There is a lively discussion taking place here not just on the topic of mandatory credentialing but also the facts around MT relevance and our place in healthcare documentation's future. There are a number of great issues being presented and the burning questions seem to be larger than life.
Read this and more below:
For the purposes of history, very few professions willingly seek regulation and credentialing. AAMT/AHDI has always known we would have our work cut out for us by going down this road. But history has also shown that professions that are unwilling to self-regulate will either be (a) forced into regulation by the government or (b) forced out of relevance by technology and automation. Any unregulated, noncredentialed profession that can’t demonstrate a significant value-add is bound for marginalization. And unless you’re completely isolated from what’s going on in our industry right now, that is exactly what’s happening to our profession
Here is a final excerpt from that final post made by Lea Sims regarding what our choices are when faced with the reality of what is happening and why we need to engage this entire sector. We must face the facts of the transformation that is taking place - thought provoking:
...So…it’s really up to every MT, not to AHDI. How long can you count on your behind-the-scenes, no-credential, no-accountability, low-visibility role to sustain you in healthcare? Most experts say that within the next 5 to 10 years, a great deal of what you are doing will be automated (if you don’t believe that, you should be attending HIMSS) and all healthcare might need an MT for is to capture some complex narrative at the acute care level. All “normals” will give way to automation. All “templates” will give way to automation.
What value will you demonstrate to healthcare of the future? What cost-saving solution can you demonstrate? What ability to protect the patient can you market? What assistance with clinical decision-making can you offer? Instead of arguing with me here about what you are NOT, how much time are you spending thinking about what you ARE? You can say “no” to “risk management” as a value-add role, but what are you willing to say “yes” to? That’s all healthcare is going to listen to, folks.
When it comes to the art of this profession, at the end of the day, is our role to simply document what is dictated or is there an element of critical thinking involved? I have to say that some of the many MTs I know make sound decisions and corrections every day, many times a day - because they have the skill to do so. There is compelling information here that we all need to consider as those who would suggest that our role is clerical and therefore potentially just an expense that systems and technology can replace or do we choose to validate our skills and evolve them to the next wave in healthcare reform?
The issues around AHDI and what we do in support of MTs is substantial. That too, has evolved. Yes it is true that AAMT was different in earlier years, but as all things must, we had to change our mission and direction because frankly our members needed more. In order to provide membership with relevant and meaningful offerings, we too had to evolve with healthcare. Membership in AHDI is substantive and provides value in many forms. Through the Knowledge Base (KB), advocacy, credentialing, continuing education, leadership development, standards of practice, networking and more.
Will end this here but would ask that our members start speaking up and share what you think. And don't just tell us - tell those who are hearing misinformation. What is AHDI doing that we need to do more of? What aren't we doing that we should? And what do you think about some of the comments that have been made on this post? Do you agree or disagree? What further points need to made. We are listening - and your thoughts matter.
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