糖心Vlog传媒

Member Spotlight: Danielle D. Thompson, RHIA

Danielle D. Thompson, RHIA, brings an undeniable presence to every room she enters. Not because she is the loudest voice, but because she refuses to stay silent when something must be said.

Career Journey

Danielle first discovered health information management (HIM) at Alabama State University, where professors Nina McConico, Robert Garrie, and Dr. Linda Woodruff shaped her foundation. One of the first lessons she learned still guides her today: 鈥淚 am. Not my name is鈥攂ut I am.鈥� It was a reminder that identity, confidence, and grit are the starting points for a meaningful career.

Since then, Danielle has served in leadership roles at the local and state levels, including as President of the Louisiana Health Information Management Association (LHIMA). She has also participated on 糖心Vlog传媒 committees, contributing her perspective on governance, finance, and workforce initiatives.

Today, she is Chief of Health Information Management for the Veterans Health Administration in New Orleans, where she leads a skilled team serving the nation鈥檚 heroes. For Danielle, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to ensure excellence in documentation, compliance, and data integrity in service to those who have served.

Her compass has always been the same: transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. Not accountability as punishment, but accountability as promise.

Challenges and Opportunities in HI

Danielle believes one of the biggest challenges in HIM is balancing rapid innovations鈥擜I, automation, and digital health platforms鈥攚ith the need for data integrity, compliance, and governance. At the same time, she sees HIM professionals as central to guiding this transformation.

鈥淗IM professionals are some of the most intelligent and equipped individuals I鈥檝e ever met. We cannot sit quietly at the back of the room, then get frustrated when we aren鈥檛 heard. We belong at the table where policies and workflows are written.鈥�

She also notes that the lanes of HIM are widening. Beyond coding, CDI, and compliance, new opportunities are emerging in governance of artificial intelligence, interoperability, social determinants of health, patient engagement, and health disparity analytics.

Actions in 2025 and Beyond

In the years ahead, Danielle is committed to:

• Expanding workforce pipelines through high school outreach, community college programs, and VA training opportunities.
• Elevating student voices by ensuring they are included at conventions, vendor spaces, and in leadership opportunities.
• Promoting transparent leadership that is inclusive and accountable. Guiding the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technologies without sacrificing compliance, ethics, or human oversight.
• Championing new HIM domains such as digital health privacy, patient experience, and cross-sector data governance.
• Creating pipelines for mid-career professionals exploring HIM as a new path.

She is especially passionate about nurturing curiosity in those who have yet to discover HIM. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 be astounded how many people, even with degrees in other areas, tell me, 鈥業f I had known about HIM, I would have gone into it.鈥欌��

Guidance for Students and Emerging Professionals

The first lesson Danielle learned in HIM was 鈥淚 am.鈥� She hopes every student entering the field will discover that same sense of identity and purpose.

Her advice is both practical and empowering:

• Show up with purpose. Success won鈥檛 be handed to you鈥攜ou have to claim it.
• Bet on yourself. Even when it鈥檚 uncomfortable, take the leap.
• Lean into your strengths. Your strengths will open more doors than obsessing over weaknesses.
• Stay open to opportunities. HIM reaches far beyond coding and CDI鈥攄on鈥檛 limit yourself.
• Accept that you won鈥檛 know it all. Find your gift, grow it, and let it lead the way.

She also reminds students that showing up is more than attendance: 鈥淵ou have to speak up, advocate for yourself, and contribute to the conversation. If you want to be seen, you can鈥檛 hide in the back row.鈥�

Reflections

Danielle believes HIM is a beautiful profession; both essential and endlessly flexible. What excites her most is its expansion into digital health, patient technology, emerging regulations, and cross-sector collaboration.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 cling to the way things used to be. The future is here, and we need to embrace it, get ready for the ride, and go fast. My mission is simple: leave systems stronger, people better, and doors open for those who come behind us.鈥�

Danielle鈥檚 story doesn鈥檛 end here. This October, she鈥檒l bring her voice and perspective to the stage at 糖心Vlog传媒25 in Minneapolis as a presenter in the Bite-Sized Learning sessions. For Danielle, it鈥檚 another chance to speak up, share what she鈥檚 learned, and inspire others to step into their own leadership journeys.

Join Danielle and many more HI leaders at 糖心Vlog传媒25.