Case Management

CMW Sneak Peek: Collaboration for improved documentation and communication

Case Management Weekly, December 31, 2008

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In this month’s edition of our bimonthly “Building better relationships” series, Case Management Monthly examines the relationship between clinical documentation specialists (CDS) and case managers from the perspectives of Lynne Spryszak, RN, a CDS at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, IL, and Debbi Russell, BSN, MBA, CMAC, executive director of patient resource management at Regency Hospital Company in Alpharetta, GA.

Q. What issues do you typically see arise between case managers and CDSs?

LS: Issues depend on how a hospital integrates—or doesn’t integrate—the two disciplines. Although their primary focus is different, it’s important that both groups see themselves as a collaborative unit. If there is proper collaboration, there shouldn’t be many issues.

DR: There shouldn’t be a lot of issues between the two because they have very common goals. Case managers are in a unique position to get immediate documentation, as they are the ones who are actually with patients from admission to discharge. By knowing in advance the issues CDSs face, case managers can work with physicians to ensure that there is adequate and thorough documentation in patients charts. By collaborating with case managers, CDSs can eliminate the chasing game they usually play with physicians to clarify whether a condition was POA.

Check out the December 2008 issue of Case Management Monthly to get the full story, and discover all the benefits of being a Case Management Monthly subscriber!



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