Ruth Cusco Chaves: Precision-Focused Healthcare Coding Leader

Redefining success in the healthcare sector is not merely dependent on medical acumen but is expected to be more precise and optimized while being digitally savvy. Health organizations that choose to be precise in documentation and coding develop an edge over the health organizations that choose the opposite.

By leaning on efficiency and patient-centric health solutions in the healthcare ecosystem, an advantage is gained in the quality of results and elevates the overall experience.

Reflecting a similar business mindset and driven by lifelong curiosity about efficiency and impact, Ruth Cusco Chaves has built a distinguished career at the intersection of healthcare, data, and leadership.

As a seasoned healthcare management leader, she has built a strong analytical foundation through a degree in Economics and an MBA from the University of Barcelona.

As Managing Director of Barcelona-based clinical documentation and coding expert, ASHO, she focuses on clinical documentation and coding, where accuracy directly influences patient outcomes.

On a personal front, Ruth is deeply committed to training and developing healthcare professionals, ensuring teams are prepared to thrive as the industry continues to evolve.

Which early experiences inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare management?

Growing up in Barcelona, I developed an early inclination and curiosity towards problem-solving at a systemic level, examining how efficiency, structure, and design influence real-world outcomes.

An economics degree from the University of Barcelona helped me build a strong analytical mindset, while my MBA expanded the foundation into strategic decision-making, steering me toward healthcare management.

I began my professional journey in administrative roles which provided me with firsthand exposure to the complexities of hospital operations and patient care support. Seeing how people manage critical roles like documentation, efficient workflows, and reliable data, with little to no room for inefficiencies, left a lasting impression.

The future of medical coding is in the smart combination of technology and the expertise of humans

Tell us about your professional journey over the years in the industry and the core areas of specialization have you developed?

My career at ASHO has been a long-term commitment marked by continuous learning and increased responsibility. I have cultivated deep expertise in hospital operations, clinical documentation and coding, healthcare digitization initiatives, and secure, responsible handling of healthcare information.

I work with a deep commitment to clinical coding, where accuracy and consistency influence patient outcomes and operational efficiency. My role later expanded to developing strong training and talent development frameworks, equipping healthcare professionals with the skills, standards, and tools necessary to function effectively in a dynamic environment.

Introduce us to ASHO and your role as the Managing Director?

ASHO is a leader within the field of clinical coding, and we offer our service and support to some of Spain’s leading hospitals. With over three decades of experience, we now account for half of the Spanish market and have coded more than a million discharges every year.

With my position as the Managing Director, I monitor progress in terms of innovation and human resource development.

The future direction of ASHO finds more meaning in integrating AI in health care management. Whether it’s automated coding solutions or more advanced clinical documentation processes, our solutions enable more intelligent and effective care flow.

Strategy, product and global development are under my purview, along with an open atmosphere where everyone can grow.

What challenges do you encounter in your current role? How do you address them effectively?

One of the defining challenges has been is advancing innovation while preserving absolute precision in a highly regulated environment. In healthcare, precision is non-negotiable; minor gaps in coding or data integrity can lead to major downstream impacts.

For this, we prioritize robust training programs, disciplined audits, and a culture of continuous refinement. Every deployment is intentionally designed with strong human governance to ensure compliance, accountability, and trust.

Talent retention in a competitive market has been another challenge. To address this, my strategy involves instilling a welcoming and understanding culture that promotes collaboration and clarity of purpose.

How do you foresee advancements in digital health technologies reshaping the future of clinical coding?

The future of medical coding is in the smart combination of technology and the expertise of humans. AI-driven solutions such as Ashoindex, Ashocode, and Autocoder will allow faster and more accurate processing of large volumes of data, and professional coders can concentrate on other complex ones.

This way, the human element can work on the essential areas of medical coding and make healthcare data even more representative of the patient services.

The future will see AI play the role of the trusted co-pilot in medical coding, as it will add to the precision, scalability, and fast turnaround without diminishing the importance of human beings in the entire activity. Hospitals will be able to gain valuable insights to add to the quality of care being delivered.

Looking back, what key milestones and achievements are you most proud of? What is your ‘success mantra’?

It has been an extraordinary experience being part of ASHO and witnessing its journey from its infancy stages into the role that I play now. Among the highlights that have occurred during my personal journey, developing Ashoindex and Ashocode have been integral, in addition to expanding our global footprints among other countries.

My biggest point of pride is the establishment of highly engaged, teams and individuals who share a common objective.

My secret to success is quite simple: when you invest in people and allow them to work with accountability, great outcomes flow naturally.

Ruth Cusco Chaves, Managing Director, Asho

Innovative, analytical and data-driven healthcare leader specialising in clinical coding excellence. Ruth Cusco Chaves is the leader of ASHO, who focuses on innovation in clinical coding, the digitization of the health sector, and data governance. Her leadership approach is an amalgamation of innovation, compliance, and people development to make a difference in the health sector. Ruth is a passionate supporter of training for building people’s capabilities to focus and grow holistically.