Note from the Instructor: How do I find CDI education?

by Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS

Many people come to a CDI position and need to educate themselves in areas with which they have limited experience, leaving many new to the field wondering what they’ve gotten themselves into. Deciding which areas need education often depends upon the service line or specialty you previously worked in.

But technology can be one of your best friends. Many of us own smart phones, IPads, or tablets that allow us to download apps that can be a good source of education, and some can even help with our day-to-day activities. There are apps for anatomy and physiology and even apps that help with finding a code. Many of these apps are free. Take some time and go onto your app store and browse under the different categories.

With the easy access of the Internet at our fingertips, you can dig in to learn more about areas you feel you need to review, whether a little or a lot. The Internet can also help you with quick information on clinical indicators related to certain diseases and can be a good place to read recent literature pertaining to disease processes and clinical documentation improvement. You can also stay informed about recent coding guideline changes and reimbursement news through any number of coding and CDI focused publications available on the web. I personally read information from the AAPC, AHIMA, and, of course, ACDIS.

A note about information from ACDIS; while its extensive library and discussion forums included in full membership are invaluable, make sure you take advantage of items that are available for free such as the weekly email newsletter CDI Strategies, or the biweekly webinar ACDIS Radio hosted by ACDIS Director Brian Murphy. There are a number of other free resources on the ACDIS website including webinars, surveys, position papers, and more. You simply need to register to access the free content.

You may also find you can look to vendors who work with your organization to see what thought leadership publications they offer. I am always looking for free education and often find it on the websites of consulting companies, such as 3M, Allscripts, Enjoin, etc. Many offer education through membership programs that allow you to set up a user name and password for access to certain information. Look for those sites that offer different CDI/coder scenarios, as I’ve found these to be very helpful over the years.

My last piece of advice is to review resource information located in the toolbar of your encoder, such as AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS references, medical terminology, nursing resources, and even drug information. If you have access to either a DRG Expert or code book they also have valuable information regarding chapter specific guidelines for each major diagnostic category.

Remember, if you have a question or are struggling to understand a particular concept, ask a colleague or your manager. Everyone’s rooting for you to succeed!

Editor’s Note: Brodie is a CDI education specialist for HCPro in Middleton, Massachusetts. Contact her at sbrodie@hcpro.com. For information regarding CDI Boot Camps offered by HCPro, visit www.hcprobootcamps.com.