ACDIS update: Helpful tips on getting into the CDI profession

If you’re just starting out in the CDI profession, or interested in dipping your toe into this field, you’re in the right place. ACDIS is the premier healthcare community for CDI specialists and works to provide the best medium for education, professional growth, and networking.

As you start on your journey, we encourage you to join ACDIS national. ACDIS membership gives you access to a wealth of information—journal articles, quarterly membership calls, data about the profession, best practice advice, and even discounts on our ACDIS Job Board to find your first job. ACDIS membership costs $185 annually.

Also, we suggest you get to know your real-life CDI community through your ACDIS local chapter! There are roughly 40 chapters and topic-based networking groups nationwide so odds are you can find one close to you. Even if you’re not within driving distance, many chapters are still holding their meetings virtually and would be happy to have you join in. Find your community on our website here. The majority of the local chapters and networking groups are completely free to join.

There are also numerous resources available on the ACDIS website that are focused on and useful those looking to step into a new role. Here are a few to start with:

• “How to conduct a medical review,” ACDIS white paper (available to ACDIS members only)
• “Six steps to help you join the CDI ranks” on the ACDIS Blog
• The joint ACDIS/AHIMA Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice—2022 Update brief (to help you understand that fundamental part of CDI work: the query)

ACDIS has also developed a number of products aimed at new CDI professionals that may suit your needs, including:

• The ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship Program: A certificate program comprised of foundational CDI education paired with a review of core compliance and ethical principles. Cost: $295
• The CDI Specialist’s Training Guide: A guide created by ACDIS’ expert CDI Boot Camp instructors to serve as a bridge between your new staff member’s first day and their first effective steps reviewing records. (There’s also a version available for outpatient CDI programs.) Cost: $180
• CDI Boot Camp Online: A self-paced online course covering clinical, coding, and CDI responsibilities from soup to nuts. (This course is also available as an in-person class and a live virtual instructor-led course.) Cost: $1,099
• The ACDIS Pocket Guide: The #1 essential resource for CDI professionals, both new and seasoned. (An outpatient version is also available.) Cost: $165

If you were to start with just a couple of these paid recommendations, we suggest ACDIS membership and the Apprenticeship program, because those two combined will provide you with a great starting foundation from which to build at a relatively affordable price point. Also, if you become an ACDIS member first, you get a discount on the Apprenticeship program ($100 off). The Apprenticeship, however, demonstrates foundational CDI knowledge and those who pass the course can designate themselves as an ACDIS CDI Apprentice. We hear anecdotally all the time that employers love to see the CDI Apprentice designation on a resume, as it demonstrates the person already possesses much of the foundational knowledge and therefore gives them an advantage amidst other applicants.

Additionally, a note regarding certification/the CCDS credential: the CCDS credential is a mark of distinction for experienced CDI professionals rather than a certification that simply indicates competence in the area, so it’s not the best option for those looking to get into the field. You can learn more about the requirements for certification by reading the Exam Candidate Handbook.

While we hope this information provides you a valuable starting point for your personal CDI journey, we also suggest searching our website for blanket terms such as “training” or “orientation” to bring up even more results that may address your specific questions (for tips on using our site search, read this tutorial). If you’re an ACDIS member, you can also reach out to your peers using the ACDIS Forum with any questions you might encounter as you learn and look for your first role (for tips on posting, read this tutorial).

Please feel free to reach out to us at info@acdis.org if you have any additional questions! We can’t wait to see where your CDI journey takes you.