Note from the ACDIS Editor: Have your ideas heard in the CDI Journal

March 24, 2022
CDI Strategies - Volume 16, Issue 12

by Carolyn Riel

Sometimes I feel like all I ever write about in these notes is the CDI Journal. “Journal this,” or “Journal that,” just “Journal, Journal, Journal.” But its only because I take so much pride in it.

Every other month, I set off on the task of Journal writing which entails deciding on article topics that tie back to the edition’s theme, setting up calls with members of the CDI community to gain insight, put my nose to the table and write, put the articles through a few rounds of edits, send them back to sources… it’s a lot of steps!

Currently, I’m in the midst of writing the May/June edition of the CDI Journal, focused on diversity in CDI, appropriately aligned to coincide with pride month in June. The interviews have all been conducted, notes sorted, and the writing begun. What can you expect in this upcoming edition? Currently I’m working on an article about gender inclusive terms in the EHR, creating a diverse and welcoming workplace, and the compromised care transgender patients often experience.

While ACDIS Associate Editorial Director Linnea Archibald and I do a lot of the writing for the Journal, we also rely heavily on contributors like you.

Every edition features contributed articles from folks in the CDI community writing about any topic they like that fits into the overall theme. I know for a lot of people putting your own thoughts onto paper and out there in the world for the ACDIS community to read can seem a daunting task. But it is also often a rewarding experience that opens the door for future opportunities.

Many contributors come back to have their words published in ACDIS over and over again. In doing so, they frequently get questions and feedback from readers, make connections within the industry they may not have otherwise discovered, and gain recognition from their colleagues. They start to find their own confidence in sharing their thoughts.

Aside from the personal reward and recognition that comes with contributing to the CDI Journal, did you know that having your words published also allows you to earn CEUs? Contributors published in the Journal receive 0.5 CEUs per 350 published words, and articles tend to be around the 750-1,500-word mark.

The upcoming Journal themes and submission deadlines for 2022 are as follows:

  • July/August 2022: Clinical and coding (Deadline: June 1, 2022)
  • September/October 2022: Unconventional settings and expansion (Deadline: August 1, 2022)
  • November/December 2022: Opportunities in CDI (Deadline: September 30, 2022)

Do you have a topic that fits into one of the above categories you’ve been itching to write about? Or maybe you’re looking to gain some extra CEUs and have a topic in mind. If you’re interested in contributing to an upcoming edition of the CDI Journal reach out to myself (criel@acdis.org) and Linnea (larchibald@acdis.org) and let us know your ideas!

Editor’s note: Riel is the editor for ACDIS. Contact her at criel@acdis.org.