CDI Specialist

Kindred Healthcare•Palestine, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Specialist is responsible for improving the overall quality, accuracy, and completeness of clinical documentation in the medical record. Through concurrent review and collaboration with physicians, nurses, coders, and other healthcare team members, the CDI Specialist ensures that documentation reflects the true severity of illness, risk of mortality, and complexity of care. This position supports compliance, quality initiatives, and reimbursement through accurate coding and reporting.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in nursing, health information management or related healthcare field
3+ years clinical experience (e.g., inpatient care, documentation review, or case management)
Prior Experience with CDI, ICD-10-CM/PCS, MS-DRGs, and official coding guidelines
In-depth understanding of clinical care delivery, coding systems (ICD-10, MS-DRG), and documentation regulations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to engage physicians and interdisciplinary teams in a collaborative, educational manner.
Proficient in EMR systems and data analytics tools.
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and independent judgment.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet documentation timelines.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in nursing, health information management or related healthcare field
Master’s Degree in nursing, health information management or related healthcare field
CDIP - Clinical Documentation Improvement Professional or CCDS (within 2 years of hire)
RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in state of practice
RHIA - Registered Health Information Administrator or RHIT

Responsibilities

Perform concurrent reviews of inpatient records to identify opportunities for clarification, specificity, and documentation completeness.
Initiate and follow up on provider queries in accordance with official coding and organizational standards.
Abstract clinical data to support coding and DRG accuracy.
Educate physicians and clinical staff on documentation best practices and regulatory requirements.
Review documentation for Present on Admission (POA), Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs), and other quality indicators.
Collaborate with case management, quality, compliance, and HIM teams to support clinical accuracy and financial integrity.
Analyze and report trends related to documentation improvement opportunities and query response rates.
Maintain current knowledge of CMS regulations, IPPS, AHA Coding Clinics, and industry guidelines.
Assist with documentation audits and performance improvement initiatives.
Present educational sessions to providers and staff on clinical documentation topics.
Uphold ethical, legal, and regulatory standards related to patient privacy and coding practices.