December 2022 Member Spotlight
Heather Duke, RHIT
Professional Shares
Where do you work and what is your job title?
I am currently a Clinical Application Training Specialist for Professional and Hospital Billing with UAMS.
How long have you been a member of ArHIMA?
I believe I have been a member of ArHIMA for 8 years.
What certification types have you received or are seeking to receive?
Currently, I have my RHIT, and I hope to start working toward my RHIA soon.
Which college/university did you attend?
I obtained my degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
What made you decide to pursue a career in HIM?
A very dear friend and longtime mentor of mine actually influenced me to pursue a career in HIM. I was a new hire into his department as an HIM Tech 1 processing charts and doing release of information for a critical access facility and realized I had a talent for it. I also enjoyed the work and discovered I had a passion for helping patients understand their records and become their own advocates of their healthcare.
What other jobs and/or titles have you held prior to the present one?
I have held positions in a variety of roles such as Insurance Verification/AR for an SNF Company in Dallas, Release of Information Specialist & Charge Capture Specialist for UAMS, Outpatient Coder for Arkansas Children’s, and most recently I was a Data Integrity System Analyst for UAMS.
What are some of your responsibilities at your current position?
Currently, I am responsible for supporting all elements of training: planning, design, development, and implementation for the Professional Billing application with the Epic EHR for UAMS.
What is a typical day like for you?
In a typical day, I will update training materials, coordinate/teach training classes, research and optimize workflows, and assist in troubleshooting for the Professional Billing application end users.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy sharing my knowledge. I enjoy the thrill of the investigation when there are discrepancies and the relief of finally recognizing the problem and being able to resolve it. More specifically to my current role, I enjoy being able to provide end users with the tools and knowledge they need to be able to perform their job tasks more confidently and efficiently. I am a big believer in working smarter, not harder.
Any other professional tidbit(s) you want to include?
Enjoy what you do. If you don’t enjoy what you do, your job becomes a chore. When you enjoy what you do and feel passionately about it, then you will succeed and gain a sense of purpose and confidence. And don’t underestimate the power of networking. I have gotten to where I am today because of some amazing people who have mentored, guided, and respected me, which has allowed me to fully realize my worth.
Personal Shares
What is your favorite food?
Anything Korean 😊
What’s something about you (a fun fact) not many people know?
I have been an avid Kpop fan (currently Stray Kids stan) and KDrama viewer for 10 years now. (I might have an obsession 😉)
What’s your favorite family tradition?
Big family holidays and celebrations. Everyone always gathers at either my moms or my grandmas for a big celebration. There’s always lots of food, lots of laughter, and lots of love.
Who had the most influence on you growing up?
My grandfather is my biggest role model. He was a pillar of the community widely respected. We are originally from a very small town in Arkansas and I remember running errands around town with him; folks would constantly recognize him and comment on how “they were who they are today” because of his guidance. I admire him for that.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
Katy Perry, I think, or Taylor Swift… (they happened so close to each other)
What’s something you want to do that you’ve never done before?
Own my own business and work for myself.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard?
“Do it right the first time and you won’t have to do it again.” -my grandfather
Do you like to cook? If so, what is your favorite thing to cook?
Yes. I don’t really have a favorite.
If you could get on a plane tonight and travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
South Korea and go on a food tour. (yum!)
Where is one place in Arkansas you would suggest people to visit?
Eureka Springs. And take the tram tour to all the different springs and through Eureka.