An Ideal Candidate
Editor's Note: This entry goes along with our Sept. 22 print feature, "Real-life Trauma," which featured four trauma registrars and what they do, how they do it and what they like and dislike about their jobs. We asked them to describe an ideal trauma registrar, and here is what they came up with.
The trauma registrars in the field gave their descriptions of the qualities that an ideal trauma registrar would have.
"You have to know database management, anatomy and physiology, And medical terminology. You have to know ICD-9 coding for discharge diagnosis and injury E codes. You have to know how to apply injury severity scoring ... You have to be able to zero in on things that aren't quite right, know why they aren't right and know how to fix them."
-Jane Riebe, BA, CSTR, director of regional trauma registries and project assistant for regional disaster planning, The Hospital Council of Northwestern Ohio, Toledo
"You have to be organized and detail-oriented, and you have to like paperwork. Obviously, you have to enjoy sitting most of day and computers. It's not like you're going to be out with a lot of people talking to you all day. It's not for somebody who enjoys interacting with people all day because you might get really bored and/or lonely after a while."
-Roberta Smith, LPN, trauma registrar, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, FL
"A multi-tasker ... You work with so many different people, so you have to be respectful, and you have to gain their trust. Sense of humor is a good one, and somebody that's dedicated to detail. And I think an HIM background is a must."
-Mardi Davis, BS, RHIT, CSTR, CAISS, data systems specialist, trauma administration, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center / Mercy Children's Hospital, Toledo, OH
"My recommendations are a medical record background. I think an RHIT or RHIA probably qualifies you the best ... You really need a coding background. You need to be able to do ICD-9 coding. We do AIS coding, which is Abbreviated Industry Scoring, through the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine."
- Ellen Fitzenrider, BA, RHIT,, trauma data management coordinator, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH