ACDIS CDI Work Group update: Group chosen, work to begin

Hi everyone, I thought I would take a moment to provide an update on an exciting new initiative going on with ACDIS: the CDI Work Group. This is a group that, beginning in the next few weeks, will start a series of bi-weekly meetings to discuss common obstacles and best practices in the field of clinical documentation. Its goal is to produce detailed surveys, benchmarks, and best practices to share with the membership.

I’m personally very excited about this group and strongly believe that the diverse expertise it brings to the table–and the work it ultimately produces–will be of immense value to our ACDIS members.

We had over 50 applicants for the CDI Work Group but in the end we had to narrow it down to 15. The CDI Work Group consists of the following members:

• Cheryl Ericson, MS, RN, Clinical Documentation Improvement Manager for The Medical University of South Carolina
• Lisa Peterson, BS, RHIA, Manager of the Medical Record Department for the University of Tennesee Medical Center
• Jennifer Woodworth, RN, BSN, Manager of Clinical Documentation for MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, WA
• Glenda Hebert, RN, BSN, CCM, Clinical Documentation Specialist for CHRISTUS Hosptial St. Elizabeth in Texas
• Susan Payne, RN, BSN, Manager of Case Management/Social Services for Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in California
• Eileen Hickey, RHIA, Coordinator of Medical Record Services for Atlantic Health-Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey
• Karen Frosch, CCS, Clinical Documentation Manager for Christiana Care in Delaware
• Lena Wilson, RHIA, CCS, Manager of HIM Operations/Clinical Documentation Improvement Program for Clarian Health in Indiana
• Thenia Nesbeth-Blades, RN, MSN, CDI Specialist for New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia
• Luanne Jennex, RN, CDI Specialist for Westchester Medical Center in New York
• Donald Butler, RN, BSN, Manager of Clinical Documentation for Pitt Country Memorial Hospital in North Carolina
• Sue Muse, RHIA, CDI Director for Precyse Solutions in Kentucky
• Marta Boyd, RN, Documentation Specialist for Valley Hospital and Medical Center in Washington
• Adelaide LaRosa, RN, Director of the Clinical Documentation Improvement Program for St. Francis Hospital in New York
• Pat Danks, CCS, CPC, CPC-H, CCDS, Coding Quality and Compliance Consultant for Kindred Healthcare

The group will be directed by three members of the ACDIS Advisory Board, including Shelia Bullock, Wendy DeVreugd, and Garri Garrison. In addition, I’ll be participating as well.

The CDI Work Group will be an ongoing project and will attempt to address many issues within the profession, starting with staffing considerations. Over time we may be looking to add members of different backgrounds and experience to participate, so stay tuned.

Thanks,

Brian