Comments on: Monday Morning Update 7/13/09

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:58:40 +0000

Fascinating dicsussion on the value of the CPHIMS certfication. It’s a shame that the discussion seems to trigger more of a “rant” against HIMSS than a discussion of the certification. I have recently obtained the CPHIMS, and it’s a designation I’ll carry with pride. Yes, any certification is less important than the accompanying resume – but that doesn’t invalidate their worth.

CPHIMS requies passing a comprehensive and difficult exam, with a firm requirement of solid industry experience. It’s a certfication that holders should take pride in having earned. HIMSS is taking the right approach to further communite it’s meaning in the health care marketplace.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:15:38 +0000

Anonymous re:Commander Cody – I saw no mention of anyone in McAllen selecting VistA in that post. Midland memorial is in Western TX, where did you read about McAllen Hospitals using VistA?

By: BlueDogSpirit

BlueDogSpirit — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:13:31 +0000

Ms. Kohn, your comment above to me “You can rant and rave all you want about HIMSS…” prompted me to look you up on the web. I found a Curriculum Vitae, although I am not sure it is yours. The vitae lists a CPHIMS credential and a FHIMSS designation. I was a HIMSS member for many years. I played by the rules, never questioned my peers, and never wanted to buck the system. It was not until approx 8 months ago that I began to hear more and more negative comments from my peers regarding HIMSS and their close affiliation with CCHIT. What I heard was unbelievable, so I began to research for myself everything I heard. I was shocked and embarrassed by what I read, embarrassed because I was a HIMSS member, had received their CPHIMS credential and was clueless as to what was going on in the HIT community. I did not want to be affiliated with an org that is closely tied with CCHIT, that appears to have many conflicts of interests, and who has kept Mark Leavitt, CCHIT Chair, as an employee of HIMSS so that he may receive full compensation benefits. I am convinced that the loan payment back to HIMSS included more than just Leavitt’s compensation.

Leavitt and Lieber need to fully disclose to the HIT community what the IRS has uncovered and has yet to uncover. Was Leavitt the sole CCHIT employee to receive HIMSS perks? We have a right to know.

It is disconcerting to me that a healthcare organization has abused its 501(c)3 status and offered these benefits as a “loan” to CCHIT (Washington Post article by Robert O’Harrow Jr, 5.21.09). I don’t know how the IRS will treat this, but in my opinion, it is wrong to give employer-paid benefits to an individual who is no longer an employee with your organization. If those benefits include health insurance, which I suspect they do, then H. Stephen Lieber should step down as CEO of HIMSS and as CCHIT Trustee Chair. I would then consider joining HIMSS again as a member. HIMSS and CCHIT cannot “work the system” to benefit their own agenda at the taxpayer’s expense.

My comments are not “rants and raves”. My comments are based on facts that I have researched, facts that are in the public domain by many doctors, and my own experience as a HIMSS member. I suggest you spend a little time doing your own research before you make any such comments about me in the future.

By: blah

blah — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:57:53 +0000

“My advice to providers: much of your future income may be based on the data you create and the ownership in it you retain.”

Very important and astute comment here. I would add it will be based on the quality of the data as well. If the data is non-discrete it won’t be worth a cent. It’s also worth noting that there are no great solutions for full life cycle research projects, out of the box, for the major vendors. By full life cycle I mean identify cohort, get permission from cohort and making the data anonymous.

By: Mrsoul the CHIMP

Mrsoul the CHIMP — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:06:52 +0000

Seems like HIMSS’ plan to promote CPHIMS is on target given the comments about potential employers not knowing what it means or who it’s from,etc. I do think there is value; but, it needs better definition and there are some changes that need to take place with applicant qualifications processes. Meanwhile, I won’t allow my RN-BC to expire!