Maria N. Ward, MEd, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P is a director of HIM Practice Excellence for AHIMA. In her role she provides professional practice expertise to AHIMA members, the media and outside organizations on coding practice issues. She authors and supports AHIMA online ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT coding education and serves as faculty for AHIMA coding workshops, including Crack the Codes and exam preps. She is also the presenter for AHIMA’s free monthly Coffee and Coding webinars.

Prior to joining AHIMA, Ms. Ward served as HIM Director and Compliance Officer for a small chain of acute care hospitals specializing in inpatient physical rehabilitation and inpatient geriatric psychiatry. She has over 20 years of HIM experience in various roles, including inpatient and physician coding, and medical transcription. As an educator, she was an adjunct faculty member at South Plains College in Lubbock, Texas, and has provided coder training across the country. Additionally, she spent over ten years working in the long-term care industry in HIM and administration.

Ms. Ward holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor in Healthcare Administration from Wayland Baptist University in Lubbock, Texas, as well as an Associate in Health Information Management from South Plains College in Lubbock, Texas. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and a Certified Coding Specialist for Physicians (CCS-P). She is also an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer and AHIMA-approved IGAM™ Consultant.