AAPC Tahlequah, OK Local Chapter

02/18/2026

Hello Tahlequah Chapter Members,
We have been Invited by the Northeast Kansas AAPC Chapter to attend their spring work shop. It looks like a lot of fun. Look for the information in the flyer .
Registration will begin around 8 am and the first presentation will begin at 8:30. The theme is Show n Tell. It will be an entertaining and interactive program with lots of laughs, good food, good fun, camaraderie, networking and PRIZES.

02/18/2026

Cardiac biomarkers play a crucial role in the early diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of cardiac diseases. They help clinicians identify myocardial injury, assess severity, and guide timely treatment decisions.

• **Troponin** is a protein released into the bloodstream when heart muscle cells are damaged.
• It is the best and most specific indicator of acute myocardial infarction (MI).
• Normal range is 0–0.4 ng/ml, and values above 0.4 ng/ml strongly indicate a heart attack.
• Troponin levels can remain elevated for up to 3 weeks after myocardial injury, making it highly reliable for late diagnosis.

• **CK-MB (Creatine Kinase-MB)** is an enzyme released when cardiac muscle is damaged.
• It is a cardiac-specific isoenzyme but is less reliable and less specific than troponin.
• Normal range is 0–5 ng/ml.
• It typically peaks around 24 hours after myocardial injury, making it useful for timing of infarction.

• **Myoglobin** is found in both cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue.
• It is not a specific marker for acute MI, but a negative result is useful to rule out myocardial infarction.
• Normal range is 5–70 ng/ml.
• It peaks early, around 12 hours, making it an early but non-specific marker of muscle injury.

• **BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide)** is released when the ventricles are stretched due to excess fluid volume.
• It is a strong indicator of heart failure and ventricular overload.
• Normal level is 700 pg/ml.

Understanding cardiac biomarkers is essential for accurate diagnosis, early intervention, and effective management of cardiovascular emergencies and chronic heart conditions.

Shared from: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyash-barve-0a2801321?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

And The Coding Corner

02/14/2026

April is right around the corner, and so is our local chapter’s Spring Seminar! Our Spring Seminar: Nectar of Knowledge will be virtual and you won’t want to miss it!!

This event will last from 8:00am - 1:00pm on Saturday April 18th and includes several speakers with lots of knowledge to share!

Please ensure you register for the event by April 17th to ensure access to the event!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LtqtJ4ZuRXeMH74wbHwkSA

Payment must also be received in order to gain access to the Zoom Spring Seminar. Please pay fees to Tahlequah Chapter PayPal: AAPC Tahlequah.

You can also scan the QR codes in the flyer below, one is to register while the other is to pay for our event.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your officers, as we are happy to help our chapter members!

02/13/2026

Good Morning Members,

Do you plan on going to Healthcon in Dallas May 3-6th? Look at the coupon code below . Go to your AAPC portal and sign up . this is a great networking and educational experience.

02/13/2026

Hello Everyone,

Please join us to learn about Medication Assisted Treatment with Dr. Anna Miller.

Virtual Meeting Details:
Date: February 17th
Time: 6:00 PM CST

Please use the link below to register and secure your spot:
https://forms.gle/69LPgoBFB7sg3bB6A

Once you have registered, a calendar invite for the virtual meeting will be sent to your email address 2-3 days prior to the event.

If you would like to donate to the Tahlequah Local Chapter, please feel free to reach out to us at the emails listed below for more information and payment links:

Best regards,
AAPC Tahlequah Chapter
Secretary
Rashelle Hammons
rashellehammons25@gmail.com
aapctahlequah@gmail.com

01/06/2026

Learn how to successfully navigate the seismic shifts in OPPS and MPFS. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its calendar For medical coding, billing, compliance, and revenue cycle professionals, 2026 represents a pivotal year requiring immediate attention and coordinated....

12/08/2025

Tomorrow is the day!!
Our End of the Year party starts at 5:30pm December 9th. Don't forget to register so we can ensure we have plenty of food!
https://forms.gle/KjxTpHSMHuvDegTL9
We have plenty of prizes to be given away, so when you arrive, be sure to check in at the sign-in table so you can receive your tickets! :) If you are going to be participating in the cookie exchange, you will also be entered into a separate drawing, so be sure to bring some cookies and your recipe! Don't forget to also bring six $1 bills in order to participate in the Left, Right, Center game!
We hope to see everyone there!!

Good morning fellow coders and chapter members,

We are excited to announce that it is almost time for our end of the year annual party!

Help us to celebrate our 2025 officers and to meet our incoming 2026 officers!
We also want to celebrate our chapter members, because without you all, we would not be here!

Food and drinks will be provided, so you don't have to bring anything! Unless you want to participate in our cookie exchange :)

Food options: Lasagna, chicken alfredo, salad, and garlic bread
Drink options: Water, sweet tea, unsweet tea, lemonade, vending machines are accessible as well

In order to ensure we have enough food for everyone, please register for the event with the link below.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/KAFafMeYB8jwugWi9

Event Time: December 9th at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Event Type: In-Person
Address: 19600 E Ross Street, Tahlequah OK, 74464 Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center

Event Details:
Prizes will be drawn throughout the duration of the event. Those who have attended meetings have been tracked and for each meeting and seminar attended you received points, any voluntary donations also contributed to collecting points. Those who attended more meetings will have more points for the end of the year prizes.

In order to win prizes, you MUST be present!

Prepare for our yearly Cookie Exchange!
To participate in the cookie exchange, please bake your best, most delicious batch of cookies and bring the recipe to share!
Those who participate in this event will be entered into a special drawing for a most special prize!

Timeline:
5:30 - 6:00pm Dine Time! We will be serving Napoli's for this End of the Year Party!

6:00 - 7:00pm Game Time! Get ready to play Left Right Center!
This could include up to two rounds, depending on the length of the game, so please bring six $1 bills to be able to participate!

12/03/2025

Our end of the year party is quickly approaching!!! Don’t forget to register for the event so we know how many mouths to feed!!
We hope to see everyone there!

Good morning fellow coders and chapter members,

We are excited to announce that it is almost time for our end of the year annual party!

Help us to celebrate our 2025 officers and to meet our incoming 2026 officers!
We also want to celebrate our chapter members, because without you all, we would not be here!

Food and drinks will be provided, so you don't have to bring anything! Unless you want to participate in our cookie exchange :)

Food options: Lasagna, chicken alfredo, salad, and garlic bread
Drink options: Water, sweet tea, unsweet tea, lemonade, vending machines are accessible as well

In order to ensure we have enough food for everyone, please register for the event with the link below.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/KAFafMeYB8jwugWi9

Event Time: December 9th at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Event Type: In-Person
Address: 19600 E Ross Street, Tahlequah OK, 74464 Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center

Event Details:
Prizes will be drawn throughout the duration of the event. Those who have attended meetings have been tracked and for each meeting and seminar attended you received points, any voluntary donations also contributed to collecting points. Those who attended more meetings will have more points for the end of the year prizes.

In order to win prizes, you MUST be present!

Prepare for our yearly Cookie Exchange!
To participate in the cookie exchange, please bake your best, most delicious batch of cookies and bring the recipe to share!
Those who participate in this event will be entered into a special drawing for a most special prize!

Timeline:
5:30 - 6:00pm Dine Time! We will be serving Napoli's for this End of the Year Party!

6:00 - 7:00pm Game Time! Get ready to play Left Right Center!
This could include up to two rounds, depending on the length of the game, so please bring six $1 bills to be able to participate!

11/22/2025

Good morning fellow coders and chapter members,

We are excited to announce that it is almost time for our end of the year annual party!

Help us to celebrate our 2025 officers and to meet our incoming 2026 officers!
We also want to celebrate our chapter members, because without you all, we would not be here!

Food and drinks will be provided, so you don't have to bring anything! Unless you want to participate in our cookie exchange :)

Food options: Lasagna, chicken alfredo, salad, and garlic bread
Drink options: Water, sweet tea, unsweet tea, lemonade, vending machines are accessible as well

In order to ensure we have enough food for everyone, please register for the event with the link below.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/KAFafMeYB8jwugWi9

Event Time: December 9th at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Event Type: In-Person
Address: 19600 E Ross Street, Tahlequah OK, 74464 Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center

Event Details:
Prizes will be drawn throughout the duration of the event. Those who have attended meetings have been tracked and for each meeting and seminar attended you received points, any voluntary donations also contributed to collecting points. Those who attended more meetings will have more points for the end of the year prizes.

In order to win prizes, you MUST be present!

Prepare for our yearly Cookie Exchange!
To participate in the cookie exchange, please bake your best, most delicious batch of cookies and bring the recipe to share!
Those who participate in this event will be entered into a special drawing for a most special prize!

Timeline:
5:30 - 6:00pm Dine Time! We will be serving Napoli's for this End of the Year Party!

6:00 - 7:00pm Game Time! Get ready to play Left Right Center!
This could include up to two rounds, depending on the length of the game, so please bring six $1 bills to be able to participate!

11/11/2025

This month we’re reflecting on gratitude. Who is someone in your medical coding journey you’re grateful for, and why? Share in the comments. Feel free to tag the person so they can see your appreciation.

11/07/2025

Good morning fellow coders and local chapter members! Happy Friday!!

We are excited to announce that our local chapter election results are in!!

Say hello and congratulations to our 2026 elected chapter officers!

President: Brittney Anderson CPMA, CPC, COC, CEMC
Vice President: Amber Simon CPC-A
Education Officer: Lewanda Teehee CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC
Member Development Officer: Shamil Glass CPMA, CPC
Secretary: Rashelle Hammons
Treasurer: Charlene Cornell CPC, CEMC

Congratulations and Thank You to those who volunteered to be a 2026 Tahlequah AAPC Chapter Officer! Without you, we would not be able to keep this chapter going!

We are happy to be able to continue to serve our local coding/billing community and are ecstatic about the new year!

09/20/2025

Good morning fellow coders and chapter members!

We are ONE WEEK AWAY from our Fall Seminar!! We are so excited!

We hope to see all of our members in person, but this is a hybrid event, so you can attend virtually as well if you would like!

Remember, for those attending in person, we have many door prizes ready to be given away!

We will be offering breakfast, coffee, tea, and water for those who attend in person as well.

Please use the link below to register for the event!!!

https://forms.gle/dPWNMmv8osKGUXCa9

Once registration and payment are received, you will be sent the zoom link if you choose to attend virtually!