Note from the ACDIS Interim Director: The 'I' stands for INTEGRITY
by Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC
I am so proud of the ACDIS credentials. I love that they are incorporated in career ladders, and that hiring entities seek out individuals who are CCDS or CCDS-O certified. I love to see individuals proudly “wear” their credentials within their email signatures, their social media profiles, and literally with their pins on their lapel or name tag. These letters are powerful, as they demonstrate your experience and competence.
I get messages every few days from individuals who have just passed the exam. They are proud and excited to share their news. These credentials offer you credibility, recognition, and opportunity.
We do provide resources to prepare for the exam, including the Exam Candidate Handbook. This handbook provides you with a content outline so that you can plan your study/prep strategy. We also have tools for purchase such as the CCDS Exam Study Guide and the CCDS Exam Prep Course. These tools are not designed to give you the answers, but they do help you focus your study plan and identify opportunities to learn.
These exams are not easy. If they were, there would be no bragging rights. The questions touch on a broad range of topics related to CDI practice and, depending upon your role and your organization, some of the content may not be related to your job function or focus. This is precisely why it is so important to review the content outline within the Exam Candidate Handbook.
I often get questions about exam prep. The most frequent question is “How do I prepare for the exam?” I love this question because it demonstrates to me the individual has a healthy respect for the expanse of the exam and is working a strategy to achieve success. So let me share some advice:
- Read the Exam Candidate Handbook
- Identify within the exam outline those areas you are least experienced in and focus your study time there. Seek mentors with the experience you do not have.
- Familiarize yourself with the approved references for the exam
- OPTUM DRG Expert
- Approved Pharmacology text
- Read the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
- Focus on Sections I, II, and III and Appendix I
- Read the AHIMA/ACDIS Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice
- Familiarize yourself with the test taking experience (onsite or remote)
- Read the ACDIS Code of Ethics
The other question I have received, thankfully less frequently, is “Can you tell me what is on the exam?” This question is not one that makes me smile. This communicates the individual does not necessarily care about learning and preparing, but just wants to pass the exam. I get frustrated, as these types of questions devalue the credential, devalue the individual, and hurt everyone who carries the credential proudly.
We have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the exam, and that means we do not tell people specifically the questions that are asked. ACDIS has partnered with an entity that provides the security protocols surrounding the test taking experience. These security measures are costly, challenging, and complicated, but they are necessary. If they were not in place and individuals shared the questions/answers freely to others, the fact someone passed would not prove their proficiency in the role.
I would like to recognize all 6,200 or so credentialed professionals. Stand up—be proud! I would also like to encourage those who are prepping for exam, waiting for eligibility requirements to be fulfilled, or just starting in their roles of CDI with a long-term goal of certification to keep on the right path. You will succeed and be proud to place those letters after your name. Then, let me know when you passed, so I can welcome you to our exclusive club!
Editor’s note: Prescott is the interim director and director of CDI education for ACDIS, based in Middleton, Massachusetts. Contact her at lprescott@acdis.org.