What’s a CDI specialist to do when queries go answered? What if a physician has a backlog of unanswered queries from three weeks prior? Or what if a physician patently refuses to answer queries and says “I don’t have time” or “it’s all about the money”?
Every CDI program needs to respond to certain common physician criticisms and questions: everything from physician complaints about their lack of time to answer queries, to the accusation that CDI is only about the money.
Veteran CDI professionals often develop rote responses to these...Read More »
Everyone working in CDI knows that the job would be much easier without physician pushback—but that’s an unrealistic pipe dream, it seems. Year after year, ACDIS’ surveys turn up the same results: The number one challenge for CDI programs is always physician engagement.
Outpatient has been the buzzword in CDI circles for some time now, leading to increased resources for the expansion (such as the first annual ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI, the Outpatient CDI Pocket Guide: Focusing on HCCs, and First Steps in Outpatient CDI: Tips and Tools for...Read More »
by Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS
In 2015, I wrote 44 appeal letters challenging DRG validation/coding denials. In 2016, I wrote 88 appeal letters. Last year, I penned 159. We already received more than 40 DRG validation denials in January of this year. Does this trend...Read More »
As the CDI profession matures, programs are instituting career ladders to create advanced positions for seasoned CDI professionals looking for a change in their responsibilities. Whether it be the addition of a second–level reviewer, an educator, or even an informaticist, the options for CDI...Read More »
Jose M. Gonzalez O’Neill, MSHIM, RHIA, is the vice president of the Florida ACDIS chapter, and HIM service line manager for medical transcription and inpatient coding at a large hospital system in the Orlando area.Read More »
FEATURES
8 CDI crystal ball: Gazing into the profession’s future
13 Becoming a CDI professional: Tips for getting started
15 Outpatient CDI: Getting up and running
22 Minimizing traumatic CDI experiences with trauma reviews
30 Welcome to the incoming Chapter...Read More »
