Note from the Interim Director: Learning to skate a new routine
by Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC
Like many of you, I watched the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. I always feel so inadequate when watching the athletes defy expectations racing down mountain slopes and gliding across ice rinks. My favorite event is figure skating. The sports announcers repeatedly said the best way to spot a gold medal routine is when the skater makes it look easy, no effort required to twist, turn, leap, and land on the ice. That has always been my impression of ACDIS and the team leading this organization. As my focus expanded from CDI educator to interim director of ACDIS, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind. When I agreed to this change, I was not sure exactly what it would entail. How could I fill those skates?
Well, I share the ice rink with Rebecca Hendren, our director of programming, my skating partner, and together we have been learning the routine. We have been meeting with ACDIS members and sponsors. We have met with leaders from those organizations we often collaborate with and those we wish to work with in the future. We spent much time listening, understanding, and defining our roles and our mission. We are learning to complement and support each other on the ice.
These conversations have been wonderful as they speak to the heart of our organization, the ACDIS I have grown to love. It is a diverse, engaged, energetic, and committed group of professionals. In this role, I see myself as your voice, your advocate. This is a role that is very important to me and one for which I feel I am ready. How do I know I’m ready? Because everyone I have reached out to has offered their support and assistance. You see, they love ACDIS, too!
Will I stumble on the ice now and then? You bet I will, because I am human and need more practice before I compete with Nathan Chen! What I lack in skating skill is replaced with a strong background in CDI, a passion to propel this profession to an even greater influence in healthcare, and the collective support of both the ACDIS staff and you, our ACDIS members.
I recently had a conversation on social media with a physician who was less than passionate about what we do in our efforts promoting CDI. He felt pressure to document unsupported diagnoses to inflate reimbursement and defined the efforts of our profession using his narrow view and experiences. I know there are some CDI programs who may present more aggressively or are motivated by financial gain more than they should be. I felt my voice grow and started the conversation with the words, “I represent the profession of Clinical Documentation Integrity specialists.” I explained what we do and ended with the statement, “With any organization, any profession, any situation there are questionable practices. But I would argue there are more trying to work for the truth than not, and their efforts are overshadowed by the few.”
I challenge you, our ACDIS members, to work for the truth. And speak up in representing our profession when it is challenged or questioned. if you need help finding your words, come find me. I am the new director of ACDIS, and I am learning to skate my new routine with ease!
Editor’s note: Prescott is the interim director of ACDIS. Contact her at lprescott@acdis.org.