Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist - Arroyo Grande, CA - Onsite

Optum; Arroyo Grande (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

401(k) contribution

Equity stock purchase

Job summary

Optum Insight seeks a Clinical Document Improvement Specialist to oversee inpatient CDI and implement CDI processes for Optum 360 clients. The role ensures accurate, complete documentation reflecting diagnoses, severity, and care decisions with collaboration across care teams.

Responsibilities include expert chart reviews within 24–48 hours, physician education, and leading CDI improvement initiatives using Optum 3D technology. Onsite work at client hospitals is required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years acute care hospital clinical RN experience or medical graduate with CDI experience
• CDI certification (CCDS, CDIP) preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide expert level inpatient CDI review within 24–48 hours of admission
• Lead documentation improvement initiatives and educate physicians
• Collaborate with care teams to clarify diagnoses and severity of illness
• Utilize Optum CDI 3D technology to document clarifications
• Coordinate with HIM Coding Professionals and Care Coordination
• Engage physician leadership to resolve documentation issues
• Monitor and report CDI impact, trends, and compliance

Skills

Acute care RN experience

CDI experience

CDI certifications (CCDS CDIP)

Education

BSN

CDDS/CDIP/CCS certifications

Job description

Optum Insight is improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system. We remove friction and drive alignment between care providers and payers, and ultimately consumers. Our deep expertise in the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management, quality and revenue growth. Ready to help us deliver results that improve lives? Join us in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Clinical Document Improvement Specialist - (CDS) is responsible for providing CDI program oversight and day to day CDI implementation of processes related to the concurrent review of the clinical documentation in the inpatient medical record of Optum 360 clients’ patients. The goal of the CDS oversight and practice is to assess the technical accuracy, specificity, and completeness of provider clinical documentation, and to ensure that the documentation explicitly identifies all clinical findings and conditions present at the time of service.

This position collaborates with providers and other healthcare team members to make improvements that result in accurate, comprehensive documentation that reflects completely, the clinical treatment, decisions, and diagnoses for the patient. The CDS utilizes clinical expertise and clinical documentation improvement practices as well as facility specific tools for best practice and compliance with the mission/philosophy, standards, goals, and core values of Optum 360.

In this position the CDS will utilizing the Optum™ CDI 3D technology that is assisting hospitals to improve data quality to accurately reflect the quality of care provided and ensure revenue integrity.

Our three-dimensional approach to CDI technology, paired with best-practice adoption methodology and change management support, is helping hospitals make a real impact on CDI efficiency and effectiveness.

• Increase in identification of cases with CDI opportunities, with automated review of 100% of records
• Improved tracking, transparency and reporting related to CDI impact, revenue capture, trending, and compliance
• Easing the transition to ICD-10 by improving the specificity and completeness of clinical documentation, resulting in more accurate coding

This position does not have patient care duties, does not have direct patient interactions, and has no role relative to patient care.

***Work Location: onsite at client hospital ***

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides expert level review of inpatient clinical records within 24-48 hours of admit; identifies gaps in clinical documentation that need clarification for accurate code assignment to ensure the documentation accurately reflects the severity of the condition and acuity of care provided
• Conducts daily follow-up communication with providers regarding existing clarifications to obtain needed documentation specificity
• Provides expert level leadership for overall improvement in clinical documentation by providing proficient level review and assessment, and effectively articulating recommendations for improvement, and the rational for the recommendations
• Actively communicates with providers at all levels, to clarify information and to communicate documentation requirements for appropriate diagnoses based on severity of illness and risk of mortality
• Performs regular rounding with unit-based physicians and provides Working DRG lists to Care Coordination
• Provides face-to-face educational opportunities with physicians on a regular basis
• Provides complete follow-through on all requests for clarification or recommendations for improvement
• Leads the development and execution of physician education strategies resulting in improved clinical documentation
• Provides timely feedback to providers regarding clinical documentation opportunities for improvement and successes
• Ensures effective utilization of Optum® CDI 3D Technology to document all clarification activities
• Utilizes only the Optum360 approved clarification forms
• Proactively develops a reciprocal relationship with the HIM Coding Professionals
• Coordinates and conducts regular meetings with HIM Coding Professionals to reconsolidate DRGs, monitor retrospective query rates and discuss questions related to Coding and CDI
• Engages and consultations with Physician Advisor / VPMA when needed, per the escalation process, to resolve provider issues regarding answering clarifications and participation in the clinical documentation improvement process
• Actively engages with Care Coordination and the Quality Management teams to continually evaluate and spearhead clinical documentation improvement opportunities

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years acute care hospital clinical RN experience OR Medical Graduate with CDI experience and CDI certification (CCDS, CDIP)
• Proficiency using a PC in a Windows environment, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and electronic medical records
• Experience communicating & working closely with physicians
• Ability to work onsite

Preferred Qualifications

• BSN degree if a RN
• CCDS, CDIP or CCS certification
• Experience in clinical documentation improvement
• CAC experience (Computer Assistant Coding)

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc.

In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $72,800 - $130,000 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.