JOURNAL AHIMA OF

AHIMA CEO Alan Dowling, PhD
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS Anne Zender, MA
ASSISTANT EDITOR/ADVERTISING MANAGER Meg Featheringham
STAFF WRITER Chris Dimick
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sue Bowman, RHIA, CCS
June Bronnert, RHIA, CCS
Jill Clark, MBA, RHIA
Julie Dooling, RHIT
Kathy Devault, RHIA, CCS
Angela Dinh, MHA, RHIA, CHPS
Michelle Dougherty, RHIA, CHP
Sandra Fuller, MA, RHIA, CAE, FAHIMA
Jewelle Hicks
Crystal Kallem, RHIT, CPHQ
Anita Majerowicz, MS, RHIA
Donald T. Mon, PhD
Harry Rhodes, MBA, RHIA, CHPS
Rita Scichilone, MHSA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
Mary H. Stanfill, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
Diana Warner, MS, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA
Lydia Washington, MS, RHIA
Lou Ann Wiedemann, MS, RHIA
Ann Zeisset, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P
Jill A. Blacketer
Linda Belli, RHIA
Gerry Berenholz, RHIA, MPH
Carol A. Campbell, DBA, RHIA
Rose T. Dunn, CPA, RHIA, FACHE
Sheri Hutchins, MA, RHIA, CCS
Teri Jorwic, RHIA, CCS
Diane A. Kriewall, RHIA
Frances Wickham Lee, DBA, RHIA
Glenda Lyle, RHIA
Susan R. Mitchell, RHIA
Daniel J. Pothen, MS, RHIA
Cheryl Tabatabai Stachura, RHIA
Tricia Truscott, MBA, RHIA, CHP
Carolyn R. Valo, MS, RHIT, FAHIMA
Valerie Watzlaf, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

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MIDWEST Hillary Smith, Danya Gerstein Phone: (212) 840-0660 hsmith@klapublishing.com dgerstein@klapublishing.com

WEST Jim Losh Phone: (312) 474-7803 jlosh@klapublishing.com

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AHIMA ONLINE: www.ahima.org JOURNAL OF AHIMA: journal@ahima.org

JOURNAL OF AHIMA MISSION

The Journal of AHIMA serves as a professional development tool for health information managers. It keeps its readers current on issues that affect the practice of health information management. Furthermore, the Journal contributes to the field by publishing work that disseminates best practices and presents new knowledge. Articles are grounded in experience or applied research, and they represent the diversity of health information management roles and healthcare settings. Finally, the Journal contains news on the work of the American Health Information Management Association.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education ( www.cahiim.org) accredits degree-granting programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree levels.

AHIMA recognizes coding certificate programs approved by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs. For a complete list of AHIMA-approved coding programs and HIM career pathways go to www.healthinformationcareers.com.

Journal of AHIMA (ISSN 1060-5487) is published monthly, except for the combined issue of November/December, by the American Health Information Management Association, 233 North Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-5800. Subscription Rates: Included in AHIMA membership dues is a subscription to the Journal. The annual member subscription rate is $15.00 for active and graduate members, and $7.50 for student members. Subscription for nonmembers is $100 (domestic), $110 (Canada), $120 (all other outside the U.S.). Postmaster: Send address changes to Journal of AHIMA, AHIMA, 233 North Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-5800. Notification of address change must be made six weeks in advance, including old and new address with zip code. Periodical’s postage is paid in Chicago, IL, and additional mailing offices.

Notice of Policy

Editorial—views expressed in articles contributed to the Journal of AHIMA are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of the Association, editorial review board, or staff. Articles are not to be construed as endorsing any particular product or service. Advertising—products, services, and educational institutions advertised in the Journal do not imply endorsement by the Association.