The value of a new technology is often not understood for many years after its invention. For example, the first film cameras were initially used to capture “photographic paintings” of landscapes, still life studies, and portraits, the standard...Read More »
Approximately 11% of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in private managed care health plans, with the rest in the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) programs. Did you know that Medicare Advantage (MA) payment methodology is driven by...Read More »
So you’ve been trudging along with your program; the numbers look good to fair, and when you speak with physicians they seem to understand the bigger picture but you know your program could be better. So how do you “shock” it back to life? Usually...Read More »
So you’ve made it through the rigors of the initial CDI program implementation stage. Now it’s all smooth sailing, right? Not so fast. You’ve got to watch out for those storm clouds of regulatory changes and plot a way past any stagnant waters of staffing discontent. Simply stated: Maturing...Read More »
CDI programs are maturing, moving beyond review primarily of acute care Medicare patients. Two areas some hospitals have chosen to explore are OB/GYN and pediatrics.
All physicians benefit from CDI education, and all specialties need to document severity of illness with appropriate ICD-9-...Read More »
Karolyn Skudlarek, RN, and the CDI staff at St. Cloud (MN) Hospital have performed reviews of OB/ newborn documentation since they started the CDI program in February 2008.A 489-bed facility (average daily census of 307 beds), St. Cloud employs three CDI reviewers.
