Opportunities come knocking

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked by my boss at the Tom Baker if I would train a correspondence student taking the Health Information Management Program (that is what we are now called HIM Professionals) for a couple of days in coding. I have been in training mode since May - sure why not? It is challenging as Tom Baker is strictly outpatients and they don't code and abstract their charts; but me muddle our way through and she received some understanding especially with neoplastic coding. It was nice chatting on the differences we would face comparing the acute care facilities to a Cancer facility. Tomorrow we are meeting at my lunch break to answer some questions she has to create a coding report as part of her practicum. She said she wished she had more time as she can ask questions based from my own experiences thus far. That was a nice compliment.

Lucky for me, Tom Baker is attached to Foothills, so I went on my lunch break to see how she was making out with the charts she was given. On the return to my office, I bumped into my first boss at Tom Baker - Kathie. She had done a short stinct at the local college (SAIT) in the HIM program before being recruited back to Tom Baker. The 3 new hires I am training currently in inpatient coding, were her students!! (small world). We chatted catching up - she is now working in the Finance Department and she is working on establishing coding NACRS (National Ambulatory Coding Reporting System -which is used in majority of the provinces except for Alberta - that will change in 2009 or 2010) for Tom Baker cancer clinics. Of course they will need coders, right? So I kidded with her - remember me when you need coders - her reply of course - here is my card, email me with my address. As I just read themselves, I shared some changes coming in our coding and abstracting for 2009 as well as shared that in Ontario the Cancer Care Centres have implemented a new data collection prefix that are mandatory. Funny - networking in the hallways of your own hospital!!

Kathie is such a knowledge and smart lady - talk about learning from someone in our field - she would be one of them. She is such a forward thinker - taking a proactive approach instead of reactive (backpedalling) approach. Just from that brief talk that I would good for being a trainer in something called NETCARE (a computer software linking documents electronically). I had shared that a couple of months ago, CIHI had a posting for a Classification Specialist (1 year contract) - I would be responsible for answering other coders coding queries, leading coding workshops etc. Told Kathie I didn't think I was qualified enough as majority of my coding experience is NACRS not Inpatient disciplines. Will admit, now that I have been training for a while now, and some of the feedback I have received, who knows it might be a door I will revisit in the future.

I still shake my head of what different opportunities that I have had the chance to try and see if it is me since my move to Calgary. Seems surreal really - as 4 years ago I learned that for whatever reason - I would not be able to advance further in my field (to be able to code inpatient charts) if I remained in Thunder Bay. With determination, prayer and persevance - doors opened and I was offered a position here in Calgary. I feel blessed everyday to be able to spread my wings and learn what confidence I have and what I can accomplish with that. Having the love and encouragement of my family and friends play into this too - Thank you everyone!!

Facing a fear...

Well, on the drive heading towards Three Hills, I drove on the secondary hwy of 590 east. You see I have this lovely fear of heights. I had abit of deja vue, as a flashback of driving down in a section from Jasper to Banff. Visually, when I turned that corner I saw nothing but this huge drop - I will admit I panicked. This time around I didn't have my friend Sandra to help me out with the driving. I knew I might have to face this fear when I saw a sign to "down gear now" and the bridge I crossed only allowed one car at a time (happy to report there was no on-coming traffic so I was able to do everything in one motion). I briefly saw that the scenery was nice, but couldn't appreciate it until I climbed past that turn and pull off the side of the road to take these photos. Well, don't know if I will do it often, but nice to know the "panicking" getting more controllable.

Donalda - Lamp Capital of Canada

You learn something new everyday - did you know that we had a Lamp Capital in Canada? Well, we do. You will find it in a town called Donalda - about a 2 hours drive northeast of Calgary. There you will find the World's largest Lamp (inside the lamp are in memorium plaques. Now if you are wondering where I found such a place -I found it last year in my google search on Alberta. Plus this past Spring a gal I met in the reabstracting study told me of this website a guy she knew created - www.bigthings.ca - it is a listing by province landmarks such as this you can find in Canada.

Donalda Coulee Valley

Bowden's Sunflowers

My friend Amy had Sunflowers as her flower at her wedding. I think of her everytime I see Sunflowers. These are for you Amer.

Bowden's Lily Flowers

Bowden's Sunmaze

About an hour north of Calgary is this little place called Bowden. There you will find Eagle Creek Farm's Sunflower Maze as their main attraction. There is also a Bale Maze and a Maze made of rope. Plus when I was there - there were 3 donkeys loving all the attention from visitors. This coming weekend they are having a Lily Festival and a kick off to their season as the day I arrived it was their opening day. I am thinking it might be a source of some enjoyment for the littlier ones or kids at heart who loves mazes (hey Sara are you interested?)

Dickson Dam

On my drive to Dickson I kept seeing signs for this Dickson Dam so I decided to turn off a road and see what it was about - so here are photos of the Dickson Dam. Surprisingly picturique.

Danish Gardens

Danish Museum

A Danish solider greets me at the front of the gift shop

Will admit when I think of Vikings I think more countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland, but of course - the Danes which of course reside in Denmark. As soon as I saw the name - Grade 7 History came back to mind - Famous Viking Leif Erikson landed in Canada.

Hans Christian Andersen

The most famous Danish person would be the children stories that author Hans Christian Andersen wrote. The Princess and the Pea; Emperior's New Clothes, The Fir Tree, Thumberlina. I must admit, I totally forgot he was from Denmark - but do remember as a child either being read the stories or reading them myself.

Danish Museum and Gardens

A miniature replica of the Lady on the Rock in which you find in the habour in Copeghan, Denmark. (it has always been on my list of places to go see, ever since I read the book "I am David" as a kid)

Just down the road from the Pottery Studio was the Danish Museum and Gardens. I was their first customer of the day, unless you count all those mostiquos in the woods. Boy my arms was brunch for those guys. It was quainte - reminded me abit of the Friendship Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The admission is only $2.50 and they have a small gift shop and a small museum on the second floor. It was interesting - glad I stopped in.

Ever heard of Dickson, Alberta?

When I moved to Alberta in 2005, I made myself a promise that I would "visit" my province this time. And over the last 3 years I think I have. I have gone to different towns that even long-time Alberta residents haven't gone to or heard of. I remember when I did some googling last year on Alberta Traveling - I came across a website on Gammel House Galley Pottery Studio. And I had put it under my Travel folder on My Favourites.

Friday night the weather forecasted changed and so before going to bed I told myself that the housecleaning can wait and "planned my route" (Young Driver days - LOL). The first stop I made was to the Pottery Studio. Dickson, Alberta is in Central Alberta west of Innisfail. I figured I should buy myself a keepsake of my journey - bought a serving plate perfect for cheese and crackers.