Note from the Associate Editor: Discover the impact of an ACDIS committee

by Joshua Raposa

Information and education are not only at the heart of any organization but, also, in my opinion, two keys necessary for its longevity.

Whereas information is required in order to make accurate and well-developed decisions within the company, education is a cornerstone for maintaining and expanding the intelligence of the company’s workforce.

In the world of clinical documentation integrity, these components are of the utmost importance for fostering clear and unambiguous documentation, as well as knowledgeable CDI specialists. At ACDIS in particular, the Resource Library Committee is dedicated to further developing the association’s commitment to sharing up-to-date clinical practices and continuing education.

The bimonthly committee is responsible for reviewing all of the new and old information found in the “Resources” section of the ACDIS website. Anything that is too outdated is removed and anything that requires an update is discussed amongst the committee, after which requisite changes are implemented. Whether it is a “sample diagnosis tip sheet” or an exemplar “appeal letter,” you can be sure that the Resource Library Committee has examined that every comma, colon, and even semi-colon is compliant.

By definition, the project is one that will never end: because of the constant policy changes in regulation and compliance, there is no shortage of information to synthesize, update, and share with the ACDIS membership.

Ain’t no rest for the wicked, indeed…

Under the iron tutelage of Linnea Archibald, I have spent three or so meetings with this committee. The only things I am poised to say are, unfortunately, overwhelmingly positive: everyone is extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and (thankfully) detail-oriented.

If something needs to be done, it is done within the hour; if an email is sent out, a reply returns by the end of the day; if a Doodle poll is sent out for the next meeting occurring two months from now (true story), 10 out of the 14 members of the committee will reply within 20 minutes.

The members of the Resource Library Committee are like gears in a well-oiled and well-documented machine, and what a lovely and effective machine she is. Because all empires fall, Linnea will be stepping down as the key coordinator for the committee and I will be taking her place.

It is my hope that I can maintain and promote the same set of positive values I have seen in the past, carrying them into the present and future. This will be my first time heading a committee in a professional setting so, of course, I am a bit nervous. However, it is important to get outside one’s comfort zone because that is the area in which we grow.

For those of you who are also seeking to grow in your professional development, give back to the CDI community, and be part of the whole, I encourage you to check out our committees open for volunteers and consider applying to them! I have loved my experience working with a committee thus far and, perhaps, you may too:

• Events Committee: This group helps plan the agenda for the ACDIS national conference and ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI, as well as choose the winners of the ACDIS Achievement Awards.
• Furthering Education Committee: This group maintains and awards the ACDIS CDI Scholarship program and helps plan CDI Week activities and festivities.
• ACDIS Regulatory Committee: This large group divides into three subgroups tasked with promoting better coding and clinical accuracy within the commentary period of the CMS IPPS rule-making process, and monitoring and providing guidance on quality regulations.
• Diversity and Inclusion Committee: This group works to make CDI a community that embodies social responsibility through promoting a positive environment of greater diversity and inclusion across all cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, and educational backgrounds, to break the silence that accompanies discrimination and inequity, and to ensure that all feel valued, empowered, and welcomed.
• Physician Advisor Committee: This is a brand-new committee looking for physician advisors to help craft guidance and best practices for other physician advisors in CDI. Among its tasks, the group will author a white paper on the role of the physician advisor in CDI and recommend best practices.

Click here to apply to join one of these committees!

Editor’s note: Raposa is an associate editor for ACDIS, which is based in Middleton, Massachusetts. Contact Raposa at jraposa@acdis.org.