Contemporary Consultants Company ® — Health Documentation, Medical Records and Medical Coding

Susan L. Bouffard, LNHA, M.Ed., RHIA

Susan is a Registered Health Information Administrator who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in medical record administration from Indiana University/Purdue University in Bloomington, Indiana and the Medical Center campus in Indianapolis, Indiana. Susan then obtained a master's degree in post-secondary education from the college of graduate studies at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH. In addition, she is a licensed nursing home administrator in both Ohio and Pennsylvania after completing the necessary training and passing both the federal and state exams. Her consulting company has provided contractual consultation services in all areas of HIM expertise at over 150 skilled nursing facilities, NFs, hospitals and community health care service providers in the past 20+ years.

Professionally, Ms. Bouffard, who owns and operates Contemporary Consultants Company, has accomplished the following:

• Worked as Assistant Director of the Medical Record Department at a 550-bed hospital in Cleveland, OH.
• Established, directed and taught the medical record technology program at a major state university in Ohio; contracted with 15 area hospitals for student rotation and clinical practicums.
• Served as a professional consultant to a major state university for the development of a baccalaureate program in Health Information Management.
• Developed and inaugurated Contemporary Consultants Company in 1981 as a premier health care documentation consulting business. In 2001, CCC expanded its base to service national clients.
• Lectured as an instructor for the Nursing Home Administration Core of Knowledge at Ohio State University for Clinical Record Practices in long-term care.
• Coordinated the patient assessment reimbursement system as chief consultant for Presbyterian Retirement Services.
• Lectured as a featured speaker on health care management information for Leadership Healthcare and Healthcare Ventures Alliance.
• Supervised and directed several administrator-in-training protégées in Pittsburgh, PA as the licensed nursing home administrator for each facility.
• Conducted Medicare quality assurance reviews for an out-patient rehabilitation company at four individual sites.
• Oversaw and developed a transitional skilled nursing unit at a regional satellite of UPMC on a consulting basis.
• Consulted for Arthur Andersen and Co. at five major medical centers for HIM management and acute care reimbursement issues; provided outsource coding services to all entities: acute care, inpatient psychiatric, and inpatient acute rehab.
• Contracted for onsite management of medical record departments of an outpatient psychiatric facility, an inpatient osteopathic hospital, and an IRF.
• Taught ICD-9-CM coding to staff at various SNFs throughout multiple states.

Susan is an active member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Chicago, IL, and participates in Communities of Practice for acute care, long-term care, inpatient rehab, LTACH, health care documentation, HIPAA, coding, compliance and consulting.

Cynthia Giddens, RN

Cynthia has 35 years of experience in the health care field in both clerical and clinical settings. She is highly detail-oriented, makes sound decisions, and is a proven team leader. Every consulting assignment Cynthia has led and participated in has been a success.

Cynthia, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, is a Registered Nurse who previously served as an LPN with extensive years of clinical experience. Her continued expansion of education and documentation skills further complements her abilities in health information management, greatly enhancing Contemporary Consultants Company's capability with our clients.

Cynthia has experience at all levels of health information management — as a unit clerk, medical records coordinator, and subsequently as a HIM consultant. She has overseen the daily functioning of medical record departments for clients, managing HIM projects while simultaneously improving her clinical skills, continuing education, and attendance at compliance, documentation, and reimbursement seminars.

Ms. Giddens has processed medical information from both ends: as the originator and responsible entity for patient care, and as the organizer and processor of the documents that flow from it — an unparalleled combination of perspective and skill.

Hired in 2002 by Contemporary Consultants Company, Cynthia's attention to detail and follow-through have caused clients to rave about her work. She is a valuable asset to the CCC team and will prove to be an exceptional consultant to your team.