Meet a Member: Build relationships with other departments, break down silos

Rabia Jalal, MBBS, MSHIM, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, RHIA, is a CDI specialist II/senior clinical analyst with Optum360 working at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, California. She is a member of the California ACDIS local chapter’s newsletter committee, the ACDIS Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and the ACDIS Regulatory Committee. She has been in CDI for seven years.

ACDIS: What did you do before entering CDI, and how did you get into the field?
Jalal: I was a foreign medical graduate working as a psychiatry researcher

When I moved to California from New York, I was looking for research positions and found a job opening for CDI/coder auditors. The rest, as they say, is history!

ACDIS: What has been your biggest challenge and biggest reward?
Jalal: My biggest challenge was transitioning from research and clinical positions to a full-time behind-the-scenes role, and my biggest reward has been seeing the impact CDI can make on patient care.

ACDIS: How has the field changed since you began working in CDI?
Jalal: The biggest change I’ve seen is that physicians have now begun to understand the value of CDI. Now, I even see practicing physicians also working as CDI specialists!

ACDIS: Can you mention a few of the “gold nuggets” of information you’ve received from colleagues on The Forum or through ACDIS?
Jalal: Perhaps the best nugget I received is that if you have to continue to query the same physicians on the same diagnosis, you need to work on physician education.

ACDIS: If you have attended, how many ACDIS conferences have you been to? What are your favorite memories?
Jalal: I have attended several ACDIS conferences including in 2018, 2019, and some local California chapter events as well. Besides meeting other CDI professionals from all over the country, I also got to present as a speaker in 2018 and as a poster presenter in 2019. I was also on the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force panel discussion at the 2022 ACDIS national conference as well and it was an amazing experience!

ACDIS: What piece of advice would you offer to a new CDI specialist?
Jalal: The best advice I can offer new CDI specialists is to build relationships with the medical staff, coders, and HIM departments, as we should all work together and not in silos.

ACDIS: If you could have any other job, what would it be? 
Jalal: I would love to be either an investigative journalist or a criminologist.

ACDIS: What was your first job?
Jalal: I worked at a gourmet grocery store filling home-delivery orders for customers, and a summer camp dance instructor.

ACDIS: Can you tell us about a few of your favorite things?

• Vacation spots: Iceland, Peru
• Hobby: Writing
• Non-alcoholic beverages: Coffee, soda
• Food: Italian food
• Activity: Traveling 

ACDIS: Tell us about your family and how you like to spend your time away from CDI.
Jalal: I have a dad (mom passed away in 2017), two younger siblings, a brother-in-law, and the most adorable niece who is also my best friend. The latest addition to our family is our pup labradoodle, named Nico. When I am away from CDI, you will find me either traveling or watching true crime shows.