Her Story
About Ariel
Ariel Taylor, BSHIM, AAS-HIT, is a Health Information Management (HIM) leader serving as Area HIMS Director and HIPAA Privacy Officer at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in the Greater St. Louis area. With more than 11 years of experience in the HIM field, she specializes in managing health information operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and safeguarding the privacy, security, and integrity of patient data. In her leadership role, she oversees multi-facility HIM departments, develops policies and procedures, supports quality improvement initiatives, and ensures compliance with HIPAA, state, and federal regulations.
Throughout her career, Ariel has built extensive expertise in health information governance, electronic health records (EHR), release of information, data integrity, and healthcare compliance. Before joining Encompass Health, she held HIM leadership and privacy-focused positions with organizations including Lifepoint Health, BJC HealthCare, and the State of Missouri, where she managed medical record operations, investigated data integrity issues, supported patient identity management, coordinated audits, and provided education on privacy and compliance standards. Her work has contributed to improving healthcare workflows, strengthening information security practices, and supporting efficient revenue cycle processes.
Ariel earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from Western Governors University and her Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology from Southwestern Illinois College. She is passionate about advancing the HIM profession through education, mentorship, and leadership development, and was recognized as an ILHIMA Ambassador to Education for her commitment to supporting future HIM professionals. Her professional focus centers on ethical health information management, innovation in healthcare technology, and empowering HIM teams to play a greater role in improving patient care and healthcare outcomes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ariel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my kids and family. I have two daughters that kept me going and gave me the motivation. My mom and family inspiring me. I come from a family of very highly educated women.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to tune out the noise and believe in yourself. Be your own product, be your own business. You have to believe in yourself in order for people to take you serious. Stay focused.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It is the perfect time to come into this field of health information management or health information technology. With technology advancements with AI, HIM professionals are going to be the drivers of healthcare. We are going to finally get the recognition that we deserve. This is our moment.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is visibility. HIM is considered back office work. People don't understand what we do. We don't have enough of a voice at the executive table to make decisions, despite having diverse skills in revenue cycle, patient confidentiality, and compliance.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is number one. Resilient. Committed. Patience. Analytical skills. Attention to detail is very critical. Interpersonal skills, being able to know how to network.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.