ACDIS update: Get familiar with the ACDIS website layout and offerings

Whether you’re new to ACDIS or you’ve been here from the beginning in 2007, determining where to look on the website for particular resources may induce some quizzical looks. To help familiarize you with the website layout and offerings, the ACDIS team has put together some how-tos based on our frequently asked questions:

• “Website tips: How to participate actively in the ACDIS Forum”
• “Website tips: How to register for ACDIS Radio and never miss an episode again”
• “Membership update: How to make the most of the ACDIS polling questions”
• “Website tips: How to favorite an article on the ACDIS website”

Though these how-tos will help you navigate your specific questions on specific issues, the ACDIS team put together a brief tour of the website, tab by tab (left to right), this week to help you navigate ACDIS’ offerings with ease:

• Membership: Under this tab you’ll find all things related to your membership, from benefits, to ACDIS’ mission statement, to leadership, boards, committees, the Code of Ethics, and FAQs. If you have a question about your membership specifically, this is where to look.

• Certification: As it would suggest, this tab covers all things related to the CCDS exam, from prerequisites all the way through recertification. There’s also a section for the new ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship program from brand new CDI professionals.

• Publications: ACDIS has three editorial publications, all of which can be found under this tab. If you click on the top level “Publications” rather than one of the drop downs, you’ll see every article ACDIS has published, organized by date. Each of the pages under this section has a custom search bar at the bottom of the left hand menu which will search within that subgroup/individual publication. This is a great way to narrow your search for a particular topic or article. The three publications are:
  
  • CDI Journal: This is a bimonthly online publication that includes feature length articles using a variety of sources, submitted guest columns, and helpful tips from ACDIS leadership. This is essentially a traditional association journal.
  • CDI Strategies: This is our weekly e-newsletter of CDI industry news, ACDIS updates, Q&As, and local chapter updates. ACDIS members are automatically signed up for the newsletter with their membership, but non-members can also sign up for free by clicking here. The newsletter publishes on Thursdays.
  • CDI Blog: The blog is a daily publication and typically features a rotation of guest articles, Q&As, ACDIS updates, and information about upcoming events. A list of the weekly posts can be found in CDI Strategies each week.

• Resource Library: This is where you’ll find sample queries, policies, procedures, educational tools, and job descriptions submitted by the ACDIS membership and reviewed by the Forms & Tools Library Committee for clarity and compliance. This tab also has free videos and sponsored webinars. ACDIS’ white papers, position papers, survey reports, and recordings of the quarterly membership conference calls also live here. The position papers represent ACDIS’ official stance on issues and the white papers represent best practices in CDI and new ideas.

• Networking & Events: Under this tab, you’ll find everything from live in-person events, such as our main conference and outpatient symposium, to local chapter events and locations, to ACDIS Radio (a biweekly CDI radio show), to the ACDIS Forum, and CDI Week resources. If it connects you with other CDI professionals, this is where to look.

• Career Center: This is exactly what it sounds like. ACDIS members get two free job postings per year and discounts after that. Members and non-members can also search open CDI positions here any time.  

What questions do you have about the ACDIS website? If you have a particular question about any of the resources available on the website, email ACDIS Editor Linnea Archibald at larchibald@acdis.org. You can also get a brief overview of the ACDIS website in this video from the ACDIS team, created after the website makeover in 2016.