Meet Samantha J. Baker, AS, CAISS. Samantha is a Trauma Quality Analytics Manager for the Trauma Institute at the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.
How long have you been using AIS?
I have been using AIS since 2016, when I joined the trauma world.
What inspired you to obtain CAISS credentials?
My mentor, colleague, and friend, Wanda Bowen, encouraged me to seek the CAISS certification early on in my position at the Trauma Institute at my organization. I have always enjoyed anatomy, and certification relies heavily on it – at least partly! I also enjoy a challenge, and the CAISS test was a great one to meet.
What are your main areas of interest in the field of injury scoring?
I am most interested to see where this field takes us in the healthcare arena, and how granular we can get with describing and coding injury severity in order to capture the highest quality of data for research.
What do you find most rewarding about working in this field?
The most rewarding aspect of trauma data and analytics is knowing that my team and I are doing our part to support ACS verification here at our hospital. I also take great pride in showing my colleagues what the data can support and tell us, as well as how it can drive the development of best practices for our patients. It’s great to know that a clinical background isn’t necessarily required in order to be successful in the field of trauma!
What do you hope to accomplish while on the AIS Certification Board?
I hope to encourage more analysts to sit for the CAISS certification, and I would love to work my way towards instructing the AIS course!
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I have a yarn collecting addiction, and I enjoy knitting in my spare time.
How do you think the field is changing, and what trends do you see coming up on the horizon?
I can foresee an increase in the use of AI as an adjunct to manual EMR abstraction in order to streamline the data collection process – but I am confident that there will always be a need for HUMAN analysts to ensure the quality and accuracy of that data!
What advice would you give to someone interested in CAISS credentials?
If you’re passionate about anatomy and physiology, as well as medical terminology, go for it!
What’s one thing – either field-related or not – you learned in the last month?
I re-learn every year that we as trauma data analysts across the country all deal with similar barriers and challenges – it strengthens my resolve to do better and work towards a common goal beside my peers. At our recent TQIP annual scientific meeting, I was reminded of the importance of quality data for use in all aspects of trauma programs!
Is there anything else you would like to share with your colleagues?
I enjoy helping others with reporting and problem-solving, and I love to network!