Meet a Member: CDI specialist loves seeing the world, learning new things

Maryanne Baer-Hines, RN, MSN, CCDS, is a CDI specialist at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), which is part of the Yale New Haven Health Systems, and a member of the Connecticut ACDIS local chapter.

ACDIS Blog: How long have you been in the CDI field?
Baer-Hines: I’ve been in CDI for 16 years now.  

ACDIS Blog: What did you do before entering CDI?
Baer-Hines: I worked in surgical units, as the coordinator of the craniofacial program at YNHH, in the emergency department in YNHH (which is a level 1 trauma center), as nursing faculty, and in occupational health.

ACDIS Blog: Why did you get into this line of work?
Baer-Hines: I was strongly “tapped” due my varied background and education.

ACDIS Blog: What has been your biggest challenge?
Baer-Hines: Keeping up with the changes that occur not only yearly but throughout the year for CDI specialists.

ACDIS Blog: What has been your biggest reward?
Baer-Hines: Becoming a resource for the physicians and other CDI team members.

ACDIS Blog: How has the field changed since you began working in CDI?
Baer-Hines: The additional components of the job. For example, the expansion into quality.

ACDIS Blog: Can you mention a few of the "gold nuggets" of information you've received from colleagues on the Forum or through ACDIS?
Baer-Hines: It’s kept me up-to-date on all the frequent changes.

ACDIS Blog: If you have attended, how many ACDIS conferences have you been to? What are your favorite memories?
Baer-Hines: The initial one I went to was in Chicago, but I also attended the conferences in Orlando, San Diego, and Atlanta. Meeting some of the consultants that we work remotely with from other parts of the country face-to-face was wonderful.

ACDIS Blog: What piece of advice would you offer to a new CDI specialist?
Baer-Hines: Pick your battles! 

ACDIS Blog: If you could have any other job, what would it be?
Baer-Hines: If there was a travel plus teaching job with maybe some fine dining thrown in for good measure, I would excel for sure!

ACDIS Blog: What was your first job?
Baer-Hines: A million! you name it—tutor, babysitting…

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

• Vacation spots: Anywhere new to explore. I live in Connecticut and Miami Beach. At one time, Miami Beach was my favorite vacation spot, but now I get to live there too. I have traveled the world, and I loved Australia. I also went on a picture safari in South Africa, which was wonderful. Anywhere in Europe or on an island in the Caribbean—is there anywhere I don’t like? I always have fun traveling and discovering.
• Hobby: I had three Doberman rescues and now have three cat rescues, two of which are sisters.
• Non-alcoholic beverage: Anything slushy.
• Foods: Pizza! I live in the pizza capital of the USA; if I said anything else I’d be tarred and feathered. I love Pepe Pizza and it’s always rated number 1 in the country. I was raised on it—wouldn’t have it any other way!

ACDIS Blog: Tell us about your family and how you like to spend your time away from CDI.
Baer-Hines: I have a huge bucket list of places that I want to see and experience. I have friends all over the world from traveling and it’s lots of fun then to pick a place and travel with them. I’ve been all over Europe with friends from Belgium, Holland and Germany. It’s great to see places through their eyes.

ACDIS Blog: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Baer-Hines: CDI affords many opportunities—for example to work from home (or in Miami Beach). And, each day you will learn some new tidbit of information.