Meet The Team

JOAN L. USHER, BS, RHIA, HCS-D, ACE-HH, ACE-H, President

AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM Trainer

Is a nationally recognized expert in the field of health information management. Joan has a degree in Health Record Administration and has been consulting for over 25 years. Joan is Past President of Massachusetts Health Information Management Association a component state organization of American Health Information Management Association. Under her leadership, MA received four national awards from AHIMA in Continuing Education Programs, Support for Accredited HIM Education, Legislative Advocacy and Electronic Communications. She is also Director of Clinical Information Services at Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston. Joan is a Board of Director of the Home and Health Care Association of Massachusetts and is a regular lecturer. She is also a Board of Director of Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of MA.

She has taught ICD coding for over 25 years and has educated over 20,000 people nationwide. She has also lectured at Northeastern University in the Health Information Management Programs. Her other accomplishments include presentations: Release of Information, Electronic Records, and JCAHO Preparation; published articles, “The Importance of Medical Records in the Home Health Field”, and “The Importance of Medical Records in the Home Health Field”, Caring Magazine, contributing Author for Eli OASIS Alert and Eli Home Care Compliance Alert, Massachusetts Medicolegal Guide for MHIMA and e-Channel Magazine for MHIMA. Joan also authored “ICD-9 Coding for Home Health – A Comprehensive Coder’s Guide, published by HCPro.
 

ELLEN KIMBALL, Associate

Has worked on billing and home health & hospice for over 27 years. She was responsible for the supervision of 11 employees in medical billing, collections, and patient accounts. Ellen is a recipient of A Partners in Excellence@ and APPS Recognition@ awards for excellence in job performance. She is proficient in many financial and office computer systems. Ellen has experience in coding and has a certificate in Medical Technology Coding from Laboure College.

LINDA HYDE, RHIA, Associate

Has over 25 years of experience in data analytics and performance measurement. She has been a project manager in HIM & AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM and ICD-10 PCS trainer. She is twice past president of the Massachusetts Health Information Management Association & recipient of Distinguished Member and Professional Achievement awards. She also earned the 2011 AHIMA Champion Award for Advocacy and Public Policy. Linda has expertise in the development and maintenance of admission-based risk adjustment using various EHRs. She was a Principal analyst for major research projects evaluating process and outcome data for various disease conditions including congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and skin/soft tissue infections.