All Entries Tagged With: "credentials"
CCDS credential: Answers to your top three questions
Hi everyone, questions about the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) exam have been coming fast and furious. I thought I would take a moment to answer a few of the most common types of questions I’ve received. So here goes:
Question 1: I cannot attend the conference in May, but I would like to take the certification exam. What are my options?
Answer: No need to worry. We will be offering the certification exam at approximately 170 H&R Block locations nationwide. Qualified candidates may schedule to take the exam at the most convenient location to their work or residence.
The May 16, 2009 Las Vegas administration of the CCDS exam is merely the first administration. Las Vegas test-takers will take a pencil-and-paper version of the exam. H&R Block test-takers will take it on a computer. Otherwise, the experience will be identical.
Update on certification, including prerequisites
General requirements
- Candidates applying for the examination will be required to list their documentation specialist experience. Applications may be audited to verify work history.
- Once a candidate has accumulated the necessary hours these do not expire.
- All work experience must be met by the application deadline.
- At least one year of documentation specialist experience or equivalent is required for each eligibility requirement.
Allowable resources
Examination takers for the CCDS will be allowed to bring the following two books with them into the examination:
- DRG Expert, published by Ingenix
- Standard drug reference guide
Books will be checked for additional pages or loose notes inserted or attached inside. These are not allowed to be brought into the exam. Test-takers may write hand-written notes into the books but not to an excessive degree.
Thanks, and please ask your questions here, or e-mail me at bmurphy@cdiassociation.com.
Brian
ACDIS clinical documentation certification underway
Earlier this week (October 20 and 21), four members of the ACDIS-sponsored clincial documentation certification advisory board took a trip out to our home base here in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to begin the next and most important phase of our upcoming certification–writing test questions.
Under the guidance of a recognized national certification administration firm, Deborah Biskner, MBA, RHIA, CCS, a clinical documentation specialist from Port Huron Hospital in Michigan, Jill Brocker, RN, MSN, CCS, director of quality services for Indiana Heart Institute in Indianapolis, Mary Beth Brown, RN, BSN, manager of clinical documentation improvement/utilization review for Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Mary Phelps, RHIA, CCS, CTR, CIC, senior associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Charlotte, North Carolina, flew into Logan Airport to get started.
Continuing CDI Education: Where does it come from?
How many of you have read the Official Coding Guidelines for 2008? Anyone? Anyone??
Well, if you haven’t yet, why haven’t you? As CDI professionals I believe that it is our responsibility to make every effort to stay abreast of coding regulations and updates and how they affect our process.
The 3rd Quarter Coding Clinic updates were available earlier this month. It should be standard practice to read the updates and see if there’s something new you need to know.