RN CDI Specialist

MedStar Health; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

MedStar Health is seeking a Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist to ensure accurate documentation reflecting patient risk of mortality and severity of illness. The role collaborates with coding teams to assign correct ICD-10 and DRG, develops physician queries, and educates clinical staff.

The position requires nursing experience in acute care, CDI/CDI-related certifications within two years, and strong data analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Nursing is required or higher degrees preferred.
• 3-4 years of nursing experience in acute care is required.
• Experience in ICD-10 coding review and DRG reimbursements systems required.
• CDIP or CCDS certifications within 2 years required; CCS-Certified Coding Specialist preferred.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of department goals and adheres to policies and quality standards.
• Collaborates with CDI team, nursing staff, medical staff, and ancillary departments.
• Uses CDI resources to ensure precise clinical details and data entry for MS-DRG/APR-DRG assignments.
• Develops physician queries in line with AHIMA/ACDIS guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Identifies education opportunities and provides ongoing education to clinicians about accurate documentation.
• Records daily review data including cases reviewed, queries, and DRG determinations.
• Maintains continuing education and credentials for the CDI role.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and hospital outreach as required.
• Analyzes CDI data to identify improvement opportunities and educates staff.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Verbal and written communication

Critical-thinking

Data analysis

Education

Associate's degree in Nursing

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Master's degree in Nursing or related field

Doctoral degree Foreign Medical Graduate preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

General Summary of Position

Ensures that documentation supports accurate complete and consistent unambiguous clinical documentation. Utilizes clinical expertise to support appropriate reflection of the patient's risk of mortality and severity of illness. Develops compliant physician queries guided by the American Health Information Management Associations (AHIMA) Ethical Standards for Clinical Documentation Improvement Professionals the ACDIS/AHIMA Query practice brief and state federal and other appropriate regulatory guidance. Evaluates the medical records for case specific review including mortalities complications quality of care and other needs identified requiring review and/or second level review. Reviews and analyzes inpatient record for compliant documentation. Provides education to all levels of clinical staff. Closely collaborates with coding professionals to ensure appropriate ICD-10 and DRG assignment. Maintains certification and credentials applicable to the Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist role. Monitors clinical case data to identify areas of improvement.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies procedures quality standards and safety standards. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Demonstrates a cooperative collaborative and team-oriented approach with CDI team coders nursing staff medical staff and all other ancillary departments. Communicates effectively to ensure a coordinated standardized and effective approach with clinicians.
• Demonstrates the appropriate utilization of paper and electronic CDI chart review resources to foster transition of cases within the CDI team. Ensures the CDI work sheet includes precise clinical details appropriate data entry into software and complete and updated code set to support physician queries and support case review decisions.
• Develops written and verbal CDI physician queries in compliance with AHIMA/ACDIS query practice brief and other appropriate regulatory body requirements.
• Identifies opportunities for education based upon query topics or other identified need and provides on-going education to physicians clinicians and other stakeholders about the need for accurate complete and consistent documentation in the medical record.
• Inputs daily review data in a timely manner including number of cases reviewed number of queries placed working MS-DRG or APR-DRG secondary diagnoses procedures and determination of MS-DRG or APR-DRG.
• Maintains continuing education and credentials for clinical documentation integrity specialist job classification.
• Meets the organizations CDS performance standards including but not limited to productivity (initial reviews and follow up reviews) query rate and documentation clarification rate.
• Participates in identifying areas of opportunity to improve the success or mitigate barriers in the CDI program and collaborates with the CDI Director to develop action plans to address issues.
• Participates in meetings and on committees and represents the department and hospital in community outreach efforts as required.
• Participates in the collection analysis and trending of CDI data to identify opportunities for improvement and to develop education for medical and hospital staff.
• May be asked to participate in the retrospective review of principal and secondary diagnoses to ensure the accuracy of diagnostic and procedural data.
• Performs initial and follow-up CDI chart reviews in accordance to the Hospitals CDI Policies and Procedures.
• Performs quality chart reviews in accordance to the Hospital CDI policies and procedures. Ability to recognize and research clinically complex conditions and associated global exclusions. Utilizes coding and CDI resources in an effort to apply the correct coding guidelines and clinical information to the review of the patients record.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides input in the development of power plans best practice guidelines and power notes within the hospital EMR systems to facilitate adherence to best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Reviews the medical record and evaluates the documentation to assign the Principal Diagnosis pertinent secondary diagnoses and procedures for accurate MS-DRG or APR-DRG assignment/Severity of Illness and Risk of Mortality.

Minimal Qualifications

Education

• Associate's degree in Nursing required or
• Bachelor's degree in Nursing preferred or
• Master's degree Nursing or other clinically focused field of study such as Advanced Practice Nursing Physician Assistant preferred or
• Doctoral degree Foreign Medical Graduate preferred

Experience

• 3-4 years nursing Experience in acute care setting required and
• Experience in ICD-10 coding review and DRG reimbursements systems required

Licenses and Certifications

• Cert Document Improvement Practitioner - CDIP within 2 years required or
• CCDS - Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist within 2 years required and
• CCS-Certified Coding Specialist preferred

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word Excel PowerPoint).
• Excellent interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication.
• Ability to collect and analyze data related to the CDI program.
• Proficient in reviewing medical records and understanding pertinent clinical information.
• Ability to demonstrate critical-thinking skills.

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