Guest Post: 2017 hot topics for CDI and HIM professionals

By Darice M. Grzybowski, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA

For those still trying to straighten out their budgets and priorities for 2017, I thought it might be helpful to reflect on a few larger industry trends that may significantly change the the focus of our efforts related to health information management (HIM) and clinical documentation improvement (CDI).

Government and legislation: To say the 2016 presidential election may bring change is obviously an understatement. There will undoubtedly be significant movement in healthcare policy, but for now there is still significant work and in some cases, confusion, surrounding the ongoing implementation of accountable care organizations (ACOs), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ICD-10-CM/PCS, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), phase two of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) audit program, and other legislative initiatives.

New technologies and opportunities: Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. At other times, the speed of change in technology can be dizzying. Does everyone have a coding, EHR, CDI, and revenue cycle solution? How do these solutions enhance the integrity and efficiency of the EHR, CDI, and coding processes? We must work collaboratively with our vendors as our partners but never confuse our professional standards, use good judgment and ethics to strike a balance to select solutions that enhance our performance.

Personal and professional development: It is hard to predict if we’re ready for the changes that may come in a single year, let alone whether we’re ready to meet the opportunities and challenges that may come in the next 10 years or beyond. Advancing digital and mobile technologies, the growing role of artificial intelligence and natural language processing, telemedicine, and the long-term possibility of ICD-11 will shape the future of CDI and HIM in ways that are difficult to predict. Ongoing changes accentuate the need for advanced skills in clinical, coding, and documentation integrity not just to add multiple initials for various certifications onto one’s business card. We must recognize that we need continuous lifetime learning and specialized education to support new roles.

The start of a new calendar is a perfect time to draw your own personal road map and reevaluate what path that you choose to go down. And if you don’t like it, take a turn and readjust—you have the power to do that. Let’s look forward to a year of new possibilities, new leadership in our country, new technologies, and new personal and professional growth. Change can be good, but only if it’s done with the right goals in mind.

Editor’s note: This article was adapted from the original published in HIM Briefings. Grzybowski is the president of HIMentors, LLC, which specializes in HIM operations, education, best practices, EHR/EDMS implementation, CAC, and CDI coding consultation. For information, visit www.HIMentors.com or email info@HIMentors.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent HCPro or ACDIS.