Articles for March 4, 2010

CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 5

News: 2009 CDI Salary Survey available

March 4, 2010
News, ACDIS Guidance
More than 300 CDI specialists participated in the 2009 ACDIS salary survey. Respondents answered questions about CDI specialists’ compensation (most make between $50,000 and $70,000 on average), their program structure (most CDI programs...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 5

Sample policy: Standard operating procedure offered for query practices

March 4, 2010
Physician Queries
The concept of standard operating procedures (SOP) might easily call to mind assembly lines or retail-related employee handbooks. But CDI programs should establish such basic operating policies to clarify expectations for CDI staff and the healthcare professionals who interact with them....Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 5

Tip: Stay on the right CDI track by querying when appropriate

March 4, 2010
Physician Queries
CDI specialists are charged with reviewing concurrent medical records on the hospital floor and clarifying clinical documentation when appropriate. I emphasis the term “appropriate”because there hardly seems to be a time when the opportunity for a clinical query does not exist....Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 5

Q&A: Avoid coding confusion for TPA

March 4, 2010
Ask ACDIS

Q: Do you code the procedure for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration when it is done in your emergency room for patients being admitted with cerebrovascular accident (CVA)/stroke on inpatient cases?

I believe the procedure code is 99.10...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 5

News: Take RAC lessons to heart

March 4, 2010
News
Those who lived through the RAC demonstration project learned valuable lessons along the way, lessons that CDI professionals can use as the RAC reviews become permanent and audits begin to take on more medical necessity and documentation concerns.
 
One of the most...Read More »