The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) was recognized for its ICD-10 grassroots advocacy program as the recipient of a Silver Award in the 2015 Power of A Awards, sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Each year ASAE recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary contributions associations make to society by enriching lives, creating a competitive workforce, preparing society for the future, driving innovation and making a better world.
AHIMA ICD-10 Grassroots Advocacy Program Highlights
In response to efforts by members of Congress and organizations to delay the implementation date of ICD-10, AHIMA leadership engaged its members in an effort to educate Congress on the benefits of ICD-10 and why it’s essential for the 21st century healthcare system. This is the second consecutive year ASAE has recognized AHIMA for its ICD-10 efforts.
AHIMA launched a grassroots effort knowing it would be the most effective way to influence Congress on this issue. To notify its members about Congress members’ efforts to delay ICD- 10, AHIMA used social media, phone calls, e-newsletters and direct emails to reach health information management (HIM) state leaders. Each communication included a call to action for AHIMA’s 101,000 members.
As a result:
• More than 80,000 tweets were sent to official Twitter handles for members of Congress using the customized hashtag #ICD10Matters
• More than 26,000 letters to Congress were sent by members.
“We’re proud to once again be recognized for our work, and the efforts of our members, with this award. As a result of our ongoing grassroots advocacy efforts, we continue to see increased awareness of the benefits of ICD-10 on Capitol Hill,” AHIMA CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon, MBA, RHIA, CAE, FACHE, FAHIMA said in an statement. “Meeting with their Congressional representatives, AHIMA members shared examples of how ICD-10 will improve patient care and benefit the healthcare community, emphasizing that the updated coding system is vital to today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.”
