There is no doubt about it—CDI specialists will be taking on more work and a greater complexity related to that work in 2014 due to the implementation of ICD-10. The question for many CDI managers around the country is: How do I keep my staff intact, given that they’re facing a greater workload...Read More »
When training new hires, managers need to understand a person’s strengths and weaknesses and work to establish the best learning strategies for him or her. It’s important to conduct an assessment of the individual’s skill set against the expectations of the position. Once you’ve hired and...Read More »
First came the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system. Next staff implemented an electronic query/CDI system. Finally there was a move to a full electronic health record (EHR). When Emory University Orthopedic & Spine Hospital in Tucker, Ga., decided to phase out various elements...Read More »
It took some time to break down the wall between coders and CDI specialists at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. However, that wall eventually crumbled. During roundtable discussions, participants perform post-bill case reviews of...Read More »
$500,000. That’s what facilities expect as their CDI programs’ annual return on investment (ROI), according to 58% of more than 1,660 respondents to a recent ACDIS website poll (www.hcpro.com/acdis/readerpoll_results.cfm). When...Read More »
by James P. Fee, MD, CCDS, and Garry L. Huff, MD, CCS, CCDS
Certainly, the alphabetical and tabular index of the ICD-9-CM codebook assume the “postoperative” relationship as causal, but a CDI specialist should investigate this further within the specific clinical context.Read More »
Years ago, the physician you saw for your annual checkup was the physician in charge of your care should you need to be admitted to the hospital. Today, however, this model has changed. With the complexity of care now required for many illnesses, and the complexity of physician structures at...Read More »
