Note from the Associate Editorial Director: CDI Journal focuses on moving your program forward

by Linnea Archibald

While I don’t fully agree with the old saying that “if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind,” there is something to be said for moving in a direction instead of standing still. Many CDI departments begin their journeys reviewing for primarily CC/MCC capture to ensure DRG accuracy and optimization. But over time, as healthcare reimbursement became more complex and as CDI programs gained standing in their organizations, that scope likely expanded.

One of the biggest concerns when “moving forward” is stretching resources and staff too thin and losing effectiveness as a result. While adding staff and resources to support expansion may be the dream, most CDI departments must prove the value of such efforts first.

That means putting in the legwork up front and doing a lot of research. It’s a theme you’ll see repeated throughout our newest edition of the CDI Journal, regardless of the setting under the microscope. While you may not be expanding into inpatient rehab or pediatric reviews, you can take the advice offered throughout and apply it to your next expansion project, to protect your staff and your metrics, too.

Within this edition’s pages, readers will learn about CDI programs in

• Non-hospital-based outpatient settings
• Pediatric settings
• Home healthcare
• Inpatient rehab centers
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Emergency departments
• Veterans Administration facilities

This edition also includes articles offering advice from our Leadership Council Mastermind members about program expansion, eight strategies to get started in outpatient CDI from our ACDIS director, welcoming new advisory board members, sharing a member’s journey from respiratory therapy to the CDI ranks, recent research into quality reviews and CDI/coding reconciliation, and coding for strokes. Plus, our edition closes with our regular Meet a Member feature, which is always full of great tips and advice.

The ACDIS team hopes you enjoy this latest edition and find some helpful information to expand your CDI program. The July/August edition of the CDI Journal will focus on CDI technology, so if you’d like to contribute, wish to share your CDI journey, or suggest an article idea, please feel free to email us.

Editor’s note: Archibald is the associate editorial director of publications and membership for ACDIS. Contact her at larchibald@acdis.org.