Lead Clinical Documentation Specialist (CDS) - Rapid Response

Ascension; United States; Remote; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascension is looking for a Lead Clinical Document Specialist to manage and improve clinical documentation integrity within our organization. This role involves urgent problem-solving and collaboration across departments to enhance performance and compliance. Candidates with strong analytical skills and clinical documentation expertise are preferred to join our mission of transforming healthcare access for all.

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)

Various health insurance options

Retirement benefits with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance programs (EAP)

Qualifications

• Required Clinical Documentation Prof. credential prior to hire.
• Leadership or management experience preferred.
• In-depth clinical disease process knowledge essential.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a resource for emergent CDI issues and payer denials.
• Mentor front-line CDSs on complex cases.
• Lead strategic CDI initiatives for compliance.

Skills

Clinical documentation integrity

Analytical thinking

Mentoring

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Associate's or Bachelor's degree

Tools

EHR systems (e.g., Epic, Cerner)

CDI software tools (e.g., 3M, Iodine, Nuance)

Job description

We Are Hiring

• Department: Administration
• Schedule: Full Time, Days
• Location: Remote

What You Will Do

The Lead Clinical Document Specialist (CDS) – Rapid Response serves as a high-level clinical documentation integrity expert, deployed to address urgent, complex, or high-impact issues across the CDI program. This role supports strategic initiatives, facilitates rapid-cycle audits, and investigates documentation and coding anomalies in real-time. The Rapid Response Lead works collaboratively across departments to drive accurate documentation, coding integrity, and risk adjustment capture, while supporting training, compliance, and data-driven decision-making. This role functions as a senior-level front-line Clinical Documentation Specialist (CDS) with the added responsibility of special project leadership, real-time problem-solving, and high-level analysis. Responsibilities will include:

• Serve as a go-to resource for emergent CDI issues, such as payer denials, real-time audit support, and targeted DRG validation concerns.
• Respond to short-notice system-level needs, such as spike in denial rates, quality outliers, or new coding rule implementations.
• Mentor and guide front-line CDSs, offering coaching and support with complex cases, query framing, and escalation pathways.
• Analyze documentation and coding data to identify performance trends and improvement opportunities.
• Serve as a backup or advisor in provider engagement meetings, CDI/coding crosswalk discussions, or multidisciplinary working groups.
• Assist with updating policy, query templates, or education based on project findings or emerging issues.
• Lead strategic CDI initiatives at a market and system level. Oversee the implementation of new and best practices to ensure compliance with organizational goals.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of CDI initiatives to enhance quality of care and facilitate accurate reimbursement.
• Evaluate results of strategic initiatives. Provide recommendations and pathways to implement successful initiatives.
• Work across markets/ministries, in multiple electronic medical records, to complete projects.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in clinical documentation and coding guidelines and shares knowledge with colleagues and stakeholders.

What You Will Need

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

Required Credential(s):

• Clinical Documentation Prof. credentialed from the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate'sdegree/Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience OR 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required. 2 years of leadership or management experience preferred.

Additional Preferences

• In-depth understanding of clinical disease processes, treatment pathways, and evidence-based medicine.
• High-level knowledge of MS-DRG and APR-DRG methodologies, HCC risk adjustment, SOI/ROM, PSI/HAC indicators, and CMS quality programs.
• Ability to independently investigate and solve documentation, coding, and clinical validation issues under time constraints.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially with providers and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to educate, mentor, and influence others without formal authority.
• Strong analytical thinking, data interpretation, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in EHR systems (e.g., Epic, Cerner) and CDI software tools (e.g., 3M, Iodine, Nuance).
• Adaptable and resourceful under pressure, with a proactive and collaborative work ethic.

#CDI25

Why Join Our Team

Ascension associates are key to our commitment of transforming healthcare and providing care to all, especially those most in need. Join us and help us drive impact through reimagining how we can deliver a people-centered healthcare experience and creating the solutions to do it. Explore career opportunities across our ministry locations and within our corporate headquarters.

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 134,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

As a military friendly organization, Ascension promotes career flexibility and offers many benefits to help support the well-being of our military families, spouses, veterans and reservists. Our associates are empowered to apply their military experience and unique perspective to their civilian career with Ascension.

Pay Non-Discrimination Notice

Please note that Ascension will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Ascension will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.

E-Verify Statement

This employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click the E-Verify link below for more information.E-Verify

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO) Various health insurance options & wellness plans Retirement benefits including employer match plans Long-term & short-term disability Employee assistance programs (EAP) Parental leave & adoption assistance Tuition reimbursement Ways to give back to your community

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance and salary range at the time of the offer.