Balance HI Podcast

Samantha Louigene, MS, RHIA
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Biweekly

I'm Samie — Director of Health Information Management, adjunct professor at multiple universities, and founder of Team Lo LLC. I've spent over a decade inside HIM departments, classrooms, and boardrooms collecting the real gems this profession doesn't hand you in a textbook. This podcast exists because HIM professionals deserve more than textbooks and LinkedIn posts. You need real talk about where the field is going, how AI is changing your role, how to pass your boards, how to lead a department, and how to build a career — not just a job. Whether you're a student trying to break in, a coder ready to level up, or a director navigating the future of health data — this is your space. New episodes drop regularly. 🎓 HIM career tools, study guides & resources → teamlo.gumroad.com 📖 Grab my book on Amazon → Digital Health Navigator

Episodes

  1. May 4

    Data Ownership in Healthcare: Whose Record Is It, Really?

    Send us Fan Mail You requested your medical records… but did you really get everything? 👀 In Episode 10 of Balance HI Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood—and quietly controversial—topics in healthcare: data ownership. Because here’s the truth:  Patients think they own their records.  Hospitals think they own the systems.  Vendors control the platforms.  And HIM? We’re stuck in the middle making sure access, compliance, and accuracy don’t fall apart. So… who actually owns the data? 🤔 In this episode, we break it ALL the way down:  📁 The difference between owning a medical record vs. having rights to it  ⚖️ What laws like HIPAA actually say (and what they don’t say)  🔐 How data ownership impacts patient access, portals, and trust  💻 The role of EHR vendors and the reality of “locked” data  🧠 Why HIM professionals are the true stewards of healthcare dataLet’s be clear: data ownership isn’t just legal—it’s power. And if HIM isn’t at the table, decisions about that power will be made without us. 📚 Ready to understand your role in the digital healthcare era? Grab my book: Digital Health Navigator: A Guide to Success for Health Information Professionals This is your roadmap to navigating HIM, patient access, compliance, and digital transformation with confidence. 📣 Call to Action (CTA): If this episode made you think differently about data ownership, don’t keep it to yourself: 👉 Subscribe to Balance HI Podcast 👉 Share this episode with a colleague, nurse, or healthcare leader 👉 Leave a review so more people understand the power of HIM And if you’re ready to go deeper…  💬 DM me “HIM” on Instagram or LinkedIn to learn about my toolkit and upcoming workshops. ✨ Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay balanced. #DataOwnership #HealthInformationManagement #HIPAA #PatientRights #DigitalHealth #HealthIT #BalanceHIPodcast #WomenInHealthcare #MedicalRecords #HealthcareLeadership Support the show

    23 min

  2. Apr 27

    AI in Healthcare: The Smartest Team Member You’re Not Managing (Yet)

    Send us Fan Mail AI is no longer the future of healthcare… it’s already clocked in. 👀 From automating documentation to supporting clinical decision-making, artificial intelligence is transforming how healthcare operates—but here’s the real question: is it helping us… or quietly creating new risks behind the scenes? In this episode of Balance HI Podcast, we’re breaking down AI in healthcare from a Health Information Management (HIM) perspective—because while everyone’s talking about innovation, HIM is the one making sure it’s accurate, compliant, and actually makes sense. We’ll get into: 🤖 What AI is really doing inside hospitals and health systems📊 How AI is impacting coding, documentation, and revenue cycle🔐 The hidden risks: data integrity, bias, compliance, and patient trust🧠 Why HIM professionals are the gatekeepers of AI governance🚀 How YOU can stay relevant and ahead in this AI-driven shiftLet’s be clear: AI is not replacing HIM… but it will replace professionals who don’t understand it. If you’ve ever wondered how AI fits into your role—or how to leverage it without losing control of your data—this episode is for you. 📚 Ready to level up your HIM career? Grab my book: Digital Health Navigator: A Guide to Success for Health Information Professionals — your roadmap to thriving in today’s digital healthcare world. 💡 Whether you’re just starting out or already in the field, this guide breaks down how to navigate HIM, digital health, and emerging trends like AI with confidence. 🎧 Don’t forget to: Subscribe, share, and leave a review—because HIM deserves a louder voice in healthcare. ✨ Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay balanced. Support the show

    20 min

  3. Mar 16

    🎙️ The Big Beautiful Bill HIM Actually Wants

    Send us Fan Mail What would happen if Health Information Management professionals wrote the healthcare bill? In this episode of the Balance HI Podcast, we explore the Big Beautiful Bill that HIM actually wants. While lawmakers debate policy, the professionals who manage the data, documentation, coding, compliance, and record integrity are often left out of the conversation. But let’s be clear: HIM is the infrastructure behind healthcare. If HIM had a seat at the table, the bill would include real solutions for: • smarter EHR decision making • documentation that supports patient care and reimbursement • stronger data governance and interoperability • protecting the legal health record • reducing administrative chaos in healthcare systems Because when health information flows correctly, patient care improves, revenue cycles stabilize, and healthcare organizations operate more efficiently. If you’ve ever wondered what healthcare policy would look like through the lens of Health Information Management, this episode is for you. 🎧 Tune in to hear the Big Beautiful Bill… HIM style. 🔗 Connect with Balance HI Podcast: Balance HI Podcast Book: Digital Health Navigator A Guide to Success for Health Information Professionals Toolkit: Digital Health Navigator Starter Kit Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay balanced. Support the show

    19 min

  4. Feb 9

    HIM Autopsy: Is Health Information Profession Really a Dying Field?

    Send us Fan Mail  Pull out the scalpel—today we’re performing an autopsy on Health Information Management. 🩺📂 Rumor has it, HIM is a “dying field,” but spoiler alert: the patient still has a pulse (and a pretty strong one at that). From paper charts to digital health, AI to compliance chaos, we’re breaking down why HIM isn’t flatlining—it’s just evolving. Tune in for laughs, lessons, and maybe a few resuscitation metaphors. 🚑  Support the show

    30 min

  5. Feb 2

    The Parallel of the Health Information Profession

    Send us Fan Mail Health Information isn’t just a department — it’s the hidden operating system of healthcare. The Parallel of the Health Information Profession breaks down how HIM mirrors and connects with IT, data science, digital health, compliance, public health, and patient advocacy. We decode the behind-the-scenes work that keeps records accurate, decisions informed, systems accountable, and care connected. If healthcare runs on information, HIM is the signal — not the background noise. Support the show

    31 min

  6. Jan 26

    The Real Work of Leadership: What HANYS Day 1 Taught Me

    Send us Fan Mail Day 1 of the HANYS Middle Manager Training did not come to play.  In this episode, I break down the leadership lessons that hit hard. Not just intellectually, but emotionally. We talk about leadership styles, conflict, resolution, the PACE model, motivating language, ambivert, energy, and the often overlooked power of presence. This wasn’t theory for theory sake. This was about how middle managers actually lead—balancing people performance and pressure in real healthcare environment. If you ever: Managed up and down at the same timeNavigated conflict without losing your voiceStruggle to communicate communicate clearly while staying humanOr wondered how to lead with authority without burning outThis episode is for you. Middle managers are the backbone of healthcare. And after day, one of HANYS, it’s clear: leadership isn’t about title—it’s about how you show up, how you listen, and how you create stability in the middle of chaos. 🎧Tune in for real reflections, practical, takeaways, and language you can actually use. Support the show

    36 min

  7. Jan 12

    Your Patient Portal Is Talking — But Your PHR Is Listening

    Send us Fan Mail Your patient portal is talking… but your PHR is LISTENING. 👀📱🩺 And yes — there’s a BIG difference. Most people think a patient portal and a personal health record (PHR) are the same thing. They’re not. And misunderstanding that difference could be keeping you disconnected from your own healthcare journey. 🚨 In this episode of Balance HI Podcast, HIM Director Samantha Louigene, MS, RHIA breaks down the healthcare tech conversation nobody is having: ✨ What a patient portal ACTUALLY does ✨ What a Personal Health Record (PHR) really is ✨ Why access does NOT equal ownership ✨ How to organize your health information like a pro ✨ The myths keeping patients passive and uninformed ✨ Why caregivers, parents, and patients NEED a PHR in the digital age Because logging into your portal once a year to check lab results? That’s not health ownership. 😶 Your health data tells a story — and if YOU aren’t keeping track of it, someone else is. 💻📂 Whether you’re managing chronic illness, caring for family members, navigating multiple providers, or just trying to stay informed, this episode will completely change how you think about your medical records. 🎧 Tune in now and stop being a passive participant in your healthcare. Start becoming the CEO of your own health data. 🔥 Download the Patient Portal & PHR Starter Checklist for $22 → https://teamlo.gumroad.com/l/pvkigl #PatientPortal #PersonalHealthRecord #PHR #DigitalHealth #HealthInformationManagement #HIM #MedicalRecords #PatientAdvocacy #HealthTech #HealthcareInnovation #AIinHealthcare #PatientEmpowerment #BalanceHIPodcast Support the show

    35 min
  8. 🎧 Patient Portal 101: Slide in the DMs of Your Health (But Read the Fine Print)

    Jan 5

    🎧 Patient Portal 101: Slide in the DMs of Your Health (But Read the Fine Print)

    Send us Fan Mail Your patient portal isn’t just a login, it’s the front door to your health data. And yet… most people are using it wrong, underusing it, or trusting it a little too much. In this episode, we’re breaking down Patient Portal 101, no fluff, no tech jargon, just real talk. From test results that pop up before your doctor calls, to messages that feel urgent but aren't ER-worthy, we’re unpacking what patient portals can do, what they can’t, and what nobody explains until you’re already frustrated. We get into: What your patient portal actually shows (and what it never will)Why “it’s not in my portal” doesn’t mean it doesn’t existThe difference between access, ownership, and interpretation of your health dataPortal etiquette: when to message, when to wait, and when to escalateHow portals empower patients, but still need HIM behind the scenes to work rightThis episode is for everyday patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals who want to stop treating portals like magic—and start using them strategically. Because portals are powerful…  But without context, literacy, and governance?  They’re just receipts with anxiety attached. 🎙️ Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay balanced. Support the show

    40 min

  9. 12/29/2025

    Who Really Runs Healthcare? Meet Health Information Management

    Send us Fan Mail What if I told you the people quietly running healthcare… usually aren’t the doctors on TV? 👀 Behind every diagnosis, insurance claim, patient portal, medical record request, AI workflow, and hospital audit is a profession most people have NEVER heard of: Health Information Management (HIM). In this episode of Balance HI Podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the healthcare industry’s best-kept secret — the people who protect, organize, code, analyze, and manage the data that keeps healthcare alive. 🏥💻📂 From medical coding and revenue cycle to privacy, compliance, patient access, digital health, AI, and healthcare technology, HIM professionals are the invisible force making sure the system actually functions. Because without accurate health information? Healthcare collapses. Period. We’re talking about:  ✨ The REAL role of HIM in modern healthcare  ✨ Why HIM is the “Wi-Fi of healthcare”  ✨ Career paths nobody tells you about  ✨ How HIM impacts patient safety, hospital revenue, and healthcare equity  ✨ The skills you need to survive the digital health era  ✨ Why AI will elevate HIM — not replace it  ✨ How YOU can break into this growing field If you’ve ever wondered who really keeps healthcare running behind the scenes… this episode is your wake-up call. 🚨 🎧 Tune in now and discover why HIM professionals are the backbone of healthcare innovation.   🔥 Ready to build your HIM career? Get the full HIM Career Accelerator Bundle →  https://teamlo.gumroad.com/l/ewubxd #HealthInformationManagement #HIM #MedicalCoding #DigitalHealth #HealthcareCareers #HealthIT #RevenueCycle #PatientAccess #AIinHealthcare #MedicalRecords #HealthcareInnovation #RHIA #HealthData #BalanceHIPodcast Support the show

    30 min

  10. 12/22/2025

    HIM: The WiFi of Healthcare (And Why AI Just Raised the Stakes)

    Send us Fan Mail You don’t notice WiFi until it’s down…  And that’s exactly how Health Information Management (HIM) works in healthcare. In this episode of Balance HI, we break down why HIM is the invisible infrastructure holding healthcare together—and why AI just turned the volume all the way up. From patient portals and interoperability to algorithms that are only as good as the data feeding them, we’re unpacking what happens when healthcare tries to run on bad, incomplete, or mismanaged information. We’ll talk about: Why HIM is the WiFi of healthcare—quiet, critical, and absolutely essentialHow AI, automation, and analytics are exposing every crack in data governanceThe real risks of bias, incomplete records, and “move fast and break things” techWhy HIM professionals are no longer behind the scenes—they’re at the strategy tableWhat everyday patients should know about their data in an AI-driven systemWhether you’re a healthcare leader, HIM professional, tech enthusiast, or a patient trying to understand what’s really happening behind the screen—this episode connects the dots between data, trust, and the future of care. Because when the WiFi is weak… everything buffers.  And healthcare can’t afford to buffer anymore. 🎙️ Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay balanced. Support the show

    26 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

I'm Samie — Director of Health Information Management, adjunct professor at multiple universities, and founder of Team Lo LLC. I've spent over a decade inside HIM departments, classrooms, and boardrooms collecting the real gems this profession doesn't hand you in a textbook. This podcast exists because HIM professionals deserve more than textbooks and LinkedIn posts. You need real talk about where the field is going, how AI is changing your role, how to pass your boards, how to lead a department, and how to build a career — not just a job. Whether you're a student trying to break in, a coder ready to level up, or a director navigating the future of health data — this is your space. New episodes drop regularly. 🎓 HIM career tools, study guides & resources → teamlo.gumroad.com 📖 Grab my book on Amazon → Digital Health Navigator

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Louigene, MS, RHIA
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Balance HI Podcast
  • Show Website
    Balance HI Podcast