Note from the ACDIS Interim Director: Community and connection at the 2023 conference

by Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC

When asked what I love about the ACDIS national conference, my mind always goes to connection. I think it’s because the conference epitomizes what I see as our purpose as an association: to connect our members, assist them in networking, and help them find mentors or mentees, lifetime friends, and CDI family. Our ACDIS team and CDI instructors take this mission seriously. Our formal mission statement speaks to it (emphasis added): “The Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists exists to serve as the premier healthcare community for CDI specialists, providing a medium for education, professional growth, program recognition and networking.”

We provide a number of ways to connect, like through our ACDIS Forum, newsletters, the CDI Journal, committees, and local chapters. Nothing makes a day more complete for me than when I can introduce one CDI professional to another and offer new avenues of learning and sharing. I see our annual conference as exactly that: a way for us to introduce one CDI professional to another, and help them discover new ideas, concepts, processes, and opportunities.

This year, we are working to facilitate even more networking at the conference. For instance, during the opening reception on May 8, a first-time attendee table will be set up to help newcomers connect and get all their questions answered. The ACDIS instructors will facilitate further networking opportunities on May 9 during a dedicated networking period during lunch called “Eat, Meet, Grow.” During lunch, we will facilitate discussions on the topics of outpatient CDI, pediatric CDI, CDI educators, and new and aspiring leaders. These tables will allow attendees to pull up a chair and meet like-minded people who share the same challenges and obstacles.

On May 10, we will continue to offer our state chapter networking opportunities during a “Meet Your Neighbors” lunch break. Attendees can grab their lunch and sit with colleagues who work within their same geographical location. I love seeing friendships fostered between people that are only a few miles apart but may not have otherwise met.

ACDIS is a special community, primarily because of our members’ willingness to share, mentor, and ask each other for assistance. The 2023 ACDIS conference theme is “Flourish.” We have watched our profession flourish and over the years I have watched our members flourish as well. Each year, I take joy in watching first-time speakers take the podium, or speakers I have watched grow over the years repeat the magic in subsequent presentations. All of it is exciting to me because I love to see individuals take on professional challenges, and love that they are so willing to share their experiences so that others may succeed as well.

I am not a person that hugs easily, but at ACDIS I find I willingly welcome hugs. I think it’s because we are family, and hugs from family are always welcomed. I love to see attendees willingly share their success stories in hopes others can “steal” their secret recipe and replicate their accomplishments. I also love when people feel comfortable sharing their challenges, their vulnerabilities, and their frustrations. This willingness, on both sides, allows for learning and makes us all stronger. We have built a community called ACDIS together and it is a joy to see it flourish.

For an inside look on what to expect this year, check out this webinar with members of the ACDIS team. If you haven’t yet secured your ticket, you can register for the 2023 ACDIS conference here!

Editor’s note: Prescott is the interim director for ACDIS and director of CDI education for HCPro, based in Middleton, Massachusetts. Contact her at lprescott@acdis.org.