Speaker Q&A: Ericson sheds light on alternative payment models

Editor’s note: Cheryl Ericson, MS, RN, CCDS, CDIP, is the manager of clinical documentation services at DHG Healthcare in Charleston, South Carolina. She is a CDI subject matter expert for a variety of industry publications and keeps regular speaking engagements. A recent member of ACDIS’ Advisory Board she also serves on the CCDS credential committee. Ericson will be presenting on the ACDIS Advisory Board Panel on Day 1 of the ACDIS conference and co-presenting “Leveraging CDI to improve performance under alternative payment model methodology” on Day 2.

Q: You’ve been on the ACDIS Advisory Board for a number of years, having been elected to serve a three-year term before being hired by ACDIS as a Boot Camp instructor which included an honorary seat. How has that work changed your perspective about the CDI profession?

A: First, let me say it has really been an honor to work with and represent CDI professionals. I love the passion of our industry. I think these experiences expanded my understanding of both the practice of CDI and the business of CDI. Often as CDI specialists, we focus on the practice of CDI, the day to day of what we do. However, it is also important to understand the business of CDI, i.e., how to talk to organizational leadership; how to define and measure impact; how, when and why to expand CDI efforts; to ensure growth of the profession.

It also helped me see beyond my personal perspectives as I was exposed to how others accomplished similar goals. But most of all, it challenged me to be a better CDI professional. I have enjoyed the challenges we have addressed and hope to continue to contribute to the profession as my role as the chair-elect of the CDI Practice Committee. 

Q: The Advisory Board panel will discuss the “Past, Present, and Future of CDI” on Wednesday, May 10, at 1:45 p.m. Of course there’s the expansion of CDI beyond CC/MCC capture, forays into quality, and even expansion into various healthcare settings like outpatient, critical access, etc. But what do you think really has pushed the CDI industry the most in the past 10 years?

A: I think it has been the perfect storm of circumstances in conjunction with the drive and determination of successful CDI professionals. CDI as a profession has been in the right place at the right time with the right skill set. Healthcare providers are experiencing changes, like payment reform, at an overwhelming pace creating many gaps as old processes lose effectiveness. CDI professionals often possess the skills, like the desire to investigate and problem solve as well as being flexible, to identify and address many of these gaps. I also think the success of CDI in the inpatient setting has allowed CDI efforts to expand into these other areas as more and more healthcare leaders better understand the effect of poor documentation on so many facets of healthcare.

Q: You’re also presenting with Michelle Wieczorek and Wayne Little on Thursday, May 11, at 3:45 p.m., on alternative payment models. What’s the biggest take away participants should be looking for in this session?

A: There is a lot of misinformation about Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and how this payment methodology is affected by current CDI efforts that focus on CC/MCC capture and case mix index. CDIs need to understand what is at risk with the mandatory episode-based payment models so they can better determine if current CDI practices require revision to support this type of payment methodology.

Editor’s note: Contact Ericson at Cheryl.Ericson@dhgllp.com.