of capturing the entire, unique
situation of each patient?
In changing times, and most particularly in a time of
rapid technology changes, not to mention the economic
downturn, being connected with other professionals in
our sector is critical! Working remotely is more isolation
than most onsite professional workers experience
in their entire careers. For many of us, we have been
working from home for twenty or more years. This
isolation can take a tremendous toll over the course
of years, and most dangerously, we can settle into a
false state of complacency and not see the storm that is
brewing. When there is a storm coming, it’s not a time
for panic—it’s a time for preparation, more educational
opportunities to be sure that you are looking ahead, and
making the right adjustments to sail safely through the
forces of change.
When times are changing—as they are now with
emerging and dominating technologies like the EHR—
work flow and work processes naturally change with
them. As allied health professionals figure out how best
to work with these technologies, it is necessary for us
to stake our claim for the new roles as they are being
conceptualized. AHIMA has consistently done this very
successfully.² Unless we can align our skills and expertise
in new job roles, these issues about the unknown work
processes may be solved without our input. It is critical
that we learn all we can about these systems and then
apply our experience and clinical knowledge to fill these
evolving roles. Knowledge really is everything.
One of the most important opportunities a professional
association provides is the collective ability to
look for new ways of doing what we do and to connect
with relevant processes and initiatives. Challenging
the status quo and not blindly doing what we have
always done is what will keep an association fresh and
progressive.
Most of us have started to use online social networking
sites, like Facebook, and we realize the amazing
potential they can bring in connecting people. We have
been able to reach people in a whole new way, and so
through this technology we have connected with people
who share our profession. Using Twitter has given instant
connectivity to our events, and although there are times
when I am not sure whether I am tweeting or if Twitter
means I am a twit (LOL), I love the opportunity to share
what’s happening in the moment. I even Twitter from my
cell phone. How cool is that?
Can you see that the Top-10 List for getting and staying
involved with AHDI makes a world of sense when
the world around us doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense?
It is going to be interesting to see where healthcare
reform ends up—as for me, I am here for the duration.
If we can all envision how much better health care is by
including our knowledge and expertise, we really are the
essential element that will make the US healthcare system
the very best in the world. It is a long and winding
road that will be made far more interesting if we actively
8 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

When there is a storm coming, it’s not a time
for panic—it’s a time for preparation.
work to shape it into an amazing journey.
As my year of presidency comes to an end, it is
with heartfelt gratitude that I thank all of you for your
support, your encouragement, and your friendship in
making this the most amazing year of my life. Let’s keep
moving forward together—one voice, one goal, one
amazing organization! P
REFERENCES
1. Lakhan, Shaheen E, and Laird, Cyndi. “Addressing the
Primary Care Physician Shortage in an Evolving Medical
Workforce.” 5 May 2009. International Archives of Medicine.
25 Aug. 2009.
2. Dimick, Chris. “HIM Jobs of Tomorrow.” 1 Oct. 2008. Journal
of AHIMA. 25 Aug. 2009.
Susan Lucci, RHIT, CMT, AHDI-F, is the 2009 President of AHDI.
Susan works for Webmedx as Senior Vice President, Field Operations.
Susan is an active Action Community for e-HIM Excellence member
with AHIMA and a frequent contributor to publications such as Plexus,
Matrix, For the Record and ADVANCE for HIM. She can be reached
at slucci@webmedx.com.
voLUME 5 • ISSUE 6 novEMBER 2009
9

STUDENT SCENE
Attention Students of
ACCP-Approved Schools:
RMT Success Awaits!
CAssie UBer
In late 2008, AHDI’s Credentialing,
Education, and Workforce
Development department performed
an informal data survey of credentialing
exam pass rates. The purpose
of this collection of data was to
record a current pass rate for the
Registered Medical Transcriptionist
(RMT) and Certifi ed Medical
Transcriptionist (CMT) exams. While
cataloging instances of passes and
fails on the RMT exam, the team
reported on additional data that
is collected during the application
process. During the RMT application
process, a candidate completes
a small survey of demographic
information including an indication
of what school from which he or
she graduated. With such a bounty
of information, our team decided
to look not only at pass rates for
the RMT exam, but at the instance
in passing of students of ACCP-
Approved Schools, and conversely,
the instance in passing of students
of non-approved schools. What
we found is that not only does the
probability of passing the RMT exam
increase in exam candidates who
graduated from approved schools
but that the pass rate as compared
to that of graduates of non-approved
schools is far greater than even we
expected.
During our data survey of the
RMT and CMT exams, AHDI went
through 240 RMT candidate applications
that had been submitted
from the beginning of 2007 through
August of 2008. AHDI found that
the RMT exam had an overall pass
rate of 51% (an indication of a valid
entry-level exam, according to the
psychometricians we work with at
our testing center). When narrowed
by educational entity attended, we
found that students of approved
schools passed the RMT exam
about 70% of the time. Staggeringly,
we found that students of nonapproved
schools passed the RMT
only about 33% of the time. While
the Credentialing, Education, and
Workforce Development department
expected to record a comparative
disparity in those numbers, we were
astounded at how large of a gap of
success there actually was and we
began to ponder why.
The Registered Medical
Transcriptionist (RMT) exam was created
to provide employers with the
assurance that successful candidates
were qualifi ed to practice medical
transcription. The RMT exam is
geared toward people who have graduated
from a medical transcription
course and have less than two years
of acute care experience, or transcriptionists
who have practiced solely in
limited specialty settings and do not
voLUME 5 • ISSUE 6 novEMBER 2009
11

STUDENT SCENE
have two years of acute care experience.
Successful completion of the
RMT exam requires mastery of the
introductory skills that are outlined
in the AHDI Model Curriculum—the
required curriculum of every ACCP
approved school.
The need for a model curriculum
in medical transcription was
recognized early on in the formation
of AAMT (now AHDI) in 1978. At
that time, formal education programs
in this profession were rare,
and schools that wanted to pioneer
in teaching this field were on their
own in deciding how best to meet
those needs.
The birth of today’s model curriculum
started with the creation
of a collection of competencies
needed by an entry-level transcriptionist,
published in 1988 as
the Competency Profile for MT
Education Programs (COMPRO).
The Model Curriculum evolved
from that in an effort to guide medical
transcription educational entities
in successfully producing MTs
whose experience met this profile.
It has been revised four times (most
recently in 2008), and always with
the help of a consortia of educators
and transcription professionals.
The Model Curriculum serves as a
set of guidelines that AHDI suggest
medical transcription courses follow
in order to develop in students
the skills and aptitudes necessary
to succeed as a practicing medical
transcriptionist. With such precise
and prestigious competencies
met, it is no wonder that graduates
of approved schools successfully
complete the RMT exam at a greater
instance than graduates of nonapproved
schools!
The Model Curriculum for
Medical Transcription focuses on
five key content areas: English
Language, Medical Knowledge,
It is no wonder that graduates of approved schools
successfully complete the RMT exam at a greater instance than graduates of
non-approved schools!
Technology, Medicolegal Aspects of
the Healthcare Record, and Medical
Transcription Practice. If you were
to look at the blueprint for the RMT
exam, you would find that it mimics
the Model Curriculum in these same
content areas.
So, with students of approved
schools showing such a higher
instance of success on the RMT
exam, does that mean that as a
student of a non-approved school
all is lost? Absolutely not! There
are hundreds of training programs
in the market today, with only a
handful currently represented on the
AHDI-approved list. To find out if
your school stands up to the Model
Curriculum, and for more information
on the ACCP Approval Process,
A&H Training
The Andrews School
Career Step
Central Texas Community College
Columbia State Community College
Everett Community College
Exact-Med
Lakeshore Technical College
M-TEC
Med-Line School of MT
go to http://www.ahdionline.org/
tabid/210/Default.aspx.
Regardless of your training
program, there are exam prep and
assessment courses available to help
you get ready for the RMT Exam.
Visit the AHDI website or send us an
email for help in finding a program
that will work for you. If your school
would like to work with us on ACCP
Program Approval and increasing
their graduates’ success on the RMT
exam, have them contact Cassie Uber
at cuber@ahdionline.org. P
Cassie Uber is the credentialing and education
coordinator for AHDI.
Approved MediCAl TrAnsCripTion edUCATion progrAMs
Is my school approved by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs
(ACCP)? Schools currently approved by the ACCP include:
To find out more about these schools, visit:
http://www.ahdionline.org/tabid/251/Default.aspx
Metropolitan Community College
MSU-Bottineau
Richland Community College
Roane State Community College
Sheridan Technical Center
Seminole Community College
TRSi
TranzMed
Winter Park Tech
12 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

CERTIFICATION
While transcriptionists do not provide
hands-on patient care, they are
part of a critical process to create an
accurate record of that care and play
a vital role in risk management on
the allied healthcare team. The application
of informed judgment based
on clinical knowledge and understanding
of the diagnostic process
will continue to be part of the evolv-
ing role of complex narrative in the
EHR. A credentialed workforce, it
has been argued, may be the solution
to better positioning the transcription
sector for greater visibility and
credibility in a healthcare system that
highly values professional training,
credentialing, and a defined scope of
practice. ➤
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
13

1 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Recipe for
Credential
Success
The “Secret Sauce”
TAMMY MOORE, CMT, AHDI-F
14 noVemBeR 2009 WWW.AHDIonlIne.oRG

How do you select a mechanic when your car breaks
down? Do you scan the yellow pages and hope
that the one you select is skilled and reputable?
Sometimes people do that because they do not have a
choice, but most of the time people ask for recommendations
from friends and coworkers so that they find a
mechanic with a good reputation. They might even go a
step further to see if the mechanic is certified, licensed,
and/or bonded before they take their vehicle in for repair.
What do people do when they need to find a new doctor?
What do people look for in a physician? Again, they
usually ask around to find someone who is skilled and
caring. If they are looking for a specialist, they will likely
check to make sure he or she is credentialed in their
specialty.
What is a credential? There are a few variations on
the definition of credential. Basically, it is a document
1
The first ingredient is YOU! You have
made the decision to earn your credential,
and now you need to gather some
other ingredients.
Candidate Guide. Get a copy of the
Candidate Guide, either Registered
2 Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) or
Certified Medical Transcriptionist
(CMT), from the AHDI website (www.
ahdionline.org). Read the recommendations regarding
each credential. Be very honest with yourself about your
experience, skills, and abilities as you read the eligibility
and requirements. It is fine to set your sights on the CMT
credential, but you are only setting yourself up for disappointment
if you truly do not have enough experience to
tackle the CMT exam. Work on your RMT first and then
garner the recommended experience before you press on
toward your CMT goal.
or testimony that indicates someone is highly skilled
and knowledgeable in his or her chosen career. It gives
people credit or authority in their knowledge area.
With all the changes in healthcare legislation and
concerns about identity theft, people will begin to make
more informed inquiries about their protected health
information (PHI). They will want to know who is handling
their PHI and if that person is skilled and reputable.
People will feel more secure when they hear that
a highly skilled and credentialed healthcare documentation
specialist (medical transcriptionist) handled their
protected health information.
Whenever you make the decision to obtain your
credential, it is likely that your next question will be,
“Where do I start?” Here is a recipe to help you get from
your decision to your credentialing goal.
Study method. You need to decide on
a study method and timeline. Study
3 groups work very well, so see if some
of your coworkers are interested in
becoming credentialed, too. If there is
a credentialed person where you work, see if they would
be willing to help you form a study group, maybe even
lead the group. It is always nice to have someone who
can share his or her exam experience so you are not facing
a huge unknown.
Study groups also have a couple nice built-in advantages.
One is that it helps hold you to a study timeline.
It is more of a challenge to allow life to interfere when
people expect you to come prepared to a study meeting.
Study groups also bring a variety of experiences from
which a group could benefit. If you have someone who
has strong experience in internal medicine, that person
could share their expertise with everyone, and so can
the person who loves orthopedics. The likely favorite
study group participant will be the person who excels in
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
15

Recipe for Credential Success
English and grammar (a subject many people simply love
to hate).
Be sure to check out the reference list in the
Candidate Guide. Select a few items for your study
group. You may be able to locate them in a local library.
Another good resource is the CMT Review Guide or RMT
Review Guide. They are wonderful foundations for study
groups, but they are not stand-alone study references.
You will need to use other study materials also.
4
Plan your study path. Pick up the
Candidate Guide again and look at the
appendix. This is where the exam content
outline is located. This is the meat
and potatoes for your study group, the
key credential ingredients.
It does not matter which credential you are working
toward, you must have all the basics nailed down—prefi
xes, suffi xes, root words, etc. When you begin studying
these items, even if you have been transcribing for eons,
do not be surprised if many little details have slipped
away from you over the years.
English grammar and punctuation are important
ingredients for both the RMT and CMT exams, so
defi nitely spend time on them. Some people have a
tendency to skip over this
area, but that is not a good
idea. This is a situation
Textbooks, study
guides, and meetings
cannot compete with
people sharing their
experience with each
other. It is simply
priceless!
where you may have been
doing something a particular
way for years, but the
trick is, can you answer
a question about why
you do it that way? Many
people forget about conjunctions,
prepositional
phrases, compound/complex
sentences, etc. Do
not panic. It really is all
about reviewing English
language and clearing out
those cobwebs. If you have
an old textbook sitting
on a bookshelf collecting
dust, it will serve your study purposes well. If you do
not, then hit the local library or the Internet. A good
grade level text to search for is something in the 8th to
9th grade range. Those grade levels do a good job covering
English grammar and punctuation, and are usually
in a style and format that is simple to follow. There are
wonderful websites available where people who love this
subject are more than willing to share their knowledge
with everyone.
It is important to study anatomy and physiology.
Do not skip over the basics here, either. There are likely
to be more cobwebs to dust, so you can recall the cell
structure and function information from school. Break
this area into logical segments that make good pairings,
such as cardiology and pulmonology, podiatry and orthopedics,
plastic surgery and dermatology, etc. If you set up
your studies so one item fl ows into the next, it will not
be as overwhelming. As you work through anatomy and
physiology, be a multi-tasker in a positive way. Include
the disease processes that occur in each system with your
system study or review.
This is the point in your studies where you can
refi ne your study process. Do you consider yourself an
expert in a particular area (ie, you have been transcribing
orthopedic reports at a teaching facility for 15+ years)?
If so, then you probably will not need to spend much
time studying that material. However, if you are in a
study group, be sure to share your expertise in that area
with your fellow study group members. Share your tips
and hints on how to remember tricky terms, equipment
names, etc. Study groups often take on a life of their own
as people begin freely sharing their knowledge and experience.
Textbooks, study guides, and meetings cannot
compete with people sharing their experience with each
other. It is simply priceless!
As you move through all the body systems and
disease processes, review, review, review. If you notice
items that you struggled with in one area, add it to your
review for the next session. You will also notice that
items from one section are naturally going to appear
in another section. For instance, orthopedic medicine
terms are going to reappear in emergency medicine;
hematology/oncology terms are going to reappear in
internal medicine, etc. Therefore, between your scheduled
review material and studying new body systems,
you are getting lots of good review.
HIPAA and medicolegal issues. Make sure you do not
leave out this ingredient. It is a very important subject.
Many people consider it so important that they fi nd it
helpful to cover this subject at the beginning of their
study groups along with the prefi xes, suffi xes, etc, and
then review, review, review.
16 noVemBeR 2009 WWW.AHDIonlIne.oRG

Another key ingredient is FUN! Yes,
make studying fun. There is nothing
5 worse than dry, boring textbook studying.
Think outside the box and pull in
as much fun as you can. If you are in a
study group, chances are there are a couple people who
like crosswords and word-fi nd puzzles. Turn them loose
on different subjects and challenge them to stump the
group. Consider using good old-fashioned fl ash cards.
Those are tried and true study aids (especially with prefi
xes, suffi xes, glands, cranial nerves, etc) and work well
with any set of items that need repetition to gain familiarity.
Use index cards to make yourself a set of fl ashcards
and toss them in your purse or briefcase so that you have
them handy when you are waiting to pick the kids up
from school, sitting in the doctor’s offi ce, etc. You will
get in some good study time in those otherwise wasted
moments. Are you meeting face-to-face with a group?
How about a game or two of hangman to work on spelling
tough words? How about a “stump-my-study-buddy
day”? Set aside a day to call someone in your group and
try to stump them with a study question or two. It helps
keep people on their toes if they never know when that
“stumper” call will come, and it is extra motivation to
keep everyone on track with their studies. The only thing
that limits your fun study activities is your imagination.
Turn it loose and let it fl y free!
Are you studying alone? If a study group is something
that is not feasible due to your location or
situation, ask a friend to be your study buddy or
accountability partner. They do not necessarily have
to be someone in the medical fi eld, simply someone
who will commit to check in on you and help keep
you on track with your goal. If they are willing to toss
study questions at you periodically, that is a big plus.
Having someone to hold you accountable is important.
It is a challenge to stay on task with studying without
some sort of accountability because the majority
of us will let “life” happen to us, and before we know
it, our good intentions are in the past and our goal is
almost unattainable. Do not let that happen to you!
Do not think that you cannot take advantage of working
fun into your studies. You can also take advantage
of using games and puzzles in your studies. There are
websites that have fl ashcards, hangman games, puzzles,
etc, which you can use. There is software available so
you can build your own crossword puzzles. If you are
thinking to yourself that you cannot possibly build a
crossword puzzle because it is too diffi cult, you will be
surprised how easy it is to create a puzzle. There are
some very user friendly pieces of software out there.
There is at least one free crossword puzzle maker available
(www.eclipsecrossword.com). It is as simple as making
a vocabulary list, adding the defi nitions, and letting
the software create the puzzle. You enter your words
and defi nitions and then the software juggles things
around for you. Presto, you have a puzzle. PLUS, you
had a chance to review your vocabulary words while
you built yourself some fun!
Last ingredient, schedule your exam. No
matter how long you set your study
6 schedule for, be sure to schedule your
exam as close to the end of your studies
as possible.
People see the best
results from their studies
by taking their credential
exam within two to four The only thing that
weeks from the end of
their study sessions.
limits your fun
study activities is
As with all recipes, there is
always room for improvising
and making the recipe your imagination.
to your own taste. Tweak
things along the way, get Turn it loose and
creative, and spice things
up! If you have not fi gured let it fl y free!
it out yet, the key secret
ingredient in the secret
sauce is YOU and your goal to become credentialed.
Stay on target and keep reaching for that goal. You can
do it! P
Tammy Moore, CMT, AHDI-F, is the QA manager and education
coordinator at Webmedx as well as an instructor at M-TEC (an ACCPapproved
distance-learning program in Ohio). She was a contributor for
the RMT Review Guide and has participated as a review board member
for various Stedman’s skill builder books and references. Tammy has
20+ years’ experience in the healthcare documentation fi eld. She is an
active member of AHDI, serving on various committees and teams. She
can be reached at tdmoore005@gmail.com.
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
17

1 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Continuing
Education
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
KIM BuChANAN, CMT, AHDI-F
18 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

Professional credentials like the RMT and CMT illustrate
to the industry that you meet benchmark standards
of excellence. They also show your commitment
to lifelong learning and professional development.
Earning the credential is only the fi rst step. Once you
have proven your abilities by passing either the RMT or
the CMT exam, you enter into a three-year cycle of continuing
education. The process differs slightly between
the entry-level RMT and the expert-level CMT, but the
intent is the same: to assure the public and the industry
that you are qualifi ed to practice in your fi eld.
CERTIFIED MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST (CMT)
The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity
(AHDI) has been offering the CMT credential since the
early 1980s. AHDI endorses this credential in order to
protect the public interest by promoting high professional
and ethical standards, improve the practice of
medical transcription, and recognize those professionals
who demonstrate their competency in medical transcription
through the fulfi llment of requirements as outlined
in the AHDI Model Job Description for Level 2 MTs.
These individuals have a depth and breadth of knowledge
that spans across medical specialties and document
types. They are often assisting others in research and
quality control. Because of the rapidly changing world of
medicine, it is vital that CMTs maintain almost constant
continuing education. The minimum requirement is to
earn a total of 30 continuing education credits (CECs)
every three years; however, many CMTs submit hundreds
of CECs at the end of their cycle.
CREDIT-WORThY ACTIvITIES
Continuing education credits may be earned by participating
in credit-worthy activities relevant to medical
transcription. An activity is defi ned as a single presentation,
lecture, educational course, workshop on a single
topic, an approved quiz or puzzle, and article summary.
Live activities such as lectures, workshops, seminars, and
symposia may be approved for CE credit based on contact
hours, rounded down to the nearest quarter hour.
No credit is given for activities of less than 15 minutes
in length; unrelated activities of less than 15 minutes
aHdi strives to provide ample continuing
education opportunities for CMTs throughout the
year and across a variety of mediums.
cannot be combined to meet the minimum 15-minute
requirement. All activities are evaluated individually for
creditworthiness. A written summary of a credit-worthy
activity earns only one CEC regardless of the length of
the original activity.
AHDI strives to provide ample continuing education
opportunities for CMTs throughout the year and across
a variety of mediums. The Annual Conference and Expo
(ACE), typically held the fi rst week of August each year,
provides more than 30 different credit-worthy sessions
to choose from. Regional meetings, monthly online
webinars, and credit-worthy articles in Plexus and Health
Data Matrix are other convenient ways to earn CECs.
AHDI also offers a variety of credit-worthy products in
the online store. Visit the AHDI website and download
a copy of the Credentialing Product Catalog under the
Education/Training tab, followed by Credentials and
Designations.
CMTs AND CECs
There are four core areas of focus for CMTs earning
continuing education. A minimum of eight credits must
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
19

Continuing EduCation
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
be earned in the category of Clinical Medicine, four in
the Medical Transcription Tools category, six that pertain
to Technology and the Workplace, and six under the
umbrella of Medicolegal Issues. This leaves an additional
six required credits, which can come from any of the
four core areas or the optional areas of Complementary
Medicine and Professional Development. The goal is to
receive well-rounded continuing education in order to
remain relevant in your job as a CMT.
Clinical Medicine (CM) (8 minimum)—Clinical medicine
credits can come from a variety of sources. Any activity
that has been assigned credit from the American Medical
Association (AMA) or other clinical medicine organization
is acceptable in this category. Activities pertaining to
traditional medicine, anatomy and physiology, surgery,
pharmacology, laboratory or imaging, disease processes,
medical research, medical terminology, and other allied
health areas will qualify. In addition to medical speakers
at AHDI-sponsored events, online webinars, or articles in
AHDI publications of a clinical medicine nature, websites
like DiscoveryHealth.com and mycme.com offer excellent
opportunities to earn clinical medicine credit.
Medical Transcription Tools (MTT) (4 minimum)—The
category of medical transcription tools covers topics
like English language usage, MT resources and references,
applied standards in practice (QA, style, formatting,
proofing/editing, etc), document processing tools
like abbreviation expanders and Microsoft Word, and
developing a quality improvement program. In-service
training provided by employers may be creditworthy
in this category if it pertains to helping CMTs be more
productive on the job.
Technology and the Workplace (TW) (6 minimum)—With
technology playing a more important role in the lives
of transcriptionists, the requirements in this category
were increased in 2006 from a minimum of four to a
minimum of six. TW credits relate to anything having
to do with technology in the transcription industry and/
or issues that pertain to the workplace. Topics range
from basic transcription technology (ASPs, FTP, encryption,
SRT) to the electronic health record to coding and
reimbursement to trends in healthcare delivery and even
ergonomics and workplace design.
Medicolegal Issues (ML) (6 minimum)—Another category
that had its requirements increased in 2006 is
medicolegal issues. An additional two CECs are now
required every three years. Activities that pertain to risk
management, healthcare-related legislation, HIPAA, the
development of standards (ASTM, HL7, etc), ethics and
confidentiality, accreditation or administrative standards,
and medicolegal terminology and concepts all qualify.
Participating in the annual Advocacy Summit with AHDI
or becoming involved in the development of standards
in the transcription industry by participating in ASTM
meetings are obvious ways to earn ML credits. Medscape.
com is a great resource for continuing education credits,
and their “Business of Medicine” site contains creditworthy
articles pertaining to medical malpractice and legal
issues in medicine.
Optional Categories (no minimum)—The complementary
medicine category covers activities related to holistic
and homeopathic medicine, massage therapy, health
and wellness, and veterinary medicine. The professional
development category is where you will find topics on
association leadership, developing communication skills,
time management, supervision/management, and stress
management. Activities in these categories do not serve
as a replacement for the 24 required CECs in the core
areas listed above. These credits can be used to satisfy
the additional six credits needed to meet the minimum
of 30 in a three-year cycle.
REGISTERED MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST (RMT)
The RMT credential is based on the skills and knowledge
outlined in the AHDI Model Job Description for
Level 1 MTs. It mirrors the competencies in the AHDI
Model Curriculum. The purpose of this credential is
the RMt recredentialing process instead
provides hand-picked continuing education for
the purpose of ensuring that the RMT’s entry-
level skills are current.
to show the industry that the candidate has met the
minimum requirements for entry into this field. AHDI
encourages graduates of transcription training programs
to take the RMT exam after graduation. The exam is also
20 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

available for practicing transcriptionists with less than
two years of acute care experience or those working in
limited specialties.
RECREDENTIALING OF RMTs
The RMT exam serves to set a benchmark for entry into
practice. Successfully passing the exam relays to the
industry that a person who has obtained the RMT credential
has the basic skills needed to work in the field.
There is no requirement for the RMT to obtain additional
knowledge and/or skills other than those that would
help to keep them relevant as entry-level practitioners.
Rather than requiring RMTs to obtain continuing education
credits (which would likely be geared to a higher
level of knowledge than needed), the RMT recredentialing
process instead provides hand-picked continuing
education for the purpose of ensuring that the RMT’s
entry-level skills are current. Practitioners who hold the
RMT credential are encouraged to advance to the CMT
level once they have achieved the required experience
in the industry, but they are not required to do so. An
RMT may recredential every three years as an RMT by
completing the RMT Recredentialing Course provided
by AHDI.
RMT RECREDENTIALING COuRSE
The RMT Recredentialing Course provides 11 continuing
education units in three primary content areas.
I. TRANSCRIPTION-RELATED KNOWLEDGE
a. New Prescription Medications
A brief overview of the approval process for new
medications in the United States, and a list of the
most commonly prescribed medications.
b. Common Procedures and Report Types
A recap of terminology pertaining to the most
common report types and procedures.
c. Medical Transcription Style Updates
An overview of evolving trends in medical transcription
style, including a review of dangerous
abbreviations and their use.
d. Common Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Errors
A review of the most common grammar, punctuation,
and style errors in transcription, including
sound-a-likes, abbreviations, and formatting.
e. Editing and Proofreading
A review of the basic concepts of editing and
proofreading.
Continued on next page
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
ML
IN SEARCh OF ThE ELuSIvE MEDICOLEGAL CREDIT
More than any other category, CMTs report struggling to
find enough medicolegal credits to recertify. Since 2006,
the minimum requirement has increased from four to
six CECs, representing the increasingly important role
medicolegal issues play in healthcare documentation.
Here is a list of available credits in the ML category that
you may not have considered.
• Stedman’s Guide to the HIPAA Privacy Rule (3 CECs).
Write a 200-word summary of what you learned by
reading this book to earn the credits.
• Write your own creditworthy article on a medicolegal
topic. If it is published, you receive 2 ML CECs. If you
also write a quiz to accompany the article, you receive
an additional 1 ML CEC.
• Give a creditworthy presentation on a medicolegal
topic. Writing and delivering the presentation to an
audience of your peers will earn you 2 ML CECs.
• AHDI has partnered with AHIMA to offer online continuing
education courses. The Building the Foundation
for the Privacy Initiative course is worth 4 ML CECs.
You can read more about these course offerings on the
AHDI website by going to Education/Training and then
Continuing Education.
• At the time of this printing, there are 8 ML CECs available
as quizzes on the AHDI website that are tied to
articles in AHDI publications. You will find the list at
the AHDI website under Education/Training > Continuing
Education > Continuing Education Through AHDI
Publications.
21

Continuing EduCation
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
II. INDUSTRY TRENDS AND DRIVERS
a. Standard-Setting Organizations
An overview of the standard-setting organizations
and their relevance in medical transcription,
including ASTM, SNOMED, HL7, CDA4CDT
(Health Story Project), HIPAA
b. Advances in Technology
An overview of speech recognition technology,
Benchmark KB, social networking, etc.
c. Privacy and Security Issues
An overview of HIPAA rules and how they impact
medical transcriptionists, as well as confidentiality
and security issues.
III. TRANSCRIPTION BUSINESS ISSUES
a. Employment Status
Emphasize the difference between an employee
and an independent contractor.
b. Computer Use and Maintenance
Illustrate familiarity with the mechanics of a computer,
how to use it, and how to maintain it.
c. Ethical Business Practices
A review of ethical business standards in medical transcription
according to the AHDI Code of Ethics.
By successfully completing the course and passing the
Plan to earn your credits gradually over the
three-year cycle.
final exam with a score of at least 75%, RMTs are recredentialed
for an additional three-year cycle. Candidates
are given access to the online course for a total of 30
days, though the course should take no longer than five
or six hours to complete.
CMTs who are interested in taking the RMT
Recredentialing course for credit can earn a total of 11
CECs in the following categories upon successfully passing
the course and final exam: two Clinical Medicine
(CM), three Medical Transcription Tools (MTT), three
Medicolegal (ML), two Technology and the Workplace
(TW), and one Professional Development (PD).
ORGANIZING YOuR CECs
CMTs shouldn’t wait until the last minute to fulfill their
CMT/RMT PLAQuES
Proudly display your CMT or RMT status with this impressive
wood plaque. Approximately 8 inches by 10 inches in
size with a walnut finish, the CMT plaque comes with a
teal background (the RMT with a black background) and
platinum lettering. Both plaques come personalized with
your name and date of certification. Date plates (included
in purchase) track your recertification.
Go to the AHDI online store to order.
recertification requirements. Plan to earn your credits
gradually over the three-year cycle. If you need help
organizing the credits you have earned, print out a
copy of the CE Summary Form (available on the AHDI
website under Education/Training > Credentials and
Designations > CMT) and fill in the form as you participate
in each activity. Consider keeping the form, along
with the proof of CEC documents, in a folder where
they can be easily accessed throughout the cycle. When
the time comes to submit your recertification, as long as
you have not been randomly chosen for audit, you only
need to send in the Statement and Agreement form (sent
to you prior to the expiration of your credential) and
the CE Summary Form. If you are audited, you will also
need to submit the proof of CEC documents, 200-word
summaries you’ve written, and copies of the quizzes/
puzzles you have completed for credit.
Once you have successfully recertified your CMT
or recredentialed your RMT, pat yourself on the back
and celebrate! You have embraced lifelong learning and
proven to your profession that you are truly committed to
being the best you can be. Wear those letters proudly. P
Kim Buchanan, CMT, AhDI-F, is the director of credentialing and
education for AHDI.
22 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

AHDI Hall of Fame
AHDI has started a member recognition program—the
AHDI Hall of Fame—as part of our desire to highlight
and recognize AHDI members at all levels of the
association who are impacting our mission, goals, and
objectives. AHDI will be awarding Hall of Fame status
to up to 12 members on an annual basis starting in
2009. Hall of Fame winners will be announced at the
AHDI Annual Convention & Expo and featured in association
publications and on our website throughout the
next year. From those 12 HOF winners, the AHDI Member
Name: Dianna Hall, CMT, AHDI-F
Component: Michigan Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity
Executive Leadership Positions (state level): Michigan Delegate, President,
Immediate Past President, Secretary
Executive Leadership Positions (local level): Bay Area Chapter President,
Immediate Past President, Vice President
Committees, Task Forces, Alliances (national): Delegate Lead Team,
Membership Advisory Council, Nominating Committee, Sustained Structure
Task Force, National Task Force for Component Relations, Membership
Committee
Committees, Task Forces, Alliances (state): Alliance with Michigan AHIMA
Committees, Task Forces, Alliances (local): Educational alliance with Mid-
Michigan Chapter in joint annual symposium and RMT/CMT study group
“Dianna is very dedicated to the members of the association at every level. At every component meeting, she welcomes new
members and answers all questions to the best of her ability. She is always the first to volunteer when something needs to be
done. She always takes the extra step to ensure the success of any project. Dianna is a skilled communicator, easily transferring
information to all association components. Dianna’s experience within the association makes her a very valuable resource for
future leaders.”
“Dianna is not afraid to advocate for change to further our association, even when there is strong resistance to that change.”
Nominated by: Patricia McLellan; Paul Schaub, RN, MA; and Sheila Guston, CMT
of the Year will be selected by the national awards committee
and announced at ACE.
Learn more about the Hall of Fame program and
how your component can get involved at www.ahdionline.org
>> Get Connected >> Governance >> AHDI
Components.
We begin our 2009 spotlight with this year’s recipient of
AHDI’s Member of the Year award:
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
23

NEWS & WHO’S WHO
POWEr Of 10 CamPaigN
Attendees at ACE 2009 were the first to hear about
AHDI’s new Power of 10, a year-long campaign to raise
$10 from 10,000 MTs by 2010. Why? To support the
association’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, where
AHDI and MTIA are working hard to make sure all
healthcare documentation professionals have a role in
the future of the EHR. Our lobbying firm, along with our
government relations staff, is making sure our sector is
well represented in important meetings and discussions
being held by our nation’s legislators and policymakers
on healthcare reform, criteria and standards for EHR
systems, and workforce development in allied health. All
Power of 10 funds go directly to this effort. Thank you to all
in attendance who stepped up to be the first to contribute
to this important initiative—helping us raise nearly
$2000 toward this goal. If you did not get a chance to
contribute, you can donate to the Power of 10 campaign
in the AHDI Online Store at www.ahdionline.org or by
mail (see website for address). Make sure your funds
are clearly marked for this campaign, and as a reminder,
donations to this campaign are not tax deductable as
charitable contributions.
rECErtifiCatiON COurSE NOW availablE
fOr rmts!
The highly anticipated recredentialing
process and course for RMTs
went live June 1, 2009. Developed
by AHDI and deployed in partnership
with OAK Horizons, Inc., this
course includes 11 chapters covering relevant topics to
ensure that recredentialing RMTs remain current in their
knowledge. Each chapter has a concluding quiz. To pass
the course and renew the RMT credential, participants
must complete all 11 chapters and quizzes, and pass the
final exam.
CMTs interested in earning continuing education
credits toward their recertification may also enroll in
this course. CMTs will receive 11 CECs upon successful
completion of the course: 2 CM, 3 MTT, 3 ML, 2 TW,
and 1 PD.
If you have questions or would like more detailed
information about the recredentialing process for the
RMT credential, visit the RMT Recredentialing Web page
at http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/rRecertification.
cfm now. For those who are ready to sign up, you can
either call the office toll free at 800-982-2182 or use the
link below.
http://www.ahdionline.org/Source/Meetings/cMeetingProcess-
Search.cfm?section=events
Cost:
$100 RMT members
$125 RMT nonmembers
$100 CMT members
$125 CMT nonmembers
tHE rESultS arE iN!
AHDI is proud to announce these newly elected directors,
who will serve from 2010–2012:
Sherry Doggett
Brett McCutcheon, CMT, AHDI-F
Lisa Johnson Williams, CMT, AHDI-F
We are also happy to announce the Speaker-elect for the
House of Delegates for 2009:
Chad Sines, AHDI-F
Thank you, elected leaders and candidates, for your
commitment to excellence and support of the Association
through advocacy, standards-setting, and education.
Thank you, AHDI members, who took the time to cast
your votes and help to shape the future of the association
and industry. On behalf of AHDI members, board of
directors and staff, we congratulate you!
24 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

fOllOW mE tO aHDi ON faCEbOOk!
We at AHDI are encouraging all members to be a part of
what is widely taking the Internet by storm—Facebook!
Everyone is on it, and so is AHDI. Currently, members
are discussing the following:
• Credentialing
• The Health Story Project
• The Obama Stimulus Plan
• American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
• And more…you’ll have to join to find out!
Not on Facebook yet? It’s free and anyone can join.
When you visit www.facebook.com and create a profile,
you will find us under “Association for Healthcare
Documentation Integrity.” We already have over 800
fans and are growing every day. If you are a current
member of the AHDI Facebook page and want to help
us grow our numbers, add the tagline “Follow Me to
AHDI on Facebook” to your email taglines with a link
to the page.
SPEECH rECOgNitiON EDitiNg ONliNE
COurSE—NEW!
When used in conjunction with properly trained medical
transcription editors, speech recognition technology
(SRT) has proven its worth by lowering healthcare costs
and providing faster turn-around times. The technology
serves as a bridge to the electronic health record by offering
a familiar and efficient method of data entry to the
medical community. The need for qualified SRT editors
is expected to increase in correlation with the growing
healthcare demands of an aging population.
In partnership with TRSi and 3M, and with the
contributions of a volunteer workgroup comprised of
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
25

NEWS & WHO’S WHO
SRT developers, MT managers and supervisors, educators
and practicing medical transcription professionals
from around the country, the Association for Healthcare
Documentation Integrity (AHDI) has developed the first
of its kind speech recognition editing course which will:
• Assist the practicing MT to confidently make the transition
from standard transcription production worker
to successful SRT knowledge-based worker.
NEW aHDi PrODuCtS!
ACE 2009 Conference
Lapel Pin
If you forgot to purchase
your commemorative lapel
pin to mark your attendance
at the 31st Annual Convention &
Exposition, or if you were not able to attend the conference
but would like to purchase this beautiful pin, you
still can! Lapel pins are priced at the low rate of $10.
Available while supplies last! Visit the AHDI Online Store
at www.ahdionline.org to purchase this product.
go
conserve
eco
wildlife
hybrid
green
Live green.
Work green.
SAVe
clean air
trees
cars reduce
earth
energy environment
recycle
ahdi
Live Green. Work Green.
The AHDI Live Green,
Work Green t-shirt
is in support of the
Association’s effort to
lessen our carbon footprint.
Each shirt is made
with king-spun cotton and
organic-spun cotton. The
shirt features a beautiful graphic that promotes different
worldly and eco-friendly initiatives. Get yours today!
Available in sizes medium, large, XL, 2X, and 3X while
supplies last. Visit the AHDI Online Store at www.ahdionline.org
to purchase this product.
• Provide medical transcription schools and programs an
option to broaden their curriculum.
• Offer employers an excellent training opportunity for
their workforce.
Registration for this 12-week online course is now open.
The course runs from October 15th – January 15th. Go
to ahdionline.org for more information and to enroll
today!
CMT PREP QUIZZES Volume II
P L E X U S 2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8
CMT Prep Quiz CD II
Members and nonmembers
can now get their
♦ 240 Practice
Questions
© 2009
Published by: hands on the much-antici-
♦ Interactive menu
♦ Detailed answers
& information
♦ 12 MTT CEs
pated CMT Prep Quiz CD
II! This CD contains all
240 questions, answers,
and descriptions as found
in the 2007 & 2008 issues of
Plexus magazine. This interactive
CD allows you to take the
quiz on screen, view the answers and descriptions, and
(for CMTs seeking CE credits for recredentialing) print a
score sheet at the end of each quiz. In addition to some
great level II prep questions, this product will give CMT
candidates practice with on-screen test taking (12 CM
credits available). Visit the AHDI Online Store at
www.ahdionline.org to purchase this product. P
26 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

EvENtS
November
7
Charlotte, North Carolina
Carolinas Regional AHDI,
Annual Symposium,
Holiday Inn Center City
Hotel
14
Madison, Wisconsin
2009 November Regional
Event—Madison, WI:
A single-day, regional event
offered by AHDI national
in conjunction with the
Wisconsin/Minnesota
Chapter of AHDI
14
Dallas, Texas
GDC-ahdi, GDC Board
meeting, Presbyterian
Hospital Dallas, Presby
Cafe
21
Xenia, Ohio
Buckeye Area Chapter,
November 2009 Faceto-Face
Meeting, Greene
Memorial Hospital—
Herman Menapace BLDG
Continue your education
Prepare for your credential
Earn 8 CECs for each CE course
All from the comfort of
your own home!
December
12
Dallas, Texas
GDC-ahdi, General meeting,
Presbyterian Hospital
Dallas, SE conference room
Visit ahdionline.org under
“Professional Development”
and “Continuing Education”
or call 800-982-2182 for more
information on AHDI and
OAK Horizons course schedules.
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
27

GRASSROOTS
A Call to Action!
BRenDA J. HuRley, CMT, AHDI-F
Without a doubt, we are in difficult times. Medical
transcriptionists and their families are feeling the negative
effects from the current state of our nation’s economy
and its impact on our healthcare system. To add to our
worry, we have the looming impact from technologies
(ie, speech recognition, electronic health record, etc) and
new regulatory compliance requirements (ie, HIPAA,
ARRA, HITECH, etc), so for many our world may look
pretty scary.
If there was ever a time for a call to action, the time
is definitely now. At the last meeting of the House of
Delegates, I told the story of elephant training. It goes
something like this: A man at the circus watched the
elephants standing quietly while tied by a rope to a
small wooden stake driven in the ground. He asked the
trainer why those big elephants don’t just pull away
from the stake as they surely had the power and force
to do so. The trainer said that when the elephants were
young they were attached to a huge chain attached to
an immovable steel stake. At first those young elephants
would pull and pull to try to escape but they found that
they could not escape, so in time they had simply given
up trying. Now as adults they can be held with only a
small stake and rope.¹
Perhaps you have been in the same situation, where
no matter what you did or how hard you tried, you
could not make a change or break the chain that held
you back, to the point that now you have also given up
trying. It is indeed a time for action—it is time to break
free from whatever barriers have stopped you or held
you back in the past or present.
A great way to take action is to refresh the tools in
your toolkit. First, it is important that you sharpen your
skills in some way—whether it is learning a new specialty,
participating in a component association educational
event, or an association webinar, there are numerous
opportunities for you to learn something to add to
and to sharpen your tools in your professional toolkit. A
great example for this is another story. This one is about
two woodsmen who had a section of the forest to cut
down in three days. One man worked long hours, never
taking a break during the day and putting in many hours
of overtime. The other man took his breaks and worked
only during his scheduled hours. At the end of the three
days, the man who worked the many additional hours
was astonished to find that the other man was able to
It is time to break free from whatever barriers
have stopped you or held you back in the past or present.
cut down more trees. When asked how he did this, the
man said that he found it was important to take the time
to sharpen his saw frequently. As an MT, have you been
doing anything to sharpen your saw lately?
Another way to take action is to demonstrate your
competency in order to stake your claim as an expert in
this profession. If you have not yet become credentialed,
it is time to do so. There are many study groups going on
in communities and online, so jump in and get prepared
for the exam, then do it! There are lots of excuses floating
around why credentialing is not important to do, so
if you’re looking for an excuse, it will be easy to find one.
I say, become credentialed for you! It is your professional
toolkit that will be enhanced when you add a credential
behind your name, as it demonstrates a level of competency
in the skills needed for medical transcription. So,
do it for you!
It is time now to break free, it is time now for
action—do it and amaze yourself! You deserve it. P
RefeRence
1. The Portable Pep Talk. Alexander Lockhart, Zander Press, page 13.
Brenda J. Hurley, cMT, AHDI-f, is the 2009 Speaker of the House.
She can be reached at speaker@ahdionline.com.
28 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

Component Spotlight
Navigating a Path to Success
Sherry L. Martin, CMT
The Greater Jacksonville Chapter (GJC) has had a
Certification Connector for several years, but we have
had particularly great success with this initiative over
the last two to three years. I think one major reason that
we have been so successful is that individuals in management
roles outside of medical transcription, such as
clinic administrators and hospital health information
management (HIM) directors, have taken a keen interest
in what we really do and the important role we play in
healthcare documentation. That interest and willingness
to help us pursue our continuing education and certification
has made all the difference in how successful we
have been. Because some of our local chapter members
had the opportunity and were willing to speak at meetings
about certification when both medical transcriptionists
(MTs) and HIM administration were present, it has
opened doors for us that may have otherwise remained
closed. The willingness of our chapter members to seize
this opportunity to advance the profession has been
instrumental in our success.
I want to tell you a little about what we have done in
the past and things that we have adapted and changed
as we have moved forward and continue to advance the
profession.
I joined GJC in 2002, shortly after I passed the “old”
CMT exam. At that time, I didn’t know that there was a
certification connector, let alone that there were other
people out there that I might have been able to prepare
with. But, I was hopeful that someday I might be able to
help someone else who was willing to move forward in
their career to study and take the CMT exam. Not too
long after I passed my test, AAMT changed the format
of the exam and it became even more critical to prepare
well in advance to successfully pass the new version of
the exam. GJC had acquired several transcribers, SUM
practice tapes, study guides, and other materials over
the years that anyone could check out to help them
prepare for the exam. Several members over the years
have taken advantage of this and studied on their own.
Some were successful; others were not. Study groups
were formed and met on the weekends at a neighbor-
hood library or other locations, but they tended to fizzle
out due to apathy or just plain running out of available
time. Many people never moved forward with actually
taking the exam for one reason or another. Things
became rather stagnant.
Then we had a breakthrough. Lea Sims, CMT,
AHDI-F, and Kristin Wall, AHDI-F, were invited to speak
to the transcription department at Nemours Children’s
Clinic in Jacksonville for MT Week. They talked about
the chapter, which several MTs didn’t even know existed,
The willingness of our chapter members to
seize this opportunity to advance the profession has been
instrumental in our success.
the national organization, and the importance of obtaining
their CMT credential and elevating the professionalism
of our industry. Attendees were encouraged to look
at medical transcription not just as a “job” but a profession,
because so many in the medical field still weren’t
aware of the knowledge base and skill sets involved in
being a certified medical transcriptionist and the key
role we play in healthcare documentation. Besides the
transcription manager, also in attendance at that meeting
were the HIM manager and the Nemours Children’s
Clinic Jacksonville administrator. Both of them were very
intrigued by the information presented by the speakers.
That particular clinic stresses continuing education for
all of their medical professionals, and when they realized
that transcription also offered continuing education
opportunities and a certification program, they were very
excited and pursued it proactively.
Nemours made their MTs an offer. They said they
would purchase selected study books for anyone who
wanted to participate in the CMT study group. These
study books included the CMT Review Guide, The
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
29

Language of Medicine, Understanding Pharmacology, Human
Diseases, lab and diagnostic disease guides, as well as
the Book of Style, 2nd Edition, for anyone who didn’t
already have one. Several of the MTs purchased the Book
of Style Student Workbook on their own a few weeks into
the study group. Nemours also offered to reimburse the
MTs for the test fee when they successfully passed. The
MTs were required to take and pass the test within one
year from the beginning of the study group. Nemours
offered a 2% base pay increase for anyone who successfully
passed the test. They also offered the group meeting
space at the clinic every two weeks for two hours
in an available conference room. This offered the MTs a
familiar setting that cost them nothing. The agreement
also stated that if anyone dropped out of the group after
the books had been purchased for them by the clinic, the
MT who dropped out would have to reimburse the clinic
for the cost of the books. Nemours employed 10 MTs at
that time; one was already a CMT and a GJC member.
She agreed to lead the Nemours study group. Out of the
remaining nine MTs, eight took on the challenge and
began the study group. Of those eight, one dropped out
of the program after several weeks. Of the remaining
seven, five MTs passed the exam on their first try and the
other two passed on their second attempt. Pretty good
success rate! Oh, one more thing—another bonus for
the MTs was that for every employee who successfully
passed the test, Nemours paid for their first year’s dues
for both AHDI national and for GJC. Pretty sweet deal!
News of the Nemours study group got out fast.
Several MTs from the chapter who were interested in
continuing to study for the exam with a buddy asked if
they could join the Nemours group. The Nemours MTs
were happy to oblige. Nemours administration was very
willing to accommodate more participants, but did not
purchase materials for anyone other than their employees.
As word got out about the success of the Nemours
study group and we acknowledged the new CMTs in
our chapter newsletter and at chapter meetings, more
MTs became interested in pursuing certification. Another
big event for our chapter started the next round of
participation.
In January 2009, we were privileged to have Peter
Preziosi, PhD, CAE; Lea Sims, CMT, AHDI-F; and
Victoria Davis, the transcription manager for Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, speak at our January chapter meeting,
which was held in an open panel discussion format. I
had recently started a new management job with Baptist
Health, a five-hospital healthcare system in Jacksonville,
earlier that month. We had a fantastic turnout that day,
with many MTs who had never been to a chapter meeting
and who came to see what we were all about and to
hear from the “big guy” himself. Once again, the importance
of credentialing in our profession was discussed
by Lea and Peter. This time around, we had even more
interest in starting study groups from multiple MTs.
Mayo Clinic MTs were particularly vocal and decided
It’s not all about “what’s in it for me”
with this group of MTs.
to take the plunge. They started three different study
groups among their MT workforce. Rose Hayden, CMT,
our 2007–2008 chapter president, works for Mayo, and
she participated in one of these groups. As Mayo was
not able to provide the study materials as Nemours had
done, many of the Nemours MTs offered to loan out their
study materials to the Mayo MTs to help them achieve
their goals. Out of approximately 75 MTs at Mayo,
about 20 started in one of three study groups. Five left
the groups, leaving 15 active remaining in the study
groups. Of those 15, so far six have successfully passed
their exam. The remaining nine are still studying and
preparing for their turn at success. One thing to mention
about Mayo Clinic is that while they do reimburse the
cost of the exam when it is successfully completed, they
do not offer any pay increase for the CMT credential. I
mention this only because even though these MTs aren’t
getting more “money” for their credential, they wanted
to achieve this goal for themselves. We say, “Good for
them!” It’s not all about “what’s in it for me” with this
group of MTs.
Both groups followed the AHDI recommended
format of covering assigned chapters ahead of time,
covering usually two chapters at each group meeting,
taking journal quizzes during the meetings, going over
the Mega MT Challenge questions as a group, and other
group activities. But, what is important to remember is
that the bulk of the studying was done at the initiative
of each individual MT. They felt a responsibility to their
study group leader and each other to come prepared to
the meetings. They didn’t want to let each other down.
Some finished early, as they studied ahead (and wanted
to get it over with!), while others needed more time to
prepare before they felt ready to take the test successfully.
30 noVemBeR 2009 www.aHDIonlIne.oRg

One thing that was said to me was this—those who came
to every meeting were the ones who were the most successful.
These individuals are the future mentors for our
other chapter members.
In all, in the last two years, the Greater Jacksonville
Chapter is proud to say that we have helped 13 MTs
achieve their goal of becoming a Certified Medical
Transcriptionist. With many more on the way!
Besides organized study groups, GJC has also had
in place for quite some time a mentoring program that
we call Pass The Torch. This is for individuals who want
to study on their own with a mentor or as part of an
existing study group. We offer this program to any MT,
whether they are a chapter member or not. We offer
the opportunity to check out study materials we have
acquired over time, as mentioned previously. We do
charge a nominal fee of members and nonmembers to
check out materials.
Now that I am in a managerial role with a large hospital
system, I have made it one of my goals to encourage
all of my MTs to become certified. I have been working
diligently with my HIM director, who has agreed
to help me achieve this goal. My director also attended
that January meeting and was very impressed with what
was said there. We recently purchased the Book of Style,
3rd edition, for each of my 25 MTs. I have also received
approval to purchase 10 CMT Review Guides, which are
on their way to us now to get us started with the first
group. At my next transcription meeting, I plan to get
a study group organized and in place with my MTs. I’m
following the GJC format and plan to be the leader for
our study group. So far, 10 people have stated they are
willing to move forward and take the next step in their
professional career. My MTs are very excited at changes
I am slowly implementing and the encouragement I am
giving them, and my director is as well. We are working
on a monetary compensation package for those who pass
the exam, and we have already gotten approval for reimbursement
of exam costs after successful completion of
the test. It’s a very exciting time at Baptist right now for
my team, as they have never had this kind of encouragement
for their field.
While I know most of my article has talked about
CMT exam prep, we have not yet had the opportunity to
set up RMT study groups. That may be changing in the
near future. At our last chapter meeting, we had a very
large group of students from a local college transcription
study program. They were extremely interested in what
we as a chapter have to offer them, and I’ve had some
communication with the teacher of that program about
preparing for the RMT and CMT exams. I have a feeling
we’ll be helping to get yet another study group started up
in the very near future.
In conclusion, I believe the success of the Greater
Jacksonville Chapter’s CMT study group initiative is
directly tied to the personal involvement of chapter
members speaking to other MTs and healthcare professionals
in the community and stressing the importance
of credentialing in our field, our willingness to take on
the challenge to mentor and lead these groups, and the
encouragement we give before, during, and after. We are
excited to continue to bring new credentialed members
to our transcription community. P
Sherry Martin, CMt, is the transcription manager for Baptist
Health, a 1000-bed, 5-hospital healthcare system in Jacksonville,
Florida. She is the 2009 president of the Greater Jacksonville Chapter
of AHDI. Sherry has been in the medical transcription industry for over
21 years and has been a certified medical transcriptionist since 2002.
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
31

CMT PREP QUIZ
Deb Schreiber, CMT, AHDI-F
Q 1 CliniCal MediCine
This section is designed for candidates
preparing for the certification exam. Each
issue of Plexus will feature 20 practice
questions to assist test-takers in self-assessment
and continued study. Select the most
correct answer to the questions provided.
You will find answers and study guidance at
the end of this section.
1. The gland that controls functional
maturation of lymphocytes is the
A. pituitary
B. thymus
C. adrenal
D. thyroid
2. The term half-life refers to the
A. contraindication of a drug.
B. duration of efficacy for a drug
before it expires and must be
discarded.
C. duration of efficacy for a drug
within the blood stream before it
must be readministered.
D. decreased susceptibility to the
effects of a drug in a patient who
has developed a tolerance for it.
3. Which of the following refers to
normal vision?
A. emmetropia
B. presbyopia
C. hyperopia
D. myopia
4. The abbreviation YAG refers to a
A. laser.
B. clamp.
C. bone saw.
D. microscope.
5. The ciliary body is found in the
A. small intestine.
B. ear.
C. eye.
D. nerves.
6. The normal value range for albumin
is
A. 15-45 mcg/dL.
B. 3.5-5.0 g/dL.
C. 24-30 mEq/L.
D. 5-20 mg/dL.
7. Candida albicans is best treated
with
A. Savlon.
B. Daktarin.
C. Clotrimazole cream.
D. metronidazole gel.
8. Which of the following lies fully
ipsilateral to the left iliac region?
A. epigastric region
B. left hypochondriac region
C. right inguinal region
D. hypogastric region
9. Which of the following is a carbohydrate?
A. monosaccharide
B. triglyceride
C. polypeptide
D. eicosanoids
10. bruxism is defined as chronic
A. belching.
B. teeth grinding.
C. hiccupping.
D. grunting.
11. in what setting would the acronym
TrALi be used?
A. By a pulmonologist dictating on a
patient with lung injury.
B. By an obstetrician dictating on a
patient in labor and delivery.
C. By a surgeon dictating on
a patient undergoing an
appendectomy.
D. By a family practitioner dictating
on a patient with hives.
12. What is the correct use for the
medication brovana?
A. antiemetic
B. antibiotic
C. antipruritic
D. bronchodilator
13. What is the normal range of
serum potassium?
A. 3.7 to 6.2 mEq/L
B. 2.7 to 6.2 mEq/L
C. 2.7 to 5.2 mEq/L
D. 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L
14. What is the normal range of
serum sodium?
A. 125 to 145 mEq/L
B. 135 to 145 mEq/L
C. 125 to 135 mEq/L
D. 135 to 155 mEq/L
15. These three tick-borne illnesses
have what in common?
A. Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis. They
are all viruses.
B. Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis.
They are all viruses.
C. Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis. They
are all rickettsial diseases.
D. Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis.
They are all rickettsial
diseases.
16. Which sentence in a dictated
report should be flagged for the
dictator?
A. “The patient’s serum electrolytes
were normal with a sodium of
140, potassium of 4, and chloride
of 100.”
B. “The patient’s serum electrolytes
were normal with a sodium of
145, potassium of 3.9, and chloride
of 99.”
C. “The patient’s serum electrolytes
were normal with a sodium of
145, potassium of 7.0, and chloride
of 100.”
D. “The patient’s serum electrolytes
were normal with a sodium of
140, potassium of 4.4, and chloride
of 102.”
32 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

17. Which physician would most
likely use the ASA Grade?
A. gastroenterologist
B. otolaryngologist
C. anesthesiologist
D. optometrist.
18. Which sentence is transcribed
incorrectly?
A. “The patient’s mucous membranes
were moist and he had clear
mucus from the nares.”
B. “The mucus was mixed with
blood and pus.”
C. “The patient’s mucous membranes
were moist and he had clear
mucous from the nares.”
D. “The mucous membranes were
dry and cracked; no mucus was
seen.”
19. A minimally invasive surgical
procedure used to diagnose and treat
illness or injury to the lung and other
organs in the thorax.
A. PTFE
B. CABG
C. PTSD
D. VATS
20. Which sign means an involuntary
resistance to passive movement as
may occur in cerebral cortical disorders?
A. dysmetria
B. snout
C. gegenhalten
D. Apley
FinD AnSWerS AnD GuiDAnce on
pAGe 36
COMPONENT CORNER
Buckeye Area Chapter of AHDI
Fall mini-Symposium
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Galion Free Methodist Church,
Galion, Ohio 44833
4 CECs anticipated in OB/GYN,
Cardiology, Grammar & BOS
Registration and Information:
BAC-AHDI@BAC-AHDI.org or
http://www.bac-ahdi.org
*Speakers & CECs subject to change
without notice
Florida Nature Coast Chapter
Fall Symposium
November 7, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.
Best Western Hotel,
30307 Cortez Blvd (I-75 and Hwy 50),
Brooksville, FL 34602
Alternative Medicine: Reflexology,
Fatty Acids and Mental Health,
Eating to Live!
2.5 CM, 1.5 Comp Med CECs
Gail Smith, CMT, (352) 666-4728 or
gsmith24@tampabay.rr.com
Ohio Valley Chapter
West Virginia
business meeting and continuing
education
Wednesday, November 11, 2009,
6:00 p.m.
Location: Online, by phone, and several
remote ‘attendance’ locations
For more information, contact Lee Ann
Wilmot, CMT, AHDI-F, at 304-242-
6656 or lawilmotcmt@comcast.net
Join the ONLINE ASSOCIATION
of AHDI
• A component without walls
• All business and interaction
conducted solely via the Internet
• Network with MTs worldwide
• Mentor or be mentored in our
mentoring program
• Obtain CECs conveniently online
• Open 24/7
• Webinar room for rent
www.oa-ahdi.org
hoW To SubmiT A componenT AD
Send ad in a Word document, 50 words
maximum. Submit ads using the following
template to kwall@ahdionline.org:
component name:
event Title:
Date and Time:
Location:
cecs:
Details:
contact and/or web info:
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
33

LET’S TALK TERMS
AHDI RESEARCH TEAM
Term DeFiniTion
cerefolin nAc A vitamin combination used to manage hyperhomocysteinemia or to supplement the
diet. Generic: L-methylfolate/methylcobalamin/N-acetylcysteine.
Duetact® Combination drug (glimepiride and pioglitazone) used to treat type II diabetes in
patients who do not require insulin injections.
Dura Star balloon Facilitates the post-delivery expansion of stents in coronary arteries.
Dura Star dilatation catheter Used for balloon dilatation of the stenotic portion of a coronary artery or bypass graft
stenosis for the purpose of improving myocardial perfusion.
endometrin Vaginal suppository used to increase the level of progesterone in patients taking fertility
treatments. Generic: progesterone.
FlexiFit Flexible, comfortable CPAP mask for sleep apnea.
ixempra Medication used to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer.
Generic: ixabepilone.
Kapidex Delayed-release medication used to help heal erosive esophogitis and used to treat
heartburn related to nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Generic: dexlansoprazole.
Lexiscan A pharmacologic stress agent used for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging in
patients who are unable to adequately perform an exercise stress test.
medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead Defibrillator lead.
rhinostat® Systems Dosage titration system designed to gradually wean rhinitis medicamentosa patients
from decongestant nasal sprays
Sentinol® Self-expanding
nitinol biliary Stent System
A stent used to treat strictures caused by malignant neoplasms in biliary ducts.
symmastia A condition in which breast implants are improperly placed during surgery, or can
migrate, and appear “pushed together” with lack of separation or cleavage
(“uni-boob”). Also synmastia.
synmastia A condition in which breast implants are improperly placed during surgery, or can
migrate, and appear “pushed together” with lack of separation or cleavage
(“uni-boob”). Also symmastia.
Toviaz Treatment for overactive bladder, including symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency,
and urge incontinence. Generic: fesoterodine fumarate
Tykerb Used to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer (this medication is indicated to be
used in combination with capecitabine). Generic: lapatinib
Xpert Self-expanding Stent
System
4F compatible self-expanding stent system, specifically designed for small vessels with a
focus on hemodynamics
Zarontin A medication given for the treatment of absence (petit mal) epilepsy.
Generic: ethosuximide.
34 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

mAnuFAcTurer Source DoSe inFormATion
Pan American Laboratories panlab.com
Cerner Multum, Inc. Drugs.com 30 mg/2 mg; 30 mg/4 mg
Cordis cordis.com
Cordis cordis.com
Ferring Pharmaceuticals drugs.com 100 mg vaginal insert
Fisher and Paykel directhomemedical.com
Bristol-Myers Squibb ixempra.com IV infusion
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
America, Inc
Rxlist.com 30 mg, 60 mg capsules
Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Lexiscan.com 0.4 mg/5 mL IV injection
for equal to 10 seconds
Medtronic medtronic.com
Rhinostat Systems, LLC nasalspray.com Dispenser bottles, dosage
titrated at 15% per day
between 17 and 42 days
Boston Scientific BostonScientific.com
Breastplasticsurgery.com
Breastplasticsurgery.com
Pfizer pfizerpro.com 4 mg and 8 mg tablets
GlaxoSmithKline Rxlist.com 250 mg tablets
Abbott Vascular abbottvascular.com
Parke-Davis, a Division of
Pfizer, Inc.
Rxlist.com 250 mg, 500 mg capsules
AhDi reSeArch TeAm
memberS
Christette Cromarty, RMT
Kerri Dobbins, CMT
Jami Fineberg, CMT, AHDI-F
Debra Hahn
Deb Hanson-Ericsson, CMT
Michelle Holden, CMT
Joni Joyner
Kathy Muelker, CMT
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
35

CMT PREP QUIZ
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
AnSWerS AnD GuiDAnce
1. Answer b. Lymphocytes that originate
from stem cells in the bone marrow
pass through the thymus gland
where they mature and develop into
activated T-lymphocytes, able to
respond to antigens elsewhere in the
body.
2. Answer c. A drug’s half-life is the
time required for the level of that
drug in serum to decrease from
100% to 50%; thus, it relates to how
long the drug remains effective in the
blood stream. A drug with a shorter
half-life needs to be administered
more often or manufactured in an
extended- or time-released form.
3. Answer A. An emmetropic eye is
an eye that can sufficiently refract
light rays from an object 6 m away to
focus a clear image on the retina. All
the others are disorders or abnormalities
of vision.
4. Answer A. The abbreviation YAG
(yttrium aluminum garnet) is seen
in association with many modern
surgical lasers, most commonly
linked with holmium (Ho:LAG),
neodymium (Nd:YAG), and erbium
(Er:YAG). It is also seen in combination
with a manufacturer or product
name, as in Lasertek YAG, Lumonics
YAG, and Carl Zeiss YAG.
5. Answer c. The ciliary body is the
thickest portion of the vascular tunic,
one of three tunic layers of the wall
of the eyeball. It extends from the
ora serata to a point just behind the
sclerocorneal junction. The ciliary
body consists of the ciliary processes
and the ciliary muscle.
6. Answer b. The other value ranges
provided are for: (A) ammonia, (C)
bicarbonate, (D) BUN.
7. Answer c. Candida albicans, is
yeast that necessitates treatment with
an antifungal medication, such as
clotrimazole. This active ingredient
interferes with fungal cell membranes
and prohibits the production
of ergosterol, essential to the stability
of the cell membrane.
8. Answer b. Ipsilateral refers to
being on the same side, so in this
case, the only region that would be
found on the same side (left) would
be the left hypochondriac region.
9. Answer A. Eicosanoids and triglycerides
are both lipids, dipeptides are
amino acid pairs necessary in the
formation of proteins, and monosaccharides
are simple sugars, or
carbohydrates.
10. Answer b. Often a precursor to
TMJ, requiring the use of a mouth
guard, bruxism is the compulsive act
of grinding or clenching one’s teeth,
typically at night. Most patients are
not aware of the compulsion but do
develop symptoms of headache, pain
in the jaw, and neck stiffness as a
result.
11. Answer A. TRALI stands for
Transfusion Related Acute Lung
Injury. This is a rare but serious
and often fatal respiratory distress
syndrome associated with blood
transfusions.
12. Answer D. Brovana is a longacting
beta2-agonist used long-term
to control symptoms of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease,
administered through a standard jet
nebulizer.
13. Answer D. Normal levels of serum
potassium are 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L.
14. Answer b. Normal levels of serum
sodium are 135 to 145 mEq/L.
15. Answer c. Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis
are tick-borne rickettsial
diseases (TBRD) and are transmitted
bacterium, not viruses. These three
diseases are common in the United
States, along with some emerging
diseases such as the Rickettsia
parkeri infection. Lyme disease is
also a bacterium, but not rickettsial;
it is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
16. Answer c. It may not seem like
much of a difference, but even slight
abnormalities in the electrolytes can
cause big problems. In this case, a
potassium level of 7 is considered
hyperkalemic and can lead to EKG
abnormalities such as peaked T
waves, prolongation of the PR interval,
an absent P wave with widening
of the QRS complex, and finally
ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.
17. Answer c. An anesthesiologist
uses the American Society of
Anesthesiologists grade (ASA) to
assess the patient’s risk associated
with anesthesia and surgery.
An excellent article explaining
the different levels is here:
http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.
php?xmlFilePath=journals/ija/vol15n1/
asa.xml
18. Answer c. Mucous is the adjective
and mucus is the noun. Answer C is
incorrect because the sentence uses
“mucous” as both adjective and noun.
36 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

19. Answer D. Video-Assisted
Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) is a
minimally invasive surgical procedure
used to diagnose and treat illness
or injury to the lung and other
organs in the chest cavity (thorax).
During VATS, a tiny camera with
a light source is inserted through
a small incision between the ribs.
A second small incision is used to
insert special instruments between
the ribs into the chest cavity.
20. Answer c. gegenhalten, sometimes
called paratonia, is a sign that
would most commonly be dictated
by a neurologist. P
Deb Schreiber, cmT, AhDi-F, has been a
medical transcriptionist since 1994 when she
switched from a nursing career that included
working in the ICU and OR. Becoming certifi
ed in 2003, she works at Boone Hospital
Center and performs QA for their department.
She serves on the Missouri AHDI board as
Director at Large.
marketplace
To Advertise in Marketplace
Contact Jeff Rhodes at 410-584-1952 or
e-mail ahdi@networkmediapartners.com
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
37

FUNNY BONE
The LighTeR Side of aging*
Signs That You’re Growing Old
RichaRd LedeReR, PhD
There are many signs that you might be more than halfway
up the stairway to Heaven. Take clothing.
Wal-Mart and Target seem to share your fashion
sense. You realize that all those geeky people in Bermuda
shorts walking around Disney World include you. Your
pants are hiked up to your armpits. Or they start below
your belly. The end of your tie doesn’t come anywhere
near the top of your pants.
As a public service, you have agreed to never appear
on the beach in a Speedo again.
Even your footwear gives you away: You resort to
slip-on shoes or Velcro straps. And you wear dark socks
with your sandals.
You know you’re growing old when...
• The word spry actually applies to you.
• You finally reach the top of the ladder, only to find that
it’s leaning against the wrong wall.
• You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the
questions.
• Your favorite part of the newspaper is “Fifty Years Ago
Today.”
• On the golf course you try to shoot your age, but you
shoot your weight instead.
• You choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
• You regret all those temptations you resisted.
• You just can’t stand people who are intolerant.
• A fortuneteller offers to read your face.
• You see a pretty young girl and wonder what her
mother looks like.
• The pretty girl you smile at thinks you are one of her
father’s friends. And she opens the door for you.
• When you whistle at a pretty girl, she thinks you’re
calling her dog.
• All your dreams about girls are reruns.
• The little gray-haired lady you help across the street is
your wife.
• Your children are starting to wrinkle.
• Your grandkids look like they should be in middle
school, yet here you are attending their college
graduation.
• You would rather go to work than stay home sick.
• When you have a choice of temptations, you choose
the one that gets you home earlier.
• Dinner and a movie are the whole date, not just the
start of one.
• You subscribe to cable television for the Weather
Channel.
• You have more hair on your ears than on your head.
• Your wife tells you to pull in your stomach, and you
already have.
• By the time you’ve lit the last candle on the birthday
cake, the first one has burned out.
• When you finally get all your birthday candles lit, they
set off the smoke alarm.
• Your broad mind and narrow waist have exchanged
places. You’re 16 around the neck, 42 around the waist,
and 102 around the golf course.
• You are starting to like accordion music.
• You remember old radio shows better than the TV
show you watched last week. And the radio shows
were better, by the way.
• You instruct your barber never to trim hair off the top
of your head.
• For your birthday you receive your first nose-hair
clippers.
• You’ve come to the annoying realization that your parents
were right about almost everything.
• You don’t care where your spouse goes, just as long as
you don’t have to go along.
• The bus driver starts calling you “ma’am,” instead of
“hey, lady.”
• It’s the doctor, not the police officer, who tells you to
slow down.
• If you’re driving a car, it qualifies for classic plates.
• Your grandkids drive cars while you ride a bike.
• Your high school yearbook is now home to three different
species of mold.
• You buy “age-defying” makeup and “anti-wrinkle”
38 novEMBER 2009 www.aHDIonLInE.oRg

creams and believe they work.
• You turn out the lights for economic reasons instead of
romantic ones.
• You remember when the cost of going to a movie was
less than the cost of a stamp today.
• You recognize Led Zeppelin songs that have been
turned into elevator Muzak.
• When you watch black-and-white fi lms, you point to
the screen and say, “He’s dead. She’s dead. They’re dead.”
• You’ve had three opportunities to buy every single
Disney animated classic “for the last time in a
generation.”
• Your childhood toys turn up in antique malls with
huge price tags on them.
• You often try to change TV channels with your cordless
phone.
• You’d pay good money to be strip-searched.
• Your hair starts turning from gray to black.
• You choose your seat in the movie theater and the tour
bus so that your good ear picks up the sound.
• You’re wearing more gold in your mouth than on the
rest of your body.
• Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
• You take your thirteen-year-old grandchild to an
amusement park, and her ticket costs more than yours.
• You have a party, and the neighbors don’t even realize it.
• Your wife quietly tells you she’s having an affair, and
you ask if she’s having it catered.
• When you stand in front of a mirror, you can see your
rear end without turning around.
• People send you this list (and you forget who they are). P
*This column is adapted from Richard Lederer’s A Treasury
for Seniors, to be published by Howard Books in July 2010.
Richard Lederer is the author of more than 30 books about language,
history, and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English
series and his current book, Presidential Trivia. He has been profi
led in magazines as diverse as The New Yorker, People, and the
National Enquirer and frequently appears on radio as a commentator
on language. Dr. Lederer’s syndicated column, “Looking at Language,”
appears in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States.
He has been named International Punster of the Year and Toastmasters
International’s Golden Gavel winner.
The time is now...
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voLUME 5 • ISSUE 6 novEMBER 2009
39

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2009 INDEX
OF ARTICLES
EDITORIAL
An Ear for Detail, Lea Sims,
January 2009, Page 1.
Oh My Aching Back! Lea
Sims, March 2009, Page 1.
The Game Where
Knowledge is Everything,
Lea Sims, May 2009,
Page 1.
The Diacritic Discipline, Lea
Sims, July 2009, Page 1.
Working Your “Net,” Lea
Sims, September 2009,
Page 1.
The Credentialing Dilemma,
Lea Sims, November 2009,
Page 1.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
2009: The Next 30 Years,
Susan Lucci, January 2009,
Page 7.
A New Day is Dawning,
Susan Lucci, March 2009,
Page 7.
Evolving Our Careers With
the EHR, Susan Lucci, May
2009, Page 6.
Working Smarter, Living
Smarter, Susan Lucci, July
2009, Page 7.
The Critical Few or The
Necessary Many, Susan
Lucci, September 2009,
Page 7.
The Long and Winding
Road, Susan Lucci,
November 2009, Page 7.
STUDENT SCENE
Critical Thinking in
Leadership: A Snapshot of
the Leadership Institute
Course, Kim Buchanan,
January 2009, Page 9.
Career Longevity: How to
Survive in a Constantly
Changing Environment,
Sherry Doggett, March
2009, Page 9.
An Important Tool for
Success: Networking, Tanya
Guenther, May 2009,
Page 8.
The RMT Exam: A System
of Checks and Balances,
Cassie Uber, July 2009,
Page 9.
The First Job Search—
Setting Yourself Apart,
Sue Krajewski, September
2009, Page 9.
Attention Students of
ACCP-Approved Schools:
RMT Success Awaits! Cassie
Uber, November 2009,
Page 11.
FEATURES
Interpreting DSL Dictation,
Ellen Drake, January 2009,
Page 12.
The Power of One, Michelle
LaBrosse, January 2009,
Page 18.
Ethics in the Workplace:
What Does It Mean For The
Medical Transcriptionist?
Grace LaConte, January
2009, Page 20.
Healthy Eating, Janice
Bader, March 2009,
Page 12.
Ergonomics…Universal
or Unique? Lori DeVaney,
March 2009, Page 16.
Stress: The Good, The Bad,
and The Ugly, Pati Howard,
March 2009, Page 20.
Share Your Wealth (of
Experience), Barb Adler,
May 2009, Page 10.
Specialty Certification: A
Smart Strategy for Career
Advancement, Steven
Lazarus, May 2009,
Page 14.
Medical Scribing: A “New”
Use For Old Skills,
Lisa Woodley, May 2009,
Page 18.
Recommendations to Make
Windows XP Perform Faster,
Kirk Calabrese, May 2009,
Page 20.
Advanced “Mind Reading”
and the Art of Editing,
Susan Dooley, July 2009,
Page 12.
The Feedback Loop, Georgia
Green, July 2009, Page 16.
All You Have To Do Is Ask!
Pati Howard, July 2009,
Page 20.
Diving into the Social
Networking World, Lea
Sims, September 2009,
Page 12.
Networking: The Power
of Connecting, Shallee
McArthur, September 2009,
Page 16.
Associations and Their
Role in Today’s Economic
Environment, Ava Marie
George, September 2009,
Page 20.
Recipe for Credential
Success: The “Secret Sauce,”
Tammy Moore, November
2009, Page 14.
Continuing Education: A
Commitment to Lifelong
Learning, Kim Buchanan,
November 2009, Page 18.
GRASSROOTS
Tips From Our Component
Associations, Brenda Hurley,
January 2009, Page 27.
Balance is Important,
Brenda Hurley, March
2009, Page 38.
World Famous Component
Associations, Brenda Hurley,
May 2009, Page 29.
The Power of Listening,
Brenda Hurley, July 2009,
Page 27.
Professional Networking,
Confessions of an Addict!
Brenda Hurley, September
2009, Page 30.
A Call To Action! Brenda
Hurley, November 2009,
Page 28.
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
41

COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT
Connecting Your
Component to National
Initiatives, Bethany Twist,
January 2009, Page 29.
25 Years and Counting,
Bethany Twist, March 2009,
Page 39.
A Career That Moves With
You, Bethany Twist, May
2009, Page 30.
Innovative Strategies,
Bethany Twist, July 2009,
Page 29.
Components on the Front
Lines, Bethany Twist,
September 2009, Page 33.
Navigating a Path to
Success, Sherry Martin,
November 2009, Page 29.
FUNNY BONE
The Humor of Abraham
Lincoln, Richard Lederer,
January 2009, Page 40.
More of the Humor of
Abraham Lincoln, Richard
Lederer, March 2009,
Page 46.
Arthur Conan Doyle and
Sherlock Holmes, Richard
Lederer, May 2009, Page 41.
The Literary Lincoln,
Richard Lederer, July 2009,
Page 40.
Getting Started, Richard
Lederer, September 2009,
Page 40.
Signs That You’re Growing
Old, Richard Lederer,
November 2009, Page 38.
42 noVemBeR 2009 www.aHDIonlIne.oRg

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continued on next page
Volume 5 • Issue 6 noVemBeR 2009
Work from home
Work on site
Employment option
Independent contractor option
Pay differential for CMT/RMT
401K or IRA plan
Health and dental benefits
Shift differential for nights/weekends
Part-time work available
Flexible hours/scheduling
Tuition and/or exam reimbursement
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Vacation/PTO
QA program w/feedback
SR editing opportunities
Private practice/specialty work
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43
EMPLOYERS GUIDE

EMPLOYERS GUIDE
PA
WI TX
COMPANY CONTACT
Acusis Pittsburgh, PA
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44 noVemBeR 2009 www.aHDIonlIne.oRg
Work from home
Work on site
Employment option
Independent contractor option
Pay differential for CMT/RMT
401K or IRA plan
Health and dental benefits
Shift differential for nights/weekends
Part-time work available
Flexible hours/scheduling
Tuition and/or exam reimbursement
Be a part of the NEW
Transcription Employers Guide.
Our new format offers job-seekers easy
comparison of benefits and features.
For details or to place your company listing,
please contact Jeff Rhodes at 410-584-1952
or e-mail ahdi@networkmediapartners.com.
Direct deposit
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Private practice/specialty work
Acute care/hospital work