Minnesota CDI reflect importance of local gatherings

Minnesota may have 10,000 lakes but its CDI population hasn’t hit that highwater mark quite yet.

Minnesota's known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. So far the lakes outnumber CDI but not for long.

Thanks to Michelle Callahan’s reservoir of good will, however, more than a dozen professionals turned out for the first Minnesota gathering of CDI,  Wednesday, September 16. Participants introduced themselves and talked about a variety of complex issues from electronic query systems to obtaining physician support for the CDI program. They talked about the function and form of the group and determined how the group might proceed with future meetings.

What particularly impressed me about the meeting wasn’t so different from what impresses me about other local ACDIS groups and CDI professionals individually— participants’ generosity.  Callahan, a registered nurse and lead clinical documentation improvement specialist over at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, started collecting names and reaching out to nearby facilities to determine if there was enough interest in generating a group meeting. She volunteered to host the first session. She set up a meeting room, booked a conference line, and on the day of the gathering facilitated the conversation. During the meeting others shared their stories, talked about daily challenges and management successes.

It may not seem like much on the surface — an occasional meeting with others from your profession — but if you look at just the right angle under just the right light a universe of information is reflected back. Maybe the Land of the 10,000 Lakes doesn’t need 10,000 CDI, just the encouragement and continued participation of others in the area should be enough.

Mark LeBlanc, RN, CCDS, from Park Nicollet Health Services, hosts the next Minnesota meeting on October 28, 2-3:30 p.m. For information, e-mail Mark.LeBlanc@ParkNicollet.com.