Documentation Integrity Specialist IV, Clinical - FMG

Kaiser Permanente International; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in Arlington, VA seeks a Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist to review medical records, assign codes and DRGs, and support the CDI program. You will help enhance documentation accuracy, assist with audits, and contribute to education across teams.

Ideal candidates have FMG training, CDI/coding certifications, and EMR experience (Epic). The role emphasizes collaboration, process improvement, and adherence to federal and state regulations.

Qualifications

• Requires FMG degree and clinical setting experience.
• Certificate in CDI or coding is required at hire (CDS, CCS, CDIS).
• Three certifications may be listed as acceptable (CCDS, CCS-P, RHIA/RHIT).
• Experience with Epic or other EMR systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review moderate caseload of medical records to ensure accurate documentation and proper DRG assignment.
• Assist CDI program by integrating processes and improving documentation accuracy and issue resolution.
• Support audits and regulatory compliance through documentation reviews and non-compliance reporting.
• Conduct staff trainings on CDI topics and documentation standards.

Education

Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) Degree

Clinical Document Specialist Certificate

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

Certified Documentation Integrity Specialist (CDIS)

CCDS from ACDIS or CDIP or RHIA or RHIT credential

Tools

Epic Systems (EMR)

Job description

Job Summary:

Reviews a moderate caseload of medical/health records to promote the accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation and assigns medical codes and diagnostics-related groups (DRGs) to facilitate the accurate capture of diagnoses. Assists in enhancing the clinical documentation improvement/integrity (CDI) program by integrating processes to improve the accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation and documentation issue resolution. Supports regulatory compliance by aiding audits, reviewing clinical documentation, and documenting cases of non-compliance in line with coding guidelines and federal regulations. Collaborates with others to conduct staff trainings and education on clinical documentation improvement (e.g., medical review and coding, quality standards, documentation requirements for diagnosis capture).

Essential Responsibilities:

• Promotes learning in others by proactively providing and/or developing information, resources, advice, and expertise with coworkers and members; builds relationships with cross-functional/external stakeholders and customers. Listens to, seeks, and addresses performance feedback; proactively provides actionable feedback to others and to managers. Pursues self-development; creates and executes plans to capitalize on strengths and develop weaknesses; leads by influencing others through technical explanations and examples and provides options and recommendations. Adopts new responsibilities; adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback; demonstrates flexibility in approaches to work; champions change and helps others adapt to new tasks and processes. Facilitates team collaboration to support a business outcome.
• Completes work assignments autonomously and supports business-specific projects by applying expertise in subject area and business knowledge to generate creative solutions; encourages team members to adapt to and follow all procedures and policies. Collaborates cross-functionally and/or externally to achieve effective business decisions; provides recommendations and solves complex problems; escalates high-priority issues or risks, as appropriate; monitors progress and results. Supports the development of work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; identifies resources to accomplish priorities and deadlines. Identifies, speaks up, and capitalizes on improvement opportunities across teams; uses influence to guide others and engages stakeholders to achieve appropriate solutions.
• Works on clinical documentation reviews by reviewing a moderate caseload of medical/health records to promote accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation; reviewing results of a moderate to large caseload of medical record reviews and working alongside others to rectify identified omissions or contradictions in medical records; completing medical codes and diagnostics-related groups (DRGs) to facilitate the accurate capture of diagnoses in collaboration with senior team members and leadership; contributing to the identification of medical conditions that impact the severity of illness (SOI) and risk of mortality (ROM) indicators; and monitoring the documentation clarification queries to support efficient resolution of open queries.
• Integrates processes to improve clinical documentation by supporting reviews of clinical documentation improvement/integrity (CDI) programs and integrating processes to improve the accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation and documentation issue resolution; determining areas to improve clinical review and documentation processes; and collaborating with team members to identify and implement documentation improvement initiatives.
• Conducts staff training and education by collaborating with others on CDI training (e.g., medical review and coding, quality standards, documentation requirements for diagnosis capture); and working with others to determine areas of improvement and collaborate with senior professionals to develop programs for clinical documentation education/training.
• Drives regulatory compliance by completing reviews and documenting in line with regulatory requirements; following established procedures to perform audits of clinical documentation to support compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; documenting cases of non-compliance; and working with others to maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant regulations and sharing opportunities with team members.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in an inpatient acute care or clinical setting.
• Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) Degree.

• Clinical Document Specialist Certificate required at hire OR Certified Coding Specialist required at hire OR Certified Documentation Integrity Specialist required at hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist Credential (CCDS) from the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) OR Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), OR Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) from the American Health Information Management Association.
• Three (3) years of experience using Epic System software OR other Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.