ACDIS tip: What does it cost to train a new CDI specialist?

Ask pretty much anyone in CDI and they’ll tell you it takes roughly six months to train a new CDI specialist to where they can work independently. The methods, of course, vary from facility to facility and therefore the time allotted does too.

ACDIS has a number of articles that may be of service as you train a new staff member, including:

• “Developing an onboarding process: Advice from the field” (July/August 2017 CDI Journal)
• “CDI educator roles lend focused support” (July/August 2017 CDI Journal)
• “Six steps to help you join the CDI ranks” (November/December 2016 CDI Journal)
• “Featured Member: From oncology to coding to CDI” (see question and answer #2; August 2016)
• “Associate Director’s Note: Getting your foot in the CDI door” (March 2015)
• “Training new staff? Consider the following tips” (January/February 2011 CDI Journal)

Not only does training a new staff member take time, but there’s also monetary concerns to consider. Using the price points from the HCPro catalog for new CDI specialists, here are the costs a program may accrue during staff training:

• ACDIS membership: $185.00
• The ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship program: $295.00/$195 for ACDIS members
• The CDI Specialist’s Complete Training Guide, Second Edition: $170.00
• 2018 CDI Pocket Guide: $165.00
• Clinical Documentation Improvement Boot Camp: $1,499.00 (live instructor-led class or online)

Using those prices, training a new CDI specialist could cost a facility roughly $2,000, and don’t forget to also factor into the cost existing staff time for training and job shadowing and the fact that the new hire won’t be fully competent to review records optimally for approximately six months.

It’s a big investment in time and money to train a new CDI specialist, but the rewards are well worth the investment. You can also save money by training numerous staff at the same time. If you want to learn more about group discounts for live or online training, including All-Access Learning Libraries, contact a representative by calling 877-233-8734 or emailing nasales@hcpro.com.