MRA Blog Authors

Our team of seasoned industry professionals shares their many years of expertise

Most recent blog...

Cancer registries are vital databases that play a significant role in the healthcare industry. Their primary purpose is to collect, manage, and analyze data related to cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates. This information is used for various public health purposes, including research, policy-making, and resource allocation. However, the accuracy and reliability of these registries
Read More

Gloryanne Bryant

RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCDS, AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer

Gloryanne Bryant is an HIM Coding professional and leader for over 40 years. She has an RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCDS, and is an AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer. Gloryanne is also an AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) Member.

Over the past twenty years she has been a guest speaker on compliance and ethics issues for several regional, state, and national conferences and associations. Ms. Bryant has conducted numerous educational programs on ICD-10-CM/PCS, HCC, Clinical Documentation and CPT Coding; and she has written more than 100 articles on these topics.

Ms. Bryant continues to advocate for improved clinical documentation and data quality; and is passionate about helping healthcare have reliable coded data.

Heather Chartier

MS, RHIA, CCA

Heather Chartier is an accomplished leader, explorer, freelance writer, and entrepreneur. With nearly a decade of nationwide healthcare industry experience and business acumen, she specializes in building lasting relationships and empowering people and organizations to grow.

Her visionary perspective has earned her opportunities to work on multiple health systems quality campaigns, such as those earning an “A” grade and Top Hospital designation by Leapfrog and those recognized as the No. 1 Best Hospital in Dallas Fort Worth, by U.S. News and World Report. In 2014, She earned her dual Health Information Management & I.T. Leadership Master’s degree at The College of St. Scholastica.

She is passionate about creating authentic connections through healthcare writing that enable targeted readers to be informed, inspired, and transcended.

Besides writing healthcare and lifestyle blogs and taking on additional freelance writing projects, she is happiest spending time with her husband and training their three dogs, Hank, Gary, and Elle, in their forever home of Conway, South Carolina.

Becky Buegel

RHIA, CDIP, CHP

Becky Buegel, RHIA, CDIP, CHP is an HIM and compliance professional with 35-plus years of experience in health information management. She developed an online RHIT program for a college in Phoenix, AZ, and has served as the education manager/director for several different HIM vendors which included developing ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS training programs for those companies. At present, she runs her own HIM consulting company, A*S*K. Becky is a published author and an accomplished professional speaker. As an HIM, privacy, and compliance subject matter expert, she has worked with several textbook publishers, contributing to and consulting on both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS coding, in addition to privacy, and compliance textbooks. At present, Becky is writing a monthly coding-related blog for MRA.

Becky is actively involved as a volunteer in the HIM profession. Currently serving on AHIMA’s CDIP Certification Exam Development Committee, she’s also served on several different AHIMA Practice Councils and chaired several committees over the years. She recently served on the AZACDIS Chapter
Leadership Team. Becky is a Past-President for the Arizona Health Information Management Association (AzHIMA) and served as an AzHIMA director, and delegate.

Caitlin Wham

CCS, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer

Ms. Wham has been active in the healthcare industry for more than 16 years and specializes in ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT coding, auditing, training and education, development of coding products and freelance blogging. Her previous positions have included HIM Coding Specialist (Intermountain Healthcare), Corporate Coding Compliance Consultant (Intermountain Healthcare), Corporate Education and Training Lead (R1RCM), Hospital Coding Auditor and Educator (Velocity Healthcare Collaborative) and Inpatient Coding Education Auditor (Johns Hopkins Medicine). Ms. Wham is a Certified Coding Specialist and an AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. She is a member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Utah Health Information Management Association (UHIMA).

Topacio Garrido

MS, CTR 

Topacio Garrido has been working in the field of cancer registry for four years and has experience in various settings including state, hospital, and VA environments. In addition, Topacio currently holds a master’s degree in Health Information Management (HIM) and Health Informatics and will be obtaining a graduate certificate in Spring 2023, further demonstrating her commitment to staying current in the ever-evolving field of cancer registry and healthcare technology. Topacio was born and raised in New York but currently resides in York, Pennsylvania with her two children and her husband. In her free time, she likes to travel and spend time with her family. 

Patricia Hines

CTR

Patricia Hines has been working in the field of cancer registry for four years. She has had experience working in both local hospitals and as an outside contractor. Patty has also volunteered and held various positions within the Alabama Cancer Registry Association. In addition to Patty’s experience in cancer registry, she is also passionate about training and mentoring others in the field. Patty has a strong commitment to advancing the cancer registry profession and has taken on a leadership role in preparing individuals for the Certified Tumor Registry (CTR) exam. In her spare time, she loves woodworking, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family. 

AHIMA Approved

This program has been approved for continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Granting of Approved CEUs from AHIMA does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.