Superstar stories: Tips for new CDI specialists to be successful

by Donald A. Butler

There’s a lot to do, but you can do it!

Read, research, and constantly learn: Cultivate strong internet search skills along with multiple and varied sources. Build a reference library.

Network and share: Tap into a group of expert resources such as those available on the ACDIS message board CDI Talk. Actively reach out and participate. Reach out locally, regionally, and nationally within the CDI community but reach out to other professions within your own organization too. You will need the help of clinical experts, HIM groups, UR/CM, CDI, quality… Develop a strong partnership with coding.

Think outside the box … w-a-y outside, like over-the-horizon-outside-the-box: Develop creative solutions, messaging, questioning, and learning to strengthen this crazy role.

Remember your first priority. Physician contact, discussion and relations: Be ready to respond quickly to any questions or requests. Seek the chance to help with something of interest (a physician project, data, etc.). Be persistence and patient, especially when working with medical staff. Become a unique knowledge expert within the organization as a result of working at the intersection of clinical, documentation, coding, data, profiling, quality, regulations, etc.

ALWAYS keep sight of the long term goal. NEVER allow a short term event to override the long term goal. Apply your knowledge to look ahead. What is coming from external groups, how can you estimate the impact, and how can the organization respond pro-actively to the future change?

Remember it takes TIME and EFFORT to get up to speed, no matter how much experience and expertise you bring as an RN or HIM professional.

Most importantly, you CAN succeed!!

Editor's note: Butler entered the nursing profession in 1993, and served 11 years with the US Navy Nurse Corps in a wide variety of settings and experiences. Since CDI program implementation in 2006, he has (at the time of this article's original release) served as the Clinical Documentation Improvement Manager at Vidant Medical Center (an 860 bed tertiary medical center serving the 29 counties of Eastern North Carolina).