Influential Woman · Healthcare
Sidra Mirza
Health Information Analyst, RWJ New Brunswick Hospital
Piscataway, NJ
Her Story
About Sidra
I've been working as a health information analyst at RWJ New Brunswick Hospital for almost 5 years. My main focus is onboarding new employees in medical records, helping guide them and transition them into their new field. On a daily basis, I make sure all employees are in the right place, answer their questions, and fulfill any requests or audits we receive. There's also an analysis component to my work where I make sure all the charts are properly reviewed for our main department. I also help with payroll, ensuring that new employees are getting paid properly and that their timesheets match with no errors. My work varies day to day, which keeps things interesting. The biggest challenge in my field is making sure our clients are satisfied while following their procedures. Sometimes their procedures aren't really sufficient, so we use our own input from our department. Getting their approval is important, but through teamwork, we're able to come to resolutions and meet in the middle.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sidra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to seeking guidance from people that I look up to and taking their advice. I also believe in learning from my mistakes. I feel like mistakes are good because you learn how to improve, and that's how you're able to be successful and succeed from the position that you're in. Having mentors and being willing to listen and learn has been crucial to my growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to be organized, take your time, and be professional and honest. Most importantly, if you really love something, make it your passion, because that's how you'll be successful. When your job becomes your passion, that's when you truly excel.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice for younger women is to do what you love and be passionate about it, because that's how you'll be successful. Don't think about the future, think about the present, because when you focus on the present, it will also make your future better. Don't overwork yourself. When it comes to criticism, and I'm sure we will come across that in our field, don't take it personally. Take it as a self-improvement strategy, as something we can work on. It's okay to start from the bottom again, to start over. Really, never lose hope in what you love. You're going to make mistakes, but that's part of the journey.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge is making sure that the client is satisfied and following their procedure. Sometimes their procedures aren't really sufficient at times, so then we use our own input in our own department. Making sure that they agree on what we emphasize and having their approval is really important, so that's the challenging part. Sometimes they might approve, or sometimes they might not. But that's why teamwork comes into place, because we can come to a resolution. In a way, it doesn't really become a challenge, it just becomes more of a teamwork effort where we resolve things and find something to meet in the middle.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are making time for myself and prioritizing my mental health. I feel like when you prioritize time for yourself, that's how you're able to accomplish everything. You learn how to handle things and balance things, which is most important to me.
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