Note from the Associate Editorial Director: Free resources to advance your CDI program

by Linnea Archibald

There is a wealth of information behind the ACDIS membership wall—more than a decade’s worth of CDI Journal editions (including our newest focusing on professional development), Quarterly Conference Calls, industry surveys (including the newest CDI Salary Survey), resources contributed by the ACDIS membership, expert guidance from our Advisory Board, and more.

These resources are well worth the price of admission in our opinion, but we understand that for some, budgetary constraints mean membership is outside their reach in this season. Others who are just getting into the field may be looking for resources at a low cost to see whether CDI is a good fit for them. Because of this reality, ACDIS strives to provide numerous free resources (including many with CEU opportunities) that are open and accessible to all, regardless of membership status.

Today, I’d like to call your attention to a few of the free resources available on our website. I’ve noted which include CEU opportunities where applicable in case your looking to make some headway on your CCDS/CCDS-O recertification requirements too.

• CDI Strategies: I’m guessing that if you’re reading this note, you already knew about this resource, but did you know you can access the entire archive on the ACDIS website? Simply click on the “CDI Strategies” link under the “Publications” tab in the main menu and peruse to your heart’s content.
• ACDIS Podcast: New 30-minute episodes of the podcast publish every other Wednesday and focus on pertinent topics for today’s CDI professional. You can find the full archive by clicking on the “ACDIS Podcast” link under the “Resources” tab. Each episode offers 0.5 ACDIS CEUs for the first two days after publishing. The latest episode, which launched yesterday, focuses on CDI as a profession, rather than just a job, and listeners can claim the 0.5 CEUs till tomorrow, February 2, at 11 p.m. eastern.
• Free and sponsored resources: In collaboration with our sponsors, ACDIS offers many free reports and webinars throughout the year on a rolling basis. Most recently, we published reports on CDI physician advisors’ roles, leveraging AI for CDI impact, and takeaways from the 2022/2023 CDI Leadership Council Mastermind on mortality reviews, workflow, quality reviews, and change management. Most of the webinars throughout the year offer 1-1.5 ACDIS CEUs for live participants. Find the full list of resources by clicking on the “Free & Sponsored Resources” link under the “Resources” tab.
• Position Papers: These publications are the association’s official, consensus stance on an issue. They set a recommended standard for the CDI industry to follow, advocate on behalf of a certain position, or offer concrete solutions for a particular problem. All current ACDIS Advisory Board members must review/approve a position paper and are encouraged to contribute to its creation. You can find the full archive by clicking on the “Position Papers” link under the “Thought Leadership” tab.
• Regulatory Committee insight: ACDIS’ Regulatory Committee exists to review policy, coding, and clinical updates, comment to agencies on behalf of ACDIS, and provide summary, interpretation, and analysis to the membership. All their published work can be found by clicking on the “Regulatory Committee Insight” link under the “Thought Leadership” tab.
• Local chapters and networking groups: ACDIS has more than 30 regional and topic-based chapters that serve the broader CDI community. These groups are volunteer-led and off many educational opportunities throughout the year—many of which offer ACDIS CEUs and are available remotely. You can find your local chapter or networking group by clicking on the “Local Chapters & Networking Groups” link under the “Networking” tab.
• CDI Week: Every year, ACDIS hosts a week of celebration for the profession in September. Throughout the week, we publish a full report on our multi-topic industry survey, daily industry Q&As, activities and printable materials, and a free 90-minute webinar (which offers 1.5 ACDIS CEUs for both live attendees and those who watch the recording in the following calendar year). All the CDI Week resources are free and open to all. You can find the full archive by clicking the “CDI Week” link under the “Events & Education” tab.

While I hope this list gives you a starting point for expanding your CDI education, it is in no way exhaustive. Every year, ACDIS offers one-off free virtual events, new webinars, expanded membership offerings, and the like. The best way to stay up-to-date on these offerings is to subscribe to CDI Strategies (as you likely already do), follow us on social media, and pop by the ACDIS website regularly.

We are here to support all CDI professionals to the best of our ability, so if there’s something in particular you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@acdis.org.

Editor’s note: Archibald is the associate editorial director, publications & membership, for ACDIS. Contact her at linnea.archibald@hcpro.com.