Outpatient CDI Specialist-1

MUSC Health; South Carolina; Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA) seeks an Outpatient CDI Specialist to enhance documentation quality and coding accuracy in outpatient settings. The role reports to the Outpatient CDI Program Manager and collaborates with clinicians, coders, and case managers to optimize reimbursement while reflecting patient severity.

The position requires an RN with 3+ years of clinical nursing experience and SC (or compact) licensure, plus knowledge of ICD-10-CM guidelines and HIPAA compliance.

Qualifications

• RN with at least 3 years of clinical nursing experience; CDI or coding experience preferred.
• Active nursing license in SC or compact state.
• Strong clinical knowledge and critical thinking; ability to collaborate with diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Conduct concurrent and retrospective reviews to ensure documentation captures severity, risk, and medical necessity for outpatient services.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, case managers and coders to improve documentation and coding.
• Query providers clearly to address gaps and ambiguities to support accurate coding and billing.
• Educate providers and clinical staff on best practices for documentation to improve encounter accuracy and quality.
• Accurately assign ICD-10-CM for outpatient encounters and abstract data into EMR while complying with standards.
• Maintain data confidentiality and HIPAA compliance; ensure regulatory and payer compliance.
• Bridge communication between clinical staff and HIM; participate in provider education on coding standards.

Skills

Registered Nurse

HCC/Risk Adjustment experience

Documentation improvement

Communication with physicians

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Outpatient CDI Specialist is a hybrid role that combines the expertise of clinical documentation improvement (CDI) and outpatient Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding. This position will report to the Outpatient CDI Program Manager. This position focuses on improving the accuracy, quality, and completeness of clinical documentation in outpatient medical records while ensuring compliance with coding guidelines. The specialist will work collaboratively with providers, coding teams, and other healthcare professionals to facilitate accurate coding, improve risk capture, and optimize reimbursement while reflecting the true severity of illness and care provided.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Cost Center

CC005475 SYS - Outpatient CDI Program

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-28

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing and at least three years' clinical nursing experience preferred.
• Licensure as a registered nurse by the South Carolina Board of Nursing or compact state.
• Strong clinical experience and critical thinking skills required.
• Extensive knowledge of patient care, and knowledge of clinical measurement tools and clinical outcomes.
• Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with diverse groups and individuals, medical staff and other health care disciplines.

Experience

Job Specifications:

• Registered Nurse with at least 3 or more years of experience either in the clinical field, CDI field, or coding.
• 1 or more years of experience in HCC/Risk Adjustment preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in clinical documentation improvement, outpatient Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC), or a combination of both preferred.
• Experience in an outpatient or acute care setting required.
• Ability to work independently, be resourceful, and possess strong organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with physicians and other clinical staff; be courteous and professional.

Required Certifications/Licensure

Active certification from one of the following preferred:

• AAPC (Certified Professional Coder - CPC or Certified Documentation Expert – Outpatient CDEO)
• AHIMA (Certified Coding Specialist – CCS or Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner – CDIP)
• ACDIS (Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist - CCDS or CCDS-O)
• Candidates without a certification must obtain one within the first year of employment.
• Proficiency in ICD-10-CM preferred.

Job Responsibilities

Clinical Documentation Improvement (50%)

• Conduct concurrent and retrospective reviews of medical records to ensure clinical documentation captures the full scope of patient severity, risk of mortality and medical necessity for outpatient services.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, case managers and coders to identify opportunities for improving documentation of diagnoses, procedures and medical necessity.
• Query providers in a compliant and clear manner to address documentation gaps, ambiguities or discrepancies to support accurate coding and billing.
• Educate providers and clinical staff on best practices for documentation to improve encounter accuracy and quality.

Outpatient HCC Coding (25%)

• Accurately assign ICD-10 CM for outpatient encounters, including clinical visits, emergency department visits, ambulatory surgeries, laboratory services and observation care.
• Abstract data and input into electronic medical record systems while adhering to organizational and regulatory coding standards.
• Ensure coding accuracy meets or exceeds a 95% accuracy rate, following official ICD-10-CM guidelines.

Data Integrity and Compliance (15%)

• Maintain complete confidentiality of patient information and adhere to HIPAA regulations and organizational policies.
• Ensure documentation and coding practices meet compliance standards for regulatory and payer requirements.

Collaboration and Education (10%)

• Act as a liaison between clinical providers and HIM to bridge the gap between documentation and coding requirements.
• Participate in education for providers on coding and documentation standards, focusing on outpatient services.
• Participate in ongoing education and stay current with changes in coding guidelines, CDI practices, and healthcare regulations.

Additional Job Description

Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing and a minimum of five years clinical nursing experience required. Strong clinical experience and critical thinking skills required. Extensive knowledge of patient care, and knowledge of clinical measurement, tools, and clinical outcomes; ability to establish cooperative, working relationships with diverse groups and individuals, medical staff and other healthcare disciplines; program and database development a plus. Licensure a registered nurse by the South Carolina Board of nursing or compact state.

Physical Requirements

• Mobility & Posture: Standing: Continuous, Sitting: Continuous, Walking: Continuous, climbing stairs: Infrequent, working indoors: Continuous, working outdoors (temperature extremes): Infrequent, working from elevated areas: Frequent, working in confined/cramped spaces: Frequent, Kneeling: Infrequent, bending at the waist: Continuous, Twisting at the waist: Frequent, Squatting: Frequent.
• Manual Dexterity & Strength: Pinching operations: Frequent, Gross motor use (fingers/hands): Continuous, Firm grasping (fingers/hands): Continuous, Fine manipulation (fingers/hands): Continuous, reaching overhead: Frequent, Reaching in all directions: Continuous, Repetitive motion (hands/wrists/elbows/shoulders): Continuous, Full use of both legs: Continuous, Balance & coordination (lower extremities): Frequent.
• Lifting & Force Requirements: Lift/carry 50 lbs. unassisted: Infrequent, Lift/lower 50 lbs. from floor to 36”: Infrequent, Lift up to 25 lbs. overhead: Infrequent, Exert up to 50 lbs. of force: Frequent.
• Vision & Sensory: Maintain corrected vision 20/40 (one or both eyes): Continuous, Recognize objects (near/far): Continuous, Color discrimination: Continuous, Depth perception: Continuous, Peripheral vision: Continuous, Hearing acuity (with correction): Continuous, Tactile sensory function: Continuous, Gross motor with fine motor coordination: Continuous.
• Selected Positions: Olfactory (smell) function: Continuous, Respirator use qualification: Continuous, Work Environment & Conditions: Effective stress management: Continuous, rotating shifts: Frequent, Overtime as required: Frequent, Latex-safe environment: Continuous.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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