Another challenge awaits me...

Today at 2:45pm I received my phone call from CIHI (Ottawa). After my interview (45 mins on the phone) last week and reviewing my answers to the case studies - I was selected to be a reabstractor again (same position like I had in the Spring where I spent it all in Southern Ontario). I will be heading to Ottawa weekend of Jan 17/18 for a week of training and then Jan 26 until about mid-March I will be reabstracting charts from fiscal 2007 (Apr 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008).

From the interview questions I have some idea of what type of focus is for this year's reabstracting study - basically a little bit of everything really. I was not surprised to hear we were looking at cardiac coding as new standards were added last year - plus obstetrical/newborn traumas and pallative care situations. I admit the last subject is so foggy at times, I look forward learning more on it - maybe give me clarity on when it is appropriate to use that code. (Sorry for non-coding friends/family - the above must sound so foreign to you). I am excited about taking part and what I can learn. I probably be looking at it with new eyes too - looking it as a trainer - how can I apply what I have learned with the reabstracting study to when I train coders in the inpatient discipline.

The "traveller" in me will enjoy this study as well - this study is covering about 50 hospitals ACROSS CANADA (the last one was just Ontario, BC and AB). So one week I could be in a hospital in St John, NFLD/LAB and the following week be in Yellowknife, NWT!!

I do realize it is winter and this is Canada - but I have always wanted to visit the provinces of Newfoundland/Labrador and the Yukon - yes NFLD are known for their snowstorms and the Yukon will be a deep freeze - but wow - to be able to go to those place on someone else's dime (sorry CIHI) then I could know if I want to add it on my places to revisit of course when the weather is more agreeable. It is neat to live in a country where you can have such variety of landscapes and things to do at your front door - so fortunate.

You know - I have been working in Calgary almost 4 years now - I still have moments of "is this for real?" - all that I have accomplished as well as the opportunities I have been given in this short period of time seems surreal. Having a boss/director that is approachable plus provides positive possibilities of learning to increase their knowledge in their field - for me that is so huge (never had that in Thunder Bay). I am so thankful.