Happy New Year: Time to celebrate your 2015 CDI accomplishments

By Melissa Varnavas

No matter your holiday tradition, we all seem to share the almost mystical belief that this simple turning of the clock, this flip of the calendar, represents a magical reset button on our lives. We can suddenly envision a healthier, happier, more professionally rewarding life for ourselves that’s easily attainable.

Yet, there’s really no magic to it. You lose weight by eating more broccoli and getting back to daily walks with the dog. You experience happiness by giving yourself time for the things that bring you joy—being with your family, baking, reading a good book, connecting with old friends. A more professional rewarding life comes from actively engaging in the work and seeking out opportunities to help others.

Setting CDI program goals for the coming year doesn’t take a cleansing mystical breath of cold air, either. It just requires a controlled look at the data and the trends of the industry. Meanwhile, we often see the year stretched out ahead of us, and tick off our lists of plans but neglect the accomplishments of the past.

Maybe you took the leap, studied your head off and passed the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist certification. Maybe you spent a little extra time chatting with that physician who simply didn’t want to let go of the term ureosepsis and ultimately helped her have a change of heart.

Give yourself the much needed accolades you deserve. Each and every step you take leads you down the road both personally and professionally.

Congratulations on all that you’ve done and our best wishes for a happy and productive New Year!

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from the Associate Director's Note in the January/February edition of the CDI Journal.