Meet the CAB member: Aimee Van Balen serves Massachusetts CDI professionals

Editor’s note: There are more than 40 local chapters and networking groups across the country and internationally, each led by a team of dedicated volunteers. To support these volunteers the Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) meets regularly to discuss matters of concern and to provide guidance to local chapters. This week, please take a minute to get to know Aimee Van Balen, RN, BSN, CCDS, a certified senior CDI specialist at Lifespan Corporation in Providence, Rhode Island. If you are a local chapter leader or participate in local chapter events, you’ve no doubt benefited from their efforts, so why not take a moment and shoot them an email to share your thoughts? Contact Van Balen via email at avanbalen@lifespan.org.

Aimee Van Balen, RN, BSN, CCDS
Certified Senior Clinical Documentation Specialist
Lifespan Corporation in Providence, Rhode Island
avanbalen@lifespan.org

When did you join CDI and how did you get here?

I currently work at Lifespan Corporation in Providence, Rhode Island, as a senior CDI specialist. I am coming up to almost nine years in the role and truly could not have imagined how much the CDI industry would change within that time frame.

Since entering the CDI field, I joined the Massachusetts ACDIS leadership team, served on the ACDIS Chapter Advisory Board, spoke at the 2017 ACDIS national conference, and have been lucky enough to join the ACDIS staff on ACDIS Radio twice. I received my CCDS certification in 2011.

In my current role, I not only review charts and educate providers but also serve as a resource to my peers and often train new staff on the day-to-day aspects of our job. I also review charts concurrently for HACs/PSIs, mortality and length of stay risk adjustment, and pre-bill retrospective mortality charts for risk adjustment optimization.

What made you volunteer for the local chapter?

I was looking for a new way to get more involved within the CDI profession and felt that I had much to offer our local chapter. My co-leads and I have been busy since the initiation of our tenure creating bylaws, building our membership, and incorporating a strong emphasis on education for our events. We have also collaborated with the MA AHIMA for an all-day Northeast CDI and Coding Symposium, which had its third successful event this past summer.

Chapter leadership involvement has reignited my energy for the CDI profession. It is so rewarding to plan and execute a successful event that is meaningful to our members. I have been so fortunate to get to know many of my CDI peers on a more personal basis as a result, and it has enhanced my leadership, communication, and networking skills.