Meet Joni Pelis

Health Information Director—Retiring after 34 years of service at Syracuse Home

Where did you grow up? Oswego, New York. What is your education background?

I went to a two­year college in Worchester, MA and, at that time, a correspondence course was offered through AHIMA to become a RHIT. Changes from ICD­9 to ICD­10 sent me back to college in 2011 for course work in anatomy and physiology and training in the new coding system.

How long have your worked at Syracuse Home?

What positions have you held?

I was hired first as an accredited record technician consultant in 1989. Six years later, I was hired as the organization’s first medical records director. My job was to apply my medical record management background toward a department that had not yet been established at Syracuse Home.

How many employees work for you?

The department requires the support of a certified records technician, and two part­time employees.

Please tell us about your department. Although our residents don’t see our department, we work in a way that is different from our peers. Our job is to store, maintain, and protect our residents’ health care story. In 1991, with the era of computerization the American Medical Record Association changed our name to the American Health Information Association and my title changed from an accredited records technician to registered health information technician. With this, my duties changed to include computerized resident health data.

My key function as health information technician is to translate resident diagnoses to numeric ICD­10 coding. ICD­10 is an International Classification of Diseases. It is a system published by the United States for classifying diagnoses and reason for all visits in health care settings. The coding data is linked to our facility software programs required to obtain resident doctor orders, medication administration, rehabilitation therapy, and billing. Resident data is also used to classify resident conditions and are a key function in the work of the QAA/QAPI Committee. This committee oversees and assures the quality of care provided to our residents, that we have safe working conditions and environment for staff, and visitors.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is depending on the hospitals to provide complete medical data that tells the story of the patient during their hospital stay. Communication is key from one healthcare setting to another for continuation of resident care.

What do you love the most about your job?

I enjoy reading our resident’s health story, and knowing that it’s my job to summarize, interpret, and code the health history for our team.

What will you miss the most about your job after you retire?

I will miss seeing the loving care provided to our residents by our dedicated staff, and hearing joyous laughter shared between residents and staff.

Tell us about your family.

My husband, Tom and I have been married for 46 years. We have three children, Zack, Jenelle, and Jeremy. I also have seven grandchildren. Syracuse Home has been part of our family history. Our children grew up volunteering on Christmas Eve assisting staff with resident transfer to the Christmas party and delivering gifts. Unfortunately, with COVID restrictions on visitation, it has prevented us from participating in our favorite family tradition.

How

do you enjoy your free time?

My happy place is baking cookies, especially at Christmas when I can show my appreciation to others by giving them something delicious. I love those smiles. My husband and I live on a 98­acre farm in Brewerton. We have some livestock, chickens, turkeys, and a pig. We are a couple of “foodies” and enjoy our garden vegetables and developing recipes for our table. We have a successful blueberry patch and raise Christmas trees. I love growing flowers, fishing, running and anything to enjoy the great outdoors.

What do you love the most about Syracuse Home:

Over the past five years, Syracuse Home has taken care of my mom. Her story was she was living near my brother in Vermont. She came to my home for a visit during Christmas and fell on Christmas Day. After a brief hospitalization, she came to Syracuse

Home for short­term rehabilitation. At that time, due to her frail state, it was determined by our health care team that she was unstable for independent living, so she moved to the skilled nursing facility. My mom’s experience at Syracuse Home gave me a completely different perspective of our organization. It became my mom’s new home and I saw how our staff became an extension of her family. Every day, I saw love in their work and treatment of each resident. I am grateful for Syracuse Home and its community of caring people.

My Plans for Retirement:

I look forward to trying new experiences, reading, enjoying my grandchildren, and reflecting on the past with the intention of how past experiences promote my growth for the future. I look forward to finding new ways to give back to the community.

In closing, I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes—“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”—Dalai Lama

Thank you, Joni, for your dedication and commitment to Syracuse Home over the past 34 years. Happy Retirement to you!