Meet a Member: “Just enjoy the journey!”

Patricia Matson Vitasinski, RN, CCDS, is the manager of CDI quality improvement at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, and has been a Michigan ACDIS chapter board leader for three years. She has been in the CDI field for 19 years.

ACDIS: What did you do before entering CDI? Why did you get into this line of work?
Vitasinski: Prior to CDI, I was a neonatal intensive care nurse. I got into this line of work because I come from a long line of nurses. My grandmother, mother, sister, sister-in-law, and niece are all nurses. From nursing I got into CDI because I needed a fulltime, benefited position and the hospital I was working at was starting the program. The director took a huge chance on me and after the first six weeks, I begged to go back to the bedside. She said I owed her six month for taking such a big risk on a nurse without adult nursing experience, and after six months I loved CDI! I have not looked back since then in my 19-year career of CDI.

ACDIS: What has been your biggest challenge? What about your biggest reward?
Vitasinski: Convincing providers that we are on the same team is always a challenge. I love when the lightbulb goes off for the provider and they realize I am a wealth of knowledge and what I know will help their practice. Another big challenge in my career was when I made the leap from hospital to consulting CDI. Consulting helped me think outside of the box and believe in myself and my skillset. Every provider interaction as well as every conversation with a coding professional has molded me into the CDI specialist that I am today. My biggest reward was making a career out of an opportunity given to me and being nine months away from retirement. I recently had a physician I used to work with reach out to me for advice as his new employer was starting a CDI program, and he wanted to ask me some questions. I kept saying, “oh my gosh, he was listening!”

ACDIS: How has the field changed since you began working in CDI?
Vitasinski: Initially, we were only in it for impacting the CC/MCC capture; it was all about the money. Now we strive for a complete and accurate chart and our knowledge is valued and respected. That sure was not the case in the old days!

ACDIS: Can you mention a few of the “gold nuggets” of information you’ve received from colleagues on The Forum or through ACDIS?
Vitasinski: Lately, it has been “COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19!” Viral sepsis, COVID-19 pneumonia, and cytokine release syndrome. I really like having the ability to “pick the brains” of other CDI professionals on the ACDIS Forum. I also want to give a shout-out to Brian Murphy, Melissa Varnavas, and the entire ACDIS team for their amazing pivot when the ACDIS conference was cancelled. I attended the virtual events and was very happy with the knowledge I came away with. The platform was easy to navigate, the speakers and topics were educational, and I loved that we could listen at a time that worked with our jobs. Great job!

ACDIS: If you have attended, how many ACDIS conferences have you been to? What are your favorite memories?
Vitasinski: I have attended three; San Diego, Las Vegas and Orlando. I love seeing a room full of people who all do what I do. It is empowering and exhilarating. I was a consultant for four years and know many people across the country and love reconnecting with them. 

ACDIS: What piece of advice would you offer to a new CDI specialist?
Vitasinski: You left a job where you were an expert and trust me, you will be again. Right now, you are a student and it is OK to not know the answer. Ask questions, read everything, attend webinars, read the CDI Journal. The learning curve is steep, and you will look back, in a year or so, and you will be the one answering questions. Make friends with the coders as they know the coding rules and regulations and coding professionals and CDI make a great team.

ACDIS: If you could have any other job, what would it be?
Vitasinski: I would own a knit shop or a food truck but instead of food, I would travel around selling wine. 

ACDIS: What was your first job?
Vitasinski: I worked at the public library. I have always loved to read and solve puzzles and that is the simple definition of CDI.

ACDIS: Can you tell us about a few of your favorite things?

• Vacation spots: Northern Michigan, particularly Mackinac Island.
• Hobbies: Knitting.
• Non-alcoholic beverage: I used to be a huge Diet Coke consumer but have recently given that up so probably water.
• Foods: Mexican
• Activities: going to the gym, taking classes like PiYo, Zumba, bootcamp along with yoga

ACDIS: Tell us about your family and how you like to spend your time away from CDI.
Vitasinski: I have three adult children and have been married to my high school boyfriend for 40 years. I have a granddaughter, Quinn who is the absolute love of my life. My husband and I are talking about buying a motorhome and traveling to all the national parks after retirement.