News: Willcutt, Boldt, Salunkhe, Savage, and Sandstrom-Schipma win 2018 ACDIS Achievement Awards

Every year, ACDIS celebrates the achievements of exceptional CDI professionals. Nominations come from peers in the industry. The ACDIS Conference Committee then reviews applications and chooses the final winners. Click here to read about the award criteria, nomination, and selection process.

This year’s winners are:

CDI Professional of the Year

Rebecca Willcutt, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CRC, director of the CDI program at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, is “not only a director, but a mentor,” according to one nominator. “Her unwavering standards in practice and kindness are why people not only find fulfillment in their roles under her but actively seeking employment by her because of her integrity and solid standards.”

Willcutt successfully manages the hybrid (remote and on-site) CDI team at Cooper while being remote herself and has built a cohesive team nonetheless. Under her leadership, the CDI team aided in a 65% reduction of patient safety indicators and hospital-acquired conditions, achieved a 100% query response rate, and retained 100% of their CDI specialists on staff. She has also developed an ambulatory program growing it from two to six CDI specialists.

“Rebecca genuinely cares for each individual team members and pushes us to do our best,” said another nominator. “Rebecca is an invaluable leader and deserves to be recognized.”

“On a personal level, I don’t think I could find the words,” wrote one nominator. “This submission on paper cannot possibly embody all of what Rebecca means for each and every one of us both professionally and personally.”

Congratulations, Rebecca!

Recognition of CDI Professional Achievement

Tracy Boldt, RN, BSN, CCDS, CDIP, is the CDI system manager at Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota. “When I think of a CDI role model and mentor, the first person who comes to mind is Tracy,” wrote one nominator. “I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for this award.”

Since stepping into her current role two years ago, Boldt has created a single cohesive inpatient CDI department from three separate departments distributed across the health system. She has brought the teams together through creative efforts like an off-site staff retreat. Additionally, Boldt identified the need for an ambulatory CDI program and worked to build and launch the program from the ground-up—from crafting job descriptions, procedures, and educational materials, to hiring and training staff.

“Tracy exemplifies strong characteristics of servant leadership,” another nominator wrote. “She does not lead from above but seeks collaboration and input from all. She is an excellent listener and will make decisions for the benefits of the group.”

“In regard to her passion for CDI,” one nominator said, “I frankly find it difficult to keep up with her pace. She has a strong desire to remain up-to-date and cutting edge along with sharing her passion for CDI and her knowledge.”

Congratulations, Tracy!

Excellence in Provider Engagement

Vijeta Salunkhe, MBBS, MHA, MBA, CCDS, CCS, is the CDI manager at Baylor Scott and White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple, Texas. “Due to her excellent leadership and cooperative skills, she has been able to build strong relationships with our physicians, advance nurse practitioners, residents, case management team, and other personnel,” wrote one nominator.

After launching her facility’s CDI program in 2007, Dr. Salunkhe has worked with the physicians to develop pediatric CDI query templates and case studies for standardized physician education. Additionally, she worked to successfully implement electronic query tools and CDI work queues within the EHR system. She is currently a co-leader of the Texas ACDIS chapter and is a member of the Forms & Tools Library Committee.

“I have observed her to be a strong professional with outstanding critical thinking skills, leadership abilities, and a cooperative spirit,” wrote another nominator.

“She always leads by example, having a positive influence on her peers and colleagues,” said one nominator. She is “always working to keep everyone on track and move our organizational goals forward in a positive way.”

Congratulations, Dr. Salunkhe!

Pediatric CDI Professional Achievement

Leah Savage, MSN, RN, CCDS, is the system manager of CDI at Norton Health Care in Louisville, Kentucky. “In my many years in CDI, I cannot think of a more qualified, dedicated, and passionate CDI professional than Leah,” wrote one nominator.

Savage built the pediatric CDI program at her facility from scratch. She then served as the sole CDI specialist while also serving as a co-leader of APDIS, the pediatric chapter of ACDIS, and of the Kentucky/Southern Indiana chapter. Her extensive knowledge gave her the opportunity to serve as a contributor to and a reviewer of ACDIS’ pediatric CDI guide, Pediatric CDI: Building Blocks for Success, and she has spoken at both state and national conferences. Because of her success in rolling out the pediatric CDI program, Savage was recently promoted to the manager of the system-wide CDI program.

Savage’s “passion for CDI and pediatrics is very much visible when you talk with her or listen to her presentations,” another nominator wrote. “Many people from different states reach out to her for assistance and information because of her expertise and knowledge in pediatrics and CDI.”

She “has demonstrated her love for the CDI profession and made significant contributions,” one nominator said. “I look forward to watching her continued growth and influence in the profession.”

Congratulations, Leah!

Rookie of the Year

Heather Sandstrom-Schipma, RN, BSN, a CDI specialist at Dignity Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, with Optum360, started working in CDI in 2017 and has “become the ‘go to CDI’ for all things NICU related,” one of her nominators wrote.

Sandstrom-Schipma’s background before joining CDI was in pediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care, and emergency trauma. Currently, she leverages that background in reviewing NICU documentation, conducting physician education, and providing education to the rest of the CDI team.

“She has attended every available education opportunity within our organization,” one nominator wrote. “[She] has become a resource for staff in other hospitals in our client organization who are facing the same challenges she did as a new CDI specialist.”

Sandstrom-Schimpa “has an insatiable appetite to learn, and is always looking for ways to improve our process,” writes her nominator. “She has become an indispensable member of our team.”

Congratulations, Heather!