CDIA - New Trade Group for Clinical Documentation Solution Providers Set to Launch at HIMSS11

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clinical Documentation Industry Association, CDIA, today announced the launch of a new industry trade association dedicated to ensuring the accuracy, consistency and security of clinical documentation contained within all patient health records. Formerly the Medical Transcription Industry Association, MTIA, the new group aims to expand its reach beyond medical transcription, editing, voice, and speech recognition to encompass every touch point in the clinical documentation continuum. The new name, CDIA, reflects this broader mission and scope. The announcement was made by Noel Bambrough, CDIA Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Documentation Services Group, Inc., and will be formalized during a private press briefing and reception at the HIMSS11 Annual Conference and Exhibition.

"Our association clearly recognized the need for an industry resource dedicated exclusively to the clinical documentation process: from report creation via dictation, speech or medical scribes, to the use of these same reports for coding and billing," mentions Bambrough. There are many companies and new technologies in place to capture, format, secure, transfer, and store clinical documentation, but no industry association with this focus. CDIA aims to fill this void.

"Complete and accurate clinical documentation is mission critical for healthcare providers," adds Peter Masanotti, President and CEO at MedQuist, a founding partner of CDIA. "From RAC take-backs to public scorecards and pay-for-performance initiatives, the pressure for physicians to document more clearly, consistently, and completely has never been greater," confirms Dr. Nick van Terheyden, Chief Medical Officer for Nuance, Inc., and a CDIA Board Member.  Information captured without quality assurance measures or best practice processes inevitably results in errors that are perpetuated throughout the rest of the healthcare delivery system. CDIA works with other associations and standards-setting groups to establish best practice processes and guidelines for quality clinical documentation.

Under its new name, the association will continue to promote the value of clinical narrative in capturing information-rich health stories that can be tagged and repurposed to meet criteria for use and distribution in the EHR. Technology and service companies involved in the clinical documentation process are invited to attend the reception or learn more at: www.cdiaweb.org.

About CDIA:

The not-for-profit Clinical Documentation Industry Association (CDIA) is the world's only trade association representing the management and delivery of clinical documentation services. CDIA develops best practices around clinical data capture and advocates for documentation solutions that integrate narrative capture, support risk management, and deliver accurate, comprehensive health data to the US healthcare system. For more information, visit www.cdiaweb.org.

SOURCE Clinical Documentation Industry Association