In this episode of Igniting the Aurora, we reframe Heart Month through a health information management (HIM) lens—exploring how cardiac care extends far beyond the clinical moment and lives on through documentation, data, and trust.

This conversation examines why cardiovascular care is among the most data-intensive and high-risk areas in healthcare, and how accurate, ethical documentation shapes outcomes long after the heartbeat is stabilized. From chronic heart failure specificity and myocardial infarction timelines, to quality metrics, audits, and value-based reporting, cardiac data carries weight—and with it, responsibility.

Designed for coders, auditors, CDI specialists, revenue integrity professionals, and HIM leaders, this episode highlights how professional judgment, contextual accuracy, and restraint are essential to preserving the truth of cardiac care. Listeners will hear why integrity in heart-related documentation is a form of patient advocacy, how misrepresentation erodes trust even when care is excellent, and why HIM professionals play a quiet but critical role in protecting the story of care.

As healthcare moves deeper into 2026—with faster systems, more automation, and increasing reliance on data—this episode underscores a central truth: innovation may advance cardiac care, but trust is sustained by the integrity of those entrusted with its data.