Note from the Simplify Compliance product director: Next steps for ACDIS leadership

by Elizabeth Petersen

You all probably don’t know me, but I certainly know you.  

I’ve been “the woman behind the curtain” at ACDIS’ parent company, Simplify Compliance for, well, a while—18 years with the company, and about eight years working with the ACDIS team. In my current role running the company’s acute care division, one of my greatest joys is working with our staff to find new ways to serve our members and advance the profession.   

When Brian Murphy told me that he was leaving the company to pursue another opportunity, my heart dropped. I could write pages about what Brian has done for the association, but I’ll summarize it as this: Brian is a good person who has done good things. I will forever be “Team Brian,” just as I know he’ll secretly be wearing an ACDIS t-shirt under his work shirts for years to come.   

One thing I didn’t do? Panic. If I can brag for a minute, I’m utterly convinced that I have one of the best teams in the business—a mini-army of good people who do good things. So, with some helpful guidance from my own boss, we were pretty quickly able to spin out a new vision for ACDIS leadership that I’m excited to share with you to do.  

Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC, will become the interim director of ACDIS. The definition of “been there, done that,” Laurie spent 15 years working as a CDI professional and managing departments. When she came to ACDIS as the director of education nine years ago, we threw her in the deep end, and she hasn’t stopped swimming since. Chances are, you’re one of the hundreds of learners who have participated in one of her webinars, presentations, or seminars. If you haven’t seen her face, I can all but guarantee you’ve read her words in one of our many publications. Laurie is tireless—in her work output, commitment to professional best practices, and overall dedication to doing right by our association and the industry. Tasking Laurie with this new role was a logical yet exciting decision.   

Here's what Laurie had to say about this exciting new step:  

I remember when I first found the “little” CDI association now internationally known as ACDIS. I was new to CDI and happened upon it by accident, read an article written by Brian Murphy, and was so excited. I felt like I had found “my people.” The profession of CDI is ever-evolving and appears to be experiencing a renaissance in recognition and growth as we demonstrate the impact of our efforts.    

I am blessed with a wonderful team of ACDIS staff, volunteers on our boards and committees, and all our members to assist in growing the profession. […] It is an absolute privilege for me to take on this role and assist in fostering ACDIS and its members through this transition. I will never replace Brian Murphy and his influence upon our profession, but I promise to honor his vision in every action I take. 

As energetic and passionate as Laurie is, leadership isn’t a one-person show. Laurie will still retain some of her ACDIS education duties and, in recognition that there are only so many hours in the day, we’ll be supercharging the association management team by handing Rebecca Hendren the job of managing ACDIS’ strategy as director of programming. Rebecca might be another familiar name to many of you. She was part of the ACDIS team from 2016-2018 as a product manager and has most recently been responsible for Simplify Compliance’s acute care events (including the ACDIS conference and our CDI seminars). Forward-thinking and unflappable, Rebecca began her career here 16 years ago working with our nursing catalog of products. Rebecca has a gift for navigating both the big picture and the day-to-day, all while retaining a fantastic (British) sense of humor and unwavering dedication to her customers and colleagues. “I cannot think of anyone better to work with me in this role than Rebecca Hendren,” Laurie told me. “She is very familiar to many of our members already, and understands how important this association is to you, our members.” 

In her own words, Rebecca said:  

I am thrilled to work with Laurie Prescott to continue Brian’s vision and the tradition of excellence he instilled in our beloved association. Laurie has unparalleled CDI knowledge coupled with wit, warmth, and skilled leadership acumen to make her the ideal person to help ACDIS advance its mission in 2022 and beyond.   

ACDIS is a living organization that constantly evolves to meet the needs of our members and to provide guidance for the profession. Together with our members, volunteers, and advisors, we have exciting plans to continue the profession’s growth and to ensure ACDIS remains an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone in CDI.   

I look forward to getting to know you all, working with you, and to seeing many of you at our annual conference in May. 

Before I once again recede into the shadows, I wanted to take a minute to share my sincere appreciation for our ACDIS members and partners. Your enthusiasm for both your profession and our association is inspiring. Change is hard, and while a Brian Murphy-less ACDIS will be different, our commitment to member service and innovation remains.  

Editor’s note: Petersen is the product director, professional development, at Simplify Compliance in Middleton, Massachusetts. Murphy's farewell to ACDIS can be found here.