Why Some of Our Best IRF PRO LAB™ Students Started as Beginners

A Student’s Story That Stayed With Me

Recently, I was reading through some past IRF PRO LAB™ student surveys, and one comment really stood out to me.

“I am really glad that I decided to take the AQ-IQ IRF PRO LAB course as a beginner in the PPS world…”

It reminded me that so many people wait until they feel “ready” before investing in themselves. But confidence often comes after education, not before it.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re experienced enough to take the next step, you’re not alone.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many IRF professionals—PPS Coordinators, coders, program directors, and other team members. One thing I hear over and over is hesitation.

Many wonder if they know enough to take the next step in their IRF journey.

What I’ve found is that when someone decides to move forward despite those doubts, I rarely hear them say they wish they hadn’t.

That same student I quoted above went on to say that the course helped her better understand the IRF-PAI, physician queries, Impairment Group Codes, Etiologies, Tiers, CMGs, and RICs—and most importantly, that it helped her become more confident in her role.

That’s one of my favorite things to watch – the growth of confidence!

It’s not just about learning new information. One of my favorite parts is watching people begin to ask better questions, contribute more during discussions, and feel more confident in the work they do every day.

One part of her comments especially stood out to me:

“It was great to be able to talk with other coordinators, coders and CDIs from different facilities.”

That sense of learning alongside others is something we work hard to create.

Whether it’s in our courses, our membership, or the conversations we have in our online communities.

If you’ve been wondering whether one of our resources might be the right next step for you, I’d love to help you think it through. Sometimes the best outcome isn’t choosing a course right away—it’s simply finding the resource that fits where you are today.

Whether your next step is an article, a webinar, our membership, an IRF Specific course, or simply a conversation, I’m happy to be a helpful resource for you.