A holiday checklist for HIM managers

Why This Topic Matters

It helps coding and HIM leaders understand the kinds of staffing, audit, and training issues that can affect productivity, data integrity, and compliance after a major coding transition.

Article Sections

1. Introduction

   Sets the seasonal and operational context for HIM managers and coding teams, with emphasis on the pressures associated with ICD-10 implementation.

2. Are your coders happy?

   Focuses on staff morale, recognition, retention, incentives, and ways to support coding and CDI employees during a stressful period.

3. ICD-10 checkpoint

   Reviews post-implementation evaluation topics such as staffing needs, budget considerations, reimbursement impact, and early gap analysis.

4. Something missing?

   Discusses audit findings, documentation and coding accuracy concerns, and how missing specificity can affect data integrity and claims outcomes.

5. Educate—then educate some more

   Addresses the need for ongoing education, auditing, and compliance follow-up when coding practices or workflow sources produce questionable results.