Health Information Management

Membership Update: CDI Journal released

CDI Strategies, July 17, 2014

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The July edition of the CDI Journal includes a number of news-related information for CDI professionals related to expectations for programs' return on investment (ROI), ICD-10 preparation, and new information from Coding Clinic.

 

Of particular note, a recent ACDIS poll had more than 1,500 participants answering the question "How much of a financial impact does your CDI program have on its facility annually?"  Although most respondents indicate the CDI program only returns about $500,000 annually, those ACDIS spoke to described that number as "disappointing." In the article "CDI program financial value often lost of staff," sources suggest that ROI should typically be in the $2 million range depending, of course, on the facility's Medicare blended rate, bed size and other factors.

In the article, " With 2015 date set, 'stay the course' mantra reinforced," experts suggest that not only should CDI and coding departments work out their differences and begin to work more collaboratively, but they should also begin dual coding/CDI efforts as soon as possible. Feeding each other information about how documentation affects ICD-10-CM/PCS code assignment and identifying documentation and coding gaps helps illuminate trouble spots, puts any pre-existing training into practices, and helps prepare organizations in terms of implementation preparation overall, the article states.
In "Beware of vendor promises regarding CDI/coder results," Trey La Charité, MD, discusses compliance concerns related to vendor promises. "I have found that a healthy skepticism needs to be applied within the realm of clinical documentation integrity. In fact, I am thinking of hanging 'Caveat Emptor' (Latin for 'buyer beware') sign over my desk," he writes.
ACDIS' newest CDI Boot Camp instructor Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS, explores the first issue of Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS along with its final edition of Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM. The latest publications include some important reminders as to whose documentation can be used for coding purposes.
Finally this quarter's Journal also includes a number of articles which discuss troublesome diagnoses such as hypoxemic respiratory failure, pediatric malnutrition, and cardiorenal syndrome.
If you are not currently a member, considering joining the only resource devoted to the clinical documentation improvement profession—ACDIS.

 

 



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