An HIM director’s holiday wish list

Why This Topic Matters

It highlights practical management issues that affect coding, CDI, compliance, staffing, and HIM department sustainability in smaller health systems. Readers can quickly see whether the article addresses workforce, technology, and organizational planning concerns relevant to their role.

Article Sections

1. Holiday wish list for HIM leaders

   An overview of the HIM director’s perspective on the department’s priorities and challenges during a busy year-end period. The section frames the article as a set of operational and organizational wishes.

2. Staffing, CDI, and payer concerns

   Discussion of coder retention, CDI program development, and reimbursement pressures affecting staffing and departmental resources. The section focuses on workforce and organizational support issues.

3. Resources, leadership visibility, and compliance

   General comments on finding more user-friendly regulatory resources, educating leadership about HIM’s role, and supporting privacy and compliance efforts. The section emphasizes communication and reference sources.

4. Hiring, rural operations, and department modernization

   Coverage of hiring practices, rural staffing constraints, hybrid record environments, and the need for updated equipment and workflows. The section also touches on broader departmental modernization goals.

5. Patient information, community education, and HIM advocacy

   Broader ideas for helping patients manage their health information and for educating the community and hospital leadership about HIM’s role. The section includes advocacy at the local and government levels.