Episode #50: Surgeon Transitions to CDI Specialist
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How would you like to still use your medical knowledge and keep learning new things, but not be stressed out by the challenges of patient care? If so, being a CDI specialist might be just the ticket. Today I’m speaking with Dr. Jenn Jolley, a general surgeon who put the scalpel down to work in Clinical Documentation Improvement so she could still use her medical training but have more family time. Come find out why she left surgery, what her day-to-day is like, and how to explore this flexible career path.
In this episode we’re talking about:
- Dr. Jenn Jolley’s transition from surgeon to CDI specialist
- What it’s like to work in Clinical Documentation Improvement
- What Jenn’s typical day is like
- The teamwork she does with her coding partner
- What qualifications are needed for this kind of work?
- The good news – no prior coding experience is necessary
- Why Jenn does not regret leaving surgery
- Some steps you can take to explore working CDI
Links for this episode:
ACDIS.org – The Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists
Free and sponsored resources through ACDIS
Certificates and Certifications through ACDIS
Ahima.org – The American Health Information Management Association – Training and Educational Resources
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"Heather taught me that 'the truth will set you free'."
I sought Heather’s guidance after practicing outpatient internal medicine for many years, as it was getting difficult to balance my role as a clinician while meeting my needs and those of my family. After our first consultation, I felt like I was seen and heard for the first time in my career. Working with Heather helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, fears, and goals, and ultimately guided me to a non-clinical role that better aligned with my needs and aspirations. I am deeply indebted to Heather for the impact she has had on my personal and professional development. She is one of the most influential people in my life and I continue to seek her guidance years after our initial encounter. She once said that “we are happiest and most successful when we are using our skills and abilities at their highest level.” Heather will help you discover your truth. Thank you for your incredible work and friendship!
Megan Leivant, MD
"Heather’s approach was great! She would listen to me and helped me appreciate who I am."
I remember when she said ‘do your resume before our next meeting’, I was about to push back but she gently nudged me along and I’m glad I did exactly what she wanted me to do. We also did interview prep via Zoom and I was offered a great job in UM. She has continued to follow up even after I was offered this job, helping me with pointers about negotiating. I will totally recommend the Doctors Crossing and Heather to anyone feeling stuck like me and looking for a great coach! Thank you Heather!
- Modupe Oladeinde, MD
“The coaching I have had with you has been life changing."
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I met Heather at the SEAK conference. She and I revisited this question. Did I want to quit being medicine completely? She helped me to identify my needs, wants, and my vision for my FUTURE, not just in medicine, but in life!!!
She was able to listen to my "ramblings" about becoming a stand-up comic, lounge singer and voice-over actor and translate them into action steps. I chose to become a composite of all of these. Now I am a more confident, healthier, happier person. I credit this in its entirety to the tutelage I have received and continue to receive from Heather. She cares. She listens. She was there for ME. She will be there for YOU!
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Heather helped me understand that I am more than just a doctor and that my experiences in clinical medicine are valuable in so many arenas. As a result I realized that there are other ways to use my background, still be able to help people and continue to challenge myself and grow. To that end I discovered coaching - specifically health coaching. I am on my journey becoming a health coach and truly loving it!
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What started out as an initial thirty-minute consultation call turned into an amazing four-year journey that transformed my life, personally, spiritually and professionally.
Heather helped me to discover my passions...by doing so, I discovered I still had a calling for medicine but it now came from a place of truth...
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She is incredibly knowledgeable about the range of careers available to physicians and provided me with advice and connections which I would not have found on my own. From the start she encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try different things. I was laid off unexpectedly in early 2017, and Heather gave me the confidence to create a new livelihood by following my heart and making decisions based on trust, not fear. Now I am enjoying working part-time in a clinical setting in addition to teaching and writing.
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My career was going reasonably well but I couldn’t shake this nagging feeling I could do better; or at least find a better long-term career fit.
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If you are reading this as a “Type A” surgeon who doesn’t think coaching is for you, I would encourage you to give Heather a shot. I’m very glad I did!
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Through our work, I learned to trust myself to make good decisions for my own future – something I hadn’t realized I was struggling with because as an emergency physician, I make life-changing decisions with patients every day.
By feeding my creativity and interests in other realms of my professional life, I’ve found renewed compassion for my patients and myself, making every shift an opportunity to actually care for people. Thank you Heather. I really couldn’t have made these changes without your help!
- Liz McMurtry, DO
“The simple truth is - Heather Fork totally helped me change my life."
I never would have had the courage to make the changes I’ve made without her unwavering support, wealth of knowledge and commitment.
When I first started working with Heather, I was downtrodden...I’d been practicing medicine for 20+ years and yet had never quite found my place. During the first year I worked with Heather, I left the practice I’d been working at, and recreated an entirely new professional purpose.
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"There have been a handful of people who have come into my life and changed it, and Heather is one of those people."
From the very first interaction with Heather, it became abundantly clear that she possessed a systematic approach and a methodology firmly rooted in my focusing on my goals and aspirations. Heather's coaching sessions helped me dismantle limiting beliefs and unearth the capable woman, mother, and physician within me. Under Heather's guidance, I began to dream again. I rediscovered my passion for writing, found the courage to share my stories, and even launched my own coaching practice. Today, I specialize in helping others conquer imposter syndrome and overcome burnout, empowering them to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. Working with Heather fundamentally shifted my perspective and allowed me to show up authentically in every facet of my life, resulting in a profound sense of fulfillment.
I am deeply grateful that I can continue my work in the emergency department and serve my community as a physician as well as a coach. Working with Heather was a transformative gift that enabled me to rediscover my true self, find clarity in my life's purpose, and unlock my full potential. Through her guidance, I not only reignited the powerful, confident, and bold version of myself I had lost sight of but also realized the boundless possibilities that lay ahead.
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Making a career shift can be a lonely time, and Heather was there every step of the way with encouraging words. She helped me gain a better understanding of the breadth of careers available to physicians, as well as giving me the tools to make that leap possible. My life is better than I ever thought possible. I'm happier, healthier and doing work that I love. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.
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Reshma Shah MD, MPH
"Heather taught me that 'the truth will set you free'."
I sought Heather’s guidance after practicing outpatient internal medicine for many years, as it was getting difficult to balance my role as a clinician while meeting my needs and those of my family. After our first consultation, I felt like I was seen and heard for the first time in my career. Working with Heather helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, fears, and goals, and ultimately guided me to a non-clinical role that better aligned with my needs and aspirations. I am deeply indebted to Heather for the impact she has had on my personal and professional development. She is one of the most influential people in my life and I continue to seek her guidance years after our initial encounter. She once said that “we are happiest and most successful when we are using our skills and abilities at their highest level.” Heather will help you discover your truth. Thank you for your incredible work and friendship!
Megan Leivant, MD
"Heather’s approach was great! She would listen to me and helped me appreciate who I am."
I remember when she said ‘do your resume before our next meeting’, I was about to push back but she gently nudged me along and I’m glad I did exactly what she wanted me to do. We also did interview prep via Zoom and I was offered a great job in UM. She has continued to follow up even after I was offered this job, helping me with pointers about negotiating. I will totally recommend the Doctors Crossing and Heather to anyone feeling stuck like me and looking for a great coach! Thank you Heather!
- Modupe Oladeinde, MD
Excellent podcast.
I am a senior physician seeking something like this.
After graduating with honors from medical school, I did a medicine internship, followed by general surgery residency, cardiovascular fellowship and 25 years of practice. I took a little time of and “reinvented” myself in emergency medicine and urgent care medicine which I have done for 21 years.
I am retiring from clinical medicine, but would enjoy something like this.
Please advise about getting a job doing CDI.
Thanks so much
James V. Richardson, MD
Hello Dr. Richardson, thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing this comment with your extensive history of clinical and surgical practice. You would bring a wealth of experience to CDI work. I am linking to two additional podcasts on CDI ( hosted by Dr. John Jurica ) where suggestions are offered for transiting CDI positions. You can also search on job sites such as indeed.com and LinkedIn for jobs using the title CDI specialist or Clinical Documentation Improvement. Good luck!
CDI with Dr. Cesar Limjoco
https://nonclinicalphysicians.com/clinical-documentation-improvement/
CDI with Dr. Christian Zouain
https://nonclinicalphysicians.com/cdi-expert/