Meet Kornelia Fiausch, MAS. Based in Austria, she joins the AHIMA International team of healthcare experts with over 40 years of experience in the field. Her expertise comes from multiple roles as a chief nursing officer, quality manager, and consultant working across the globe. In an interview on our blog, Fiausch talks about what’s driven her unique career.  

How did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?

I wanted to be a teacher, as I love learning and being in a learning environment, but my passion for healthcare lead me to nursing. I began my nursing education and quickly realized I enjoyed working with patients, their families, and with a multidisciplinary healthcare team. At 27 years old, I got the opportunity to start my career as a CNO, a role that I adored for 24 years. Now, I am a quality manager in an orthopedic healthcare organization.

What has been most rewarding and challenging about working in healthcare?

It has been challenging to accept when medical and nursing care fails and to feel helpless amid patients and their families. I welcomed the opportunity to learn English and about different cultures, customs, and healthcare practices around the world. And, I have appreciated working across the globe, from the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas, and as an international consultant.

What do you see as being the most valuable knowledge and expertise you bring to your role as an international consultant at AHIMA?

By nature, I am curious, open-minded, and a team player. With over 40 years’ experience as a nurse and international consultant, I have extensive knowledge of healthcare and nursing practices. In addition, my background includes data analysis and interpretation. I understand and advocate for strong data governance practices that organizations can use to inform their strategic and operational decisions.

How do you continue to learn and grow in the ever-changing field of healthcare?

I have found the most important learning strategies are listening and staying open-minded. Healthcare is complex and varies greatly around the world. Listening to staff, patients, and their families is essential to understanding the challenges organizations face today and in the future.

Kornelia Fiausch, MAS
AHIMA International team of healthcare experts