Meet a Member: A CDI specialist with an adventurous spirit

Ericka Bollinger, MBA, MSN, RN, CCDS, NE-BC, CDI specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, has worked in the field for nearly four years, coming to the profession following a nursing career in neonatal intensive care.

ACDIS Blog: What did you do before entering CDI?
Bollinger: I started my nursing career in Iowa after college and did medical/surgical nursing. When I moved to Chicago, I was blessed to join the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team. I spent 12 years there and the NICU will forever hold a special place in my heart. When I began my journey back to graduate school, I worked as a practice manager in the NICU and then a performance manager in labor and delivery. Those experiences allowed me to grow professionally and sparked my interest in a more global lens of healthcare.

ACDIS Blog: Why did you get into this line of work?
Bollinger: My graduate studies involved healthcare finance, economics, leadership, organizational change, and planning. When I came across CDI it all made sense to me and I was able to connect what I was learning in school and apply it.

ACDIS Blog: What has been your biggest challenge?
Bollinger: Finding a systematic/organized approach to doing the work when I first started. I knew I couldn’t be spending hours in a chart because it wasn’t efficient.

ACDIS Blog: What has been your biggest reward?
Bollinger: Building relationships with our providers and seeing the outcomes and performance improvement  reflected in the work we do. Knowing I contribute to a complete and accurate record that ultimately ties back to the patient, the organization, and to healthcare and research overall.

ACDIS Blog: How has the field changed since you began working in CDI?
Bollinger: There is definitely more attention to it nationally as a profession. Within our organization, CDI is imbedded into the facility culture, which is exciting. Our team has doubled in size since I started. It’s fun because we all have varying backgrounds and areas of expertise. We know each other’s strengths and work together as a close team.

ACDIS Blog: Can you mention a few of the "gold nuggets" of information you've received from colleagues on the Forum or through ACDIS?
Bollinger: I am on the ACDIS website daily while working. When I have challenging cases and questions, I research to see what our ACDIS group thinks and what’s already out there. Why recreate the wheel if you don’t have to? I feel like we can all learn from each other. The Journals are a nice overview and help me  keep current in CDI.

ACDIS Blog: If you have attended, how many ACDIS conferences have you been to? What are your favorite memories?
Bollinger: I’ve been to two so far. My first one was in Las Vegas. My manager and medical directors presented, so that was cool.

ACDIS Blog: What piece of advice would you offer to a new CDI specialist?
Bollinger: Have patience with yourself when you start in CDI. There is a steep learning curve. Get to know your coding team. They are valuable resources and a wealth of knowledge. It will help your day to day work concurrently with the records.

ACDIS Blog: If you could have any other job, what would it be?
Bollinger: I honestly love what I do. I’m social, so anything that involves teamwork sounds good to me.

ACDIS Blog: What was your first job?
Bollinger: I worked at a movie theater. In the summers, I de-tasseled corn. I grew up in small town Iowa so I had limited options.

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

• Vacation spots: Places I’ve been or where I want to go? Italy, California, Colorado, Vancouver.
• Hobby: I need one, so I am taking suggestions.
• Non-alcoholic beverage: Water with lemon. I know, boring
• Foods: Anything Italian and steak
• Activity: Experiencing new adventures

ACDIS Blog: Tell us about your family and how you like to spend your time away from CDI.
Bollinger: We like sports and I’d say we’re adventurous, too. Some things we like to do as a family are camping and skiing.

ACDIS Blog: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Bollinger: This year, I biked across Iowa in an event called Ragbrai. I’ve never experienced anything like it. It was challenging and extremely fun at the same time. Over the course of five days, we did around 350 miles—the serious riders averaged 470 miles over the course of a week. It’s a ride, not a race, so it included some music, food, and socializing, too. I’m definitely thinking of making it an annual event.