Note from the ACDIS Editor: A return to foundational principles in the new CDI Journal!
by Jess Fluegel
When I have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with someone in the CDI profession for the first time, my favorite question to ask is how they found out about CDI. Some tell me that a friend or colleague recommended they look into the profession; others say they were looking for a role with more flexibility or just needed a change. What I never anticipated, however, is how many express the same serendipity that I experienced becoming an ACDIS editor: It just sort of happened.
While beginning in the profession often feels more like falling down a rabbit hole than starting a well-established race, that comes with certain benefits. There’s no right or wrong time to start, there are plenty of diverse backgrounds to prepare you, and you’ll find many forks in the road ahead to make the adventure your own. And, as we allude to in the theme for our upcoming CDI Week (Knights of the CDI Round Table), you’ll need support from various mentors, fellow colleagues, and organizational leaders to make progress on your journey.
With this in mind, the September/October edition of the CDI Journal is focused on foundational CDI principles and expert advice that will benefit both new and seasoned professionals.
In this edition, readers will find articles about:
- What to expect when traveling down the CDI path
- Best practices for onboarding and beyond
- Getting started in CDI at the trailhead
- Navigating the shift from bedside to CDI
- Thinking critically about technology
- An unexpected journey in building trust
- Climbing up the CDI ladder
- AI and the evolution of CDI role, not the end of it
- A preview of the 2026 CDI Week Industry Survey results
- What PSIs are, why they matter, and how CDI can make meaningful impact
This edition also includes a “Meet a Member” feature highlighting one of our member’s experiences in the industry. The ACDIS team hopes you enjoy this latest edition and find something helpful in its pages. As always, the CDI Journal is a benefit of ACDIS membership. To learn more about joining ACDIS, click here. ACDIS members can earn one CCDS/CCDS-O CEU for reading each edition of the Journal and taking the associated quiz. You can learn more on the full edition download page.
Our next edition will be about quality and population health initiatives! Contributing to the CDI Journal is a great opportunity for CDI professionals to share insight with the community, plus you can receive 0.5 CEU per 350 published words (articles tend to be around the 750-1,500-word mark). If you have advice to share on conducting quality reviews, how CDI can affect population health initiatives, or a similar topic, we’d love to receive your submission.
The deadline for the November/December edition is October 1, 2026! You can send your submissions via this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDI-journal.
Whether you are just learning what CDI is or dream about it in your sleep, the basic principles of CDI are always here to guide you! Please reach out to me if you have any questions about the Journal or writing for our next edition.
Editor’s note: Fluegel is the editor for ACDIS. Contact her at jess.fluegel@hcpro.com.