Harmony Insight

The field of oncology data management is entering a new era—driven by increasing demands for accurate, timely data and constrained by a shrinking pool of qualified professionals. While the challenges are real, the opportunity to innovate has never been greater. Here, we share the importance of automation in oncology data management. A Shrinking Talent Pool, A Growing Need In 2023, the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) officially renamed the Certified Tumor Registrar role to Oncology Data Specialist (ODS)—a name that more accurately reflects the growing clinical and analytical complexity of the profession. But with the title evolution has come a deeper…

Harmony Healthcare provides healthcare organizations with the talent and resources needed to succeed today as well as the foresight to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. In this employee spotlight, we’re excited to highlight Sandra Andrade, Director, Coding Solutions. We spoke with Sandra to share her advice for clients and coding professionals as well as insights from her career journey. 1. Can you tell us about your journey in healthcare? From a young age, I knew I wanted to be part of the healthcare field. My journey started in a pre-nursing program right out of high school, but I soon discovered my…

The demand for skilled outpatient Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) professionals is rapidly increasing as healthcare delivery shifts toward ambulatory and outpatient settings. Accurate documentation in these settings is critical for quality patient care, regulatory compliance, and optimal reimbursement. For those seeking to advance their careers in outpatient CDI, a range of educational pathways and certifications are available-each designed to validate expertise, enhance employability, and support professional growth. Educational Pathways for Outpatient CDI Foundational Training 1. ACDIS Outpatient CDI Apprenticeship: The Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) offers a comprehensive Outpatient CDI Apprenticeship program. This certificate program covers foundational outpatient…

Healthcare organizations face growing administrative demands, from managing patient records and scheduling to ensuring regulatory compliance. These non-clinical tasks, while essential, can divert attention and resources away from core responsibilities and patient care. One effective solution gaining traction is contract staffing—leveraging skilled contractors to alleviate administrative burdens and drive operational efficiency. Here we share how contract staffing can lessen administrative burdens and enhance operational efficiency, so your internal employees can focus on patient care. How Contract Staffing Reduces Administrative Burdens Contract staffing involves hiring professionals on a temporary or project basis to handle specific administrative functions. This approach offers several…

Maintaining revenue integrity is a persistent challenge for healthcare organizations, directly impacting financial health, compliance, and patient care. As the regulatory landscape grows more complex and margins tighten, understanding and addressing the most common obstacles is essential. Here we explore the key challenges in revenue integrity—focusing on documentation, coding, charge capture, billing, and compliance—and offer actionable solutions to overcome them. Coding Accuracy and Documentation Challenges Obstacles: Incomplete or inaccurate clinical documentation is a leading cause of coding errors, claim denials, and lost revenue. Coders depend on thorough records to assign correct codes. Missing or vague information can often lead to…

As healthcare organizations face rising costs and ongoing labor challenges, many are re-evaluating their staffing models, especially for non-clinical roles such as IT, billing, HR, administrative, coding, and revenue cycle. One key strategy is the use of contractors instead of full-time employees. But is this approach cost-effective? Here we explore the evidence and considerations. Rising Healthcare Costs and Labor Pressures Healthcare costs are projected to increase significantly in 2025, with employers expecting a 6.7% average rise in healthcare expenses. Labor remains one of the largest cost drivers, and while clinical staffing shortages have dominated headlines, non-clinical roles are also under…

The healthcare industry is facing a significant shortage of medical coders - a crisis that has wide-reaching implications for revenue cycle management, patient care, and financial stability. Understanding the root causes of this shortage and implementing effective strategies is crucial for any organization aiming to maintain operational efficiency and compliance. Here we share the factors behind the talent shortage of medical coders and how your organization can stand out to talent. Why Is There a Medical Coding Workforce Shortage? There are several factors contributing to the current shortage of medical coders: Rapid Industry Growth: The healthcare sector has expanded significantly,…

Harmony Healthcare provides healthcare organizations with the talent and resources needed to succeed today as well as the foresight to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. In this employee spotlight, we’re excited to highlight Kathy Pride, Director, Coding Solutions. We spoke with Kathy to share her advice for clients and coding professionals as well as insights from her career journey. 1. Tell us about your journey in healthcare? My introduction to healthcare began when I was a unit secretary in a hospital. Although that role wasn’t the right fit, it led me to return to school, where I discovered the field of…

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release at the end of May stating that they will be ramping up Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) audits. There will be 2000 coders auditing 200 patient charts across 550 Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The numbers are up from 40 coders auditing 35 patient charts across 30 MA plans prior to these planned audits. These retrospective reviews will occur from 2018-2024 and should be completed by early 2026. Extrapolation will occur following the audit to recoup the estimated $17 billion in overpayment to MA plans. Outpatient Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI)…