Conference Update: Speaker Q&A

We hope everyone is excited for the first official day of the conference! As you get the lay of the land and enjoy the first few sessions, we wanted to start our Tuesday with one final speaker discussion, in case you haven’t decided who you’re going to see tomorrow. This week, we spoke with Rachel Mack, RN, MSN, CCDS, CDIP, who, along with Natalie Esquibel, RN, BSN, CCDS, will be presenting “No Orientation Manual Needed … Oh Wait, That’s Not True: The Struggle and the Triumph of Orienting a New CDS.”

Q: Why is training an integral part of the CDI specialist’s role?

A: We desperately need new CDI specialists. Since every site does things so differently, it’s different orienting new CDI specialists to their role than other nursing roles. The basics of CDI are of utmost importance to teach, including clinical indicators, understanding the DRG system, identifying CC/MCCs, and developing relationships with physicians. But it’s so much more than that. They also need to be aware of many different factors, such as what electronic documentation tools the hospital uses (if any) and whether they have physician support. This is especially important because we want those doing CDI to be immediately successful—or at least operating mostly independently within a couple of months. Teaching CDI in a way in which a new staff member can be successful is too important for it to not be a focus of a program.

Q: How is your topic important for everyone in the CDI role, regardless of professional background?

A: The training and success of new CDI specialists is important for all aspects of CDI. The first six months of a new CDI specialist’s experience solidifies their standing in the hospital. Providers have to know that the people asking them documentation questions really know the ins and outs of CDI and coding. They need to be able to trust them. Getting new CDI specialists up and running with the right education and introduction is crucial for the hospital to be successful.

Q: As an RN, how does your perspective differ from other professionals performing the CDI role?

A: My perspective differs in that I feel the role comes down to “seeing” the clinical picture. My background is in ICU, so, when I’m reading records, I feel as though I can literally “see” what’s going on with the patient. I think that helps tremendously with record review.

Q: What do you think is the most important quality for a CDI professional to have?

A: Their ability to fixate on detail and be flexible. Chart review is all in the details. A CDI specialist’s ability to organize, review charts daily, and understand what’s important and what’s not is of vital importance for a CDI specialist to be successful. Being flexible is also important. This comes into play when you have to reschedule your entire day because something gets cancelled or changes, or a lot of patients come in. A CDI specialist must be able to navigate this with ease.

Q: Why do you think attending the ACDIS conference is important?

A: The ACDIS conference is not only important, it’s fun! The ACDIS conference really gets people excited about CDI and gives CDI specialists the ability to network with a group of professionals. It’s also a great place to see what’s happening across the country in CDI. I feel like it’s easy to get caught up in the “silos” of our own hospital. The ACDIS conference is just a great way for so many light bulbs to go off for new and old CDI specialists alike.