Conference Update: Speaker Q&A
As you begin to plan your itinerary, we will be chatting with a handful of our speakers to give you a preview of the sessions we are offering. This week, we interviewed Cindi Stefl RN, BSN, CCDS, CDS Manager at Systems & Technology Service Center in Lakewood, Colorado, who, along with Holly Burich, RN, CCDS and Natalie Esquibel, RN, CCDS, will present, “Benefits and Pitfalls of Remote CDI and Census Balancing for a Multi-hospital CDI Team.”
Q: Why is it important for CDI programs to understand processes for remote CDI specialists and census balancing?
A: CDI programs across the country are challenged to maintain a staff of experienced, high performing clinical documentation specialists to consistently achieve their program and health systems goals. With an electronic medical record (EMR) and CDI processes that are 100% electronic, CDI programs are now able to tap a nationwide candidate pool for their open CDI specialist positions. Any CDI program should be familiar with how remote CDI can assist in programs goals, and what it takes to ensure success. Remote CDI offers increased productivity, decreased distractions, flexibility, and increased job satisfaction. It also allows a health system to share CDI resources—census balance—across their care sites to maximize CDI coverage and impact. Defining a policy and process for remote CDI and census balancing enhances team coordination, communication, setting expectations, and overall success.
Q: How is your topic important for everyone regardless of professional background?
A: This discussion is professional background “neutral.” Any experienced, high performing CDI specialist can benefit from the option to work remotely. Our presentation will discuss the benefits and challenges for “remote” CDI specialist work. The presentation will also discuss various components of census balancing to optimize case reviews.
Q: As nurses, how does your perspective differ from other professionals performing the CDI role?
A: For many CDI specialists with a nursing background, the clinical side of CDI is second nature after years of experience building physician interactions and relationships. Critical thinking, patient assessment, evaluating laboratory findings, and patient medications are all part of a nurses basic training. Many aspects of a bedside nurse’s essential role often translate into those professional aspects which make a good CDI specialist—someone who is a very keen detective, who can look for clues in the patient presentation, and the medical record. Many physicians trust and respect the nurse as a valuable partner in the patient’s care so that physician-nurse relationship can be beneficial.
Q: What do you think is the most important quality for a CDI professional to have?
A: Someone recently said to me, “Resiliency is an important quality. Integrity is essential. You have to be able to embrace change because the only constant is change. Humor is definitely necessary. And you have to like and respect physicians. Once I committed to this role, it was easy to become their documentation consultant, friend, and “at the elbow” support. We have to work hard to ensure providers know we are on their team. CDI is all about what is right for the patient and the organization.
Q: What are you looking forward to about this year’s conference?
A: The networking is the best. Every year I see more and more familiar faces. I learn so much from my colleagues in CDI, and I love the instant camaraderie you have with everyone. It is a great time to hear about the triumphs and challenges my colleagues encounter. Every year I get “pearls” that I can implement to improve the work that we do, individually, as a team, and as a vital program within our healthcare system. I think this conference really helps move our specialty and expertise forward to expand our ability to affect healthcare in a very positive manner.