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At NYHIMA's 73rd Annual Conference, Mary M. Zannis was inducted into NYHIMA's Hall of Fame.
Below is the speech she gave as she accepted her honor..
NYHIMA 73rd Annual Conference
Saratoga Springs City Center
June 15-18, 2008
Hall of Fame Recipient
MARY M. ZANNIS, RHIT
Madam President, Executive Board, Elected Officers and Welcomed guests; my name is Mary Zannis, the inaugural recipient of the newly established NYHIMA Hall of Fame awarded, given in recognition of my many years of service and dedication to the HIM profession, NYHIMA, and HIMANYC. I am honored and deeply moved.
This is the third time I am visiting Saratoga Springs with fond memories. In the 1970’s I was a delegate to our state convention. My roommate was Edna Rutherford, Directory of New York Hospital. The phone range it was the president of our association. She wanted to know if I would be the first speaker on the program as Oscar Soberano was unable to make it. Do you have his speech? No? What should I say? You’re a good speaker, just make it interesting. I turned to Edna and said: “Let’s write something Edna.” Her response was: “They didn’t ask me, they asked YOU. Good night Mary.”
It really paid off as I wrote some interesting stories which happened to all of us. The vendors came in to see what the speaker was saying that caused such uproar.
When I was employed at Horace Harding Hospital, now St. John’s Queens Hospital and the administrator asked me to attend my first meeting of the medical record association. The next day he asked, “How did I enjoy it?” I replied “I’m not going anymore; the members are all old and are in their 40’s to 50’s.” No comment.
Working at Physician’s Hospital as the Director of Medical Records, the urologist, Dr. Sam Lubash came into my office with a huge Labrador retriever and asked me to take care of it. I looked at him and said, “I’ll be fired.” He insisted and put the dog under my desk. Ming, his dog, started crying so I picked up the phone to the OR and said this is an emergency. I spoke to Dr. Lubash and he said put Ming on the phone. He said “Be a good girl, daddy is operating.” Surprise! Not another peep out of Ming!
Living in Athens, Greece during World War II, out ambassador to the United States Lincoln McVeigh was looking for someone to volunteer their services to the British Army Hospital in Kyfissia, a suburb of Athens. I felt qualified since I spoke both languages fluently and I was accepted. To be honest with you, it was not patriotism; I wanted to meet handsome British officers. Much to my surprise it became a fulltime job. The doctors couldn’t go on rounds without me as the wounded patients only spoke Green. In 1942, my mother and I were among the 70 Americans exchanged for German prisoners of war. This experience gave me the incentive to continue din the medical field.
I received formal training for medical record sciences from Frieda Bell of New York Infirmary, Professor Stephen Henkin of St. Vincent’s Hospital, Professor Mommarte from Cornell University which was affiliated with Buffalo Children’s Hospital, and Sister Philomena from mercy Hospital in Buffalo. In addition I have attended various medical science programs in New York and New Jersey. I am thankful to all who taught and guided me along the way. Without their assistance, I could not have achieved all that I have and decided to give back by teaching others interested in our profession. I have taught Medical Record Sciences at Booth Memorial Hospital, St. John’s Queens Hospital, Jamaica Hospital, Beekman-Downtown Hospital and at New York Hospital for the Touro College Program. I am pleased to report that many of my former students became active in our association and have continued to further our profession.
I have also lectured on many different topics including: Applications of computers in hospitals, data processing for medical records personnel, research and development, training clerical personnel for disaster and emergency programs, On the Job upgrading of medical record secretaries, disaster procedures for hospital personnel, mobilization for youth training, and programs for residents and interns.
I have also had the pleasure of working extensively with Peter Micallef, Past-President, to have our name changed from GNYMRA to HIMANYC. I assisted Emanuel Hayt, LLB, with his two Medical legal Aspects of medical records. I was mentioned in the forward of his book. My reward was a 14K Gold Book Charm with inscriptions on each page. I authored the Manual for Medical Record Librarians and submitted it to the Missouri Library. In 1992, I wrote the release of Information which was published by HIMANYC. Peter Micallef, many times President of NYHIMA, LIHIMA, and HIMANYC, once write in his article: “Mary Zannis is the senior politician, advisor, and spokesperson of HIMANYC.”
I have also serviced on most of the committees for AHIMA, NYHIMA, and HIMANYC. Some of which are: Editor of the Medical Record Publication; no computers, only mimeographs which had to be hung up to dry before mailing to our members; Delegate - Panelist - Speaker for AHIMA, NYHIMA, and HIMANYC; and Director and Coordinator of Medical Records for the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens.
Jennie Reiter Memorial: Jennie Reiter gave me $20.00 for the Lew A. Hochberg Foundation. As Jennie Reiter, who retired to Florida, contributed so much to our association, I wanted to do something to honor her name. The president would bang on the desk to gain the attention of our members. I decided to buy a gavel and call it the Jennie Reiter Memorial in honor of our departed members.
My vision was to see us treated and regarded as professionals and not glorified clerks in the basement of a hospital. We have successfully climbed the ladder and are proud professionals of the medical field.
My life has been richer with the feeling of fulfillment serving our profession for over 60 years. This is how I came to the decision to make a donation to NYHIMA. My objective was to provide financial assistance to a student currently enrolled in an AHIMA approved HIM or HIT school in New York State. The fund will be known as the Mary M. Zannis Scholarship Fund.
My advice to the neophytes and future professionals are two words: GET INVOLVED!! Our association cannot grow with the changing times without your participation. Don’t leave the responsibility to others. Be proud! Stand tall! Aim High!
I hope you have enjoyed my history in the medical field. What – you want more? In my 60 years I probably do, but enough for now. I thank you and I am grateful for your support, love, and this very special honor. I cherish my years with the association and hope that I will be able to continue to serve.
Your member and friend,
Mary M Zannis
May 9, 2008 HIMANYC's Annual Meeting Pictures
Special thanks to sponsors 3M and Alpha Systems
AN UPDATE FROM HIMANYC'S PRESIDENT:
Members and Colleagues,
HIMANYC is now transforming into the 21st. century and our first achievement is to streamline the registration process. KnowledgeConnex, LLC is the company managing our online registration. Please go to www.knowledgeconnex.com/HIMANYC.htm for our upcoming annual event on Friday, May 9th at Hotel Penn.
Our theme for this event is HIM in Motion and our acclaimed guest speakers and topics are:
- Mary Reich Cooper, MD, JD “Is It Quality Without Information?”
- Vera Rulon, MS, RHIT, CCS “HIM Leadership in Action: Making Change Happen”
- Kelly McLendon, RHIA “Legal Health Record and eDiscovery Update”
- Jill Callahan Dennis, JD, RHIA “Ready for Success in Shaping Health Policy”
Please note that registering online is user-friendly and offers you the convenience of paying by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express or by check. Walk-ins will not be accepted and the closing date for online registering will be May 8th.
HIMANYC will continue to offer programs and educational sessions that guide us into a direction that enhances e-HIM practices. I appreciate your support by attending our events and by collectively making them a success.
Sincerely,
Bridget Doman,
April 2008
AHIMA is looking for volunteers for the Annual Meeting to be held in Pennsylvania; click here for information on how to volunteer
HIMANYC's Annual Meeting held May 11, 2007 at the Hotel Pennsylvania was a huge success! Refer to the seminars page for photos
Deborah Fernandez, President Elect
Cheryl Christopher, First Year Director/Education
Michelle Spector, Secretary
Irina Zussman, First Year Director/Bylaws
Delegates:
Jocelyn Izzard-Picart, Isaac Topor, Michelle Spector, Monica Lacassagne, Tiffanee Hager, Christina Antypas, Deborah Fernandez, Susanna Moore
Alternate Delegates:
Irina Zussman, Suzanne Knudsen, Lois Halber
The Members page provides up-to-date information on HIMANYC members
AHIMA Ballot: There is 3 individuals from New York State running for office; Vera Rulon for president-elect, Michelle Green for RHIT educator, and Michele Bohley for director
Polls open and close at midnight from 6-11-07 to 6-29-07; further information is avaiable at AHIMA
Don't forget to visit the websites links relevant to HIM
Refer to the Job Registry for employment opportunities
HIMANYC's 2006 Annual Meeting & Installation
The Annual Meeting on May 5, 2006 was a HUGE success!
Click here to view photos from the event
Below is President Doman's incoming speech delivered at the annual meeting 5/11/07:
A Spin off from Wired for the Future: Expanding the HIM Domain
Colleagues and friends, welcome to our 79th Annual celebration. As you know, our association has a wealth of history. Back in 1928 when Sylvia Barleau was our first president its former name was Association of Medical Record Librarian of Greater New York At that time, the Association served members of New York City, Long Island, Upper New York State and New Jersey. Imagine who attended our first annual in 1928. Look around you, you know the attendees at Sylvia Barleau’s installation were not like our rainbow group who now occupy this space. For example, Guyana, where I’m from and London, England where I grew up are far removed from here.
Now I would like to ask one of our treasures, Mary Zanis if she could remember our 1971 association name change ……I would be surprised if many of us can. Greater New York Medical Record Association. Finally in 1991 we became Health Information Management Association of New York City. This change was to mirror name changes made by AHIMA to reflect our role and responsibilities in our profession.
From my perspective, our past presidents did not simply “think outside of the box” they built their own box and over the years established important parameters and legislation which has propelled our profession into the front and center of health care delivery system. … history proves that in order for an industry to thrive, three basic elements must exist …Human resource, financial resource and material resource. If you were to personify HIM, you would say, it is the profession that embodies all of these elements, moreover, HIM has further demonstrated its ability to conform and adapt to an ever-changing environment. Let me explain.
The Human Resource: Every health care facility today is dependent on some form or the other on Health Information Management, and our academic standards are on par with many other professionals. Today, HIM professionals are no longer limited to positions of Directors, Managers or Supervisors, they have become Presidents of their own businesses, others Vice-Presidents of major Manage Care Corporations, while still others have ventured into the university academia as Chairpersons and Professors. We have made giant steps but we cannot become lax and complacent because other healthcare professionals including IT professionals could bypass us.
The Financial: Yes we can generate money and I mean a lot of it, Why? Because we as professional coders know that when coding, the code becomes a communication mechanism between the provider of care and insurers or other third party payer. Each coder has the ability to identify the principal diagnosis, the complication or co-morbidity, the essential tools that drives a DRG or APC to its highest point, thus maximizing full reimbursement for a healthcare facility.
The Material: We are now asked to integrate the delivery of healthcare by putting each person at the center of their care with the Personal Health Record (PHRs); embrace the move to the eHIM by bringing our expertise to the transition of the electronic health record (EHR).
When Debbie and Monica decided on this theme: Wired for the Future: Expanding the HIM Domain, I thought how apropos then I read an article in our AHIMA journal from our President, Bryon Picard and I quote “Imagine it’s the year 2014”, that’s the federal government’s deadline for most citizens to have electronic health records (EHRs), hopefully, by then I will be sipping rum and coconut water on some exotic island. Byron Picard continues “The
world of HIM looks strikingly different… changes are monumental” He asserts.
When Deborah Fernandez and myself gave a presentation last year at the AHIMA convention in Denver, Colorado, “Medical Records Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: We’ve Moved and are Transforming” as speakers we had discussed the evolution of two HIM departments transforming into the eHIM, both part of a teaching healthcare organization. AHIMA in their evaluation of the presentation said: “we provided thought provoking insights into the latest health and information management technologies and issues.
Looking at our progress through the pass 79 years, I’m sure you’ll agree that our challenges are tremendous because we are an active and a dynamic player on the health care stage locally, nationally and internationally.
Will our students please stand. Now we must pass the baton on to our next group of new HIM leaders. Colleagues and friends, lets give them a chance to grow by nurturing and mentoring them.
Before I leave this podium, I would like to ask you to introduce yourself to the person sitting on your right and also on your left, if you do not know them because for us to continue to expand we must know who we are and from whence we came.
Thank you
Bridget Doman, RHIA
Nominations
Nominations for the 2007-2008 Executive Council (President-elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Bylaws, Delegates, Program) will open July 1, 2007. Individuals interested in serving on the 07-08 EC should be submitted to the Past President beginning 7/1/07 in person or via the nomination form. Contact information is available on the Executive Council Members page. (Please be advised that nominating an individual does not guarantee they will be on the ballot)