Hi Everyone,
It’s hard to believe that we are already into a new year. I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to spring when we start having more daylight and we are able to enjoy the outdoors more.
I will try and keep this message short.
Just to give a little background on myself for those who don’t know me. I started in the registry at Legacy Health Emanuel in 2004. I was working part-time in the Cancer Day Treatment Infusion Center at Legacy Good Sam when I was asked by the director at the time if I would like to help with the follow-up. I did this for a few months when I was offered to do it full time.
So off I went to Meridian Park where Gail Coleman and Elly Hayes (both who are now retired and the most fabulous mentors ever) gave me the most bizarre interview ever. I wasn’t sure if they were interviewing me for the job or to see what kind of sense of humor I had.
I started at the bottom and worked my way up. I started taking the classes that I needed to sit for the CTR exam. My co-workers were training me on abstracting and in the spring of 2009 I sat for the exam. I failed! I was so embarrassed but I kept going and in the fall of 2009 I took it again and passed. Thank goodness!
When I received a phone call from Deb Towell in 2014 looking for people who were OCRA members to sit on the Executive Committee, I thought, why not? I enjoyed being a member and it was time for me to step outside of my box. I wanted to be part of something that might make a difference within our organization.
I always look forward to the fall workshops so I can see everyone and catch up. To get together and go over new material as a large group and ask questions. Some facilities are only a 1 or 2 person team and this is a great time for them to make connections.
OHSU did a fantastic job hosting the fall workshop in October. I enjoyed every speaker. I am looking forward to the workshop in Bend this year.
We have exciting news about our new website. DeeAnna Patton and Carol Funk have done some AMAZING work on this. They are in the process of getting our 1st round of requests/changes done. The Executive Committee is very excited for the next preview.
I will close for now. Just remember that we may all work for different health care companies but we are all co-workers. So, if you have a few minutes one day, pick up the phone or email someone on the members list that you don’t know and introduce yourself.
Until next time,
Catherine Gunn
2016 OCRA President
February 2016