Note from the Advisory Board: 'The best defense:' How documentation capture helps with denials management

By Tamara A. Hicks, RN, BSN, MHA, CCS, CCDS, ACM-RN
The old adage, “the best defense is a good offense,” comes to mind when I think about the role of CDI in audit defense. Our job is to improve documentation. A number of positive outcomes result from clinical documentation work including appropriate reimbursement, appropriate profiling, and denial prevention. Because CDI efforts take place, concurrently while the patient is still in the hospital, CDI specialists can help prevent denials.