Conference Conversations: Fox helps make CDI programs “physician-friendly”
Editor’s Note: The ACDIS Conference is only a little over two months away. Over the coming weeks, we’ll take some time to introduce members to a few of this year’s speakers. The conference takes place May 9-12, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today, we talked to Nicole Fox, MD, MPH, FACS, CPE, the medical director of pediatric trauma and CDI at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, New Jersey, who will be presenting “Playing to Win: How to Engage Physicians in Clinical Documentation Improvement.” Currently, Fox leads a team of 13 CDI specialists and achieved a 100% physician response rate to queries.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge you faced with physician engagement at your facility?
A: Actually one of the strengths of our program is physician engagement. We have a 100% response rate to our CDI queries. I think one of the general challenges with physician engagement is not recognizing that the best way for physicians to receive information is peer-to-peer. There is no substitute for a practicing physician embedded in your CDI program who will proactively educate peers and handle any concerns that arise. Physicians are never taught how to document, so they struggle with this much-needed skill set and are often hesitant to ask for help. But, they respond most effectively to one of their peers.
Q: What are three things attendees can expect from your session?
A: Attendees can expect an interactive, dynamic presentation. They will have tangible “take-aways” to help make their CDI program physician friendly. They also will have tools to handle difficult physicians.
Q: What one tool can CDI professionals not live without?
A: An engaged medical director for their program.
Q: In what ways does your session challenge CDI professionals to think outside the box?
A: This session challenges non-physicians to see CDI from a physician’s perspective and really evaluate their own program to determine whether or not they are set up for success in terms of physician engagement.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about this year’s conference?
A: I cannot wait to hear about other program’s successes, particularly with ambulatory CDI which is our next area of growth and expansion.
Q: Fun question: what’s your favorite breakfast food?
A: An egg white burrito with quinoa and black beans. It’s awesome with tomatillo sauce. They make a great one at the Wynn Hotel café in Vegas, so try one while you are out at the ACDIS conference.