Meet the CAB member: Lori LaFaver serves Pennsylvania CDI professionals

Editor’s note: There are more than 40 local chapters and networking groups across the country and internationally, each led by a team of dedicated volunteers. To support these volunteers the Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) meets regularly to discuss matters of concern and to provide guidance to local chapters. This week, please take a minute to get to know Lori LaFaver, BSN, RN, CCDS, clinical documentation specialist manager at Reading (Pennsylvania) Hospital, Tower Health System. If you are a local chapter leader or participate in local chapter events, you’ve no doubt benefited from their efforts, so why not take a moment and shoot them an email to share your thoughts? Contact LaFaver via email at Lori.LaFaver@towerhealth.org.

Lori LaFaver, BSN, RN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist Manager
Reading (Pennsylvania) Hospital, Tower Health System
Lori.LaFaver@towerhealth.org

When did you join CDI and how did you get here?

I started my CDI career in December of 2005 at Reading Hospital and obtained my CCDS in June 2012. My background prior to becoming a CDI was as a bedside nurse for 10 years in the areas of telemetry, ICU, and hemodialysis. In 2005, Reading Hospital started a CDI program through the HIM department. I was intrigued by the job description and what the vision was for the program. It was exciting to be part of a new program at the hospital. The growth in the area of CDI that I have experienced since 2005 has been a tremendous journey, and I look forward to continuing the journey to advance in new areas of healthcare.

How did you first get involved in local chapter activities?

I have watched CDI progress many ways since I first started in 2005. One of the ways is the networking possibilities and different venues of growth within our profession. Years ago, I was part of a group of CDI specialists who tried to get together to network and learn from each other. It was a great concept that just could not be sustained at the time. I attended a meeting at a local hospital and started discussing the role and the profession with the CDI manager, and we discussed what we could do to help create a local chapter and become more organized as a group. We progressed into being co-leaders and have been working together to educate and promote the progress of the CDI profession with the help of our peers.

What excites you most about local chapter events?

I enjoy seeing the more seasoned CDI members encouraging and helping the newer CDI members. There are different levels of experience that attend the local chapter events, and the ability to support our peers and profession has been wonderful to experience.