Note from the Associate Editorial Director: Celebrating HIP Week

by Linnea Archibald

It’s Health Information Professional (HIP) Week and that makes it the perfect time to celebrate the HIM professionals in our lives! Whether your CDI team includes HIM/coding credentialed individuals or not, CDI professionals by nature of their roles interact with these folks on a regular basis. CDI serves as the bridge between the clinical and coding worlds, so a good working relationship and appreciation for both sides of the house is essential. Plus, according to our most recent ACDIS data, more than a quarter of CDI departments report to the HIM/coding leadership and likely sit (whether in the office or virtually) next to their HIM peers every day.

During my tenure with ACDIS, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many CDI professionals hailing from the HIM profession and I’m so grateful for all the knowledge they’ve imparted. They’ve shared their stories and expertise in the CDI Journal, weighed in on coding conundrums on the ACDIS Forum, explained their day-to-day work on one-on-one calls and during public panel discussions, and expressed their love for the profession in every single conversation.

Whether or not they stand in the spotlight in one of our articles or on one of our committees, I can assure you that ACDIS would not be the association you know and love without our HIM/coding friends. Just like those coming from clinical backgrounds, HIM professionals bring a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective that is invaluable to the profession.

So, this week, as we mark HIP Week 2021, please join us in saying thank you. To celebrate the HIM professionals in your lives, we put together a list of suggestions to help you show your appreciation to your colleagues—both inside your CDI department or outside of it:

• Send handwritten or email, personal thank you notes to each member of the HIM team.
• Spotlight your CDI team members who started in the HIM world in your organization’s or department’s eNewsletter.
• Invite your CDI team members who started in the HIM profession to share their background and CDI journey with the rest of the team.
• Bring coffee and treats to the HIM department for a celebratory breakfast. If you’re remote currently, work with your departmental leadership to send HIM team members a gift card for coffee on the CDI department’s dime.
• Set up and play an HIM themed trivia game and award prizes to the winners.

Whatever you choose to do, we hope you’ll celebrate the HIM professionals both in the CDI world and outside of it this week. We appreciate all you do every day. Happy HIP Week 2021!

Editor’s note: Archibald is the associate editorial director of publications and membership at ACDIS. Contact her at larchibald@acdis.org.