Clinical Documentation Specialist, First Reviewer

It's more than a career, it's a calling Remote Locations Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Job Summary Performs concurrent analytical reviews of clinical and coding data to improve physician documentation for all conditions and treatments from point of entry to discharge, ensuring an accurate reflection of the patient condition in the associated Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) assignments, case‑mix index, severity of illness (SOI), and risk of mortality (ROM) profiling, and reimbursement. Facilitates the resolution of queries and educates members of the patient care team regarding documentation guidelines and the need for accurate and complete documentation in the health record, including attending physicians and allied health practitioners. Collaborates with coding professionals to ensure accuracy of diagnostic and procedural data and completeness of supporting documentation to determine a working and final DRG, SOI, and/or ROM. Responsibilities Completes initial reviews of patient records and evaluates documentation to assign principal diagnosis, pertinent secondary diagnoses, and procedures for accurate DRG assignment, ROM, and SOI. Maintains appropriate productivity level. Conducts follow‑up reviews of patients to support and assign a working or final DRG assignment upon patient discharge, as necessary. Queries physicians regarding missing, unclear, or conflicting health record documentation by requesting and obtaining additional documentation within the health record when needed. Identifies issues with reporting of diagnostic testing proactively. Enhances expertise in query development, presentation, and standards including understanding of published query guidelines and practice expectations for compliance. Educates physicians and key healthcare providers regarding clinical documentation improvement and the need for accurate and complete documentation in the health record. Attends department meetings to review documentation‑related issues. Conducts independent research to promote knowledge of clinical topics, coding guidelines, regulatory policies and trends, and healthcare economics. Collaborates with coding to reconcile the DRG and resolves mismatches utilizing the escalation policy. Troubleshoots documentation or communication problems proactively and appropriately escalates. Reviews and clarifies clinical issues in the health record with coding professionals to support an accurate DRG assignment, SOI, and/or ROM. Assists in the mortality review and risk adjustment process utilizing third‑party models. Demonstrates an understanding of complications, comorbidities, SOI, ROM, case mix, and the impact of procedures on the billed record. Imparts knowledge to providers and other members of the healthcare team. Maintains a level of expertise by attending continuing education programs. Applies the existing body of evidence‑based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to nursing practice, ensuring that nursing care is delivered based on patient’s age‑specific needs and clinical needs as described in the department’s scope of service. Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications Prior experience as a Clinical Documentation Specialist. Additional two years’ experience in an acute care setting or relevant experience. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, PA, NP, or medical school, or Associate’s degree and Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) certification from the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS). Preferred Qualifications CCDS certification. Proficiency with MS Office tools—especially Excel. Prior experience reviewing PSI (patient safety indicator) or experience with Vizient specialized mortality reviews. Education Graduate of accredited school of nursing, PA, NP, or medical school, or Associate’s degree and Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) certification from the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS). Experience Two years’ experience in an acute care setting or relevant experience. Physical Requirements Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0–25 lbs. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. Ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. Frequent keyboard use/data entry. Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping. Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25–50 lbs. Rare climbing. Required Licenses (Illinois) Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) – Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) Or Physician Assistant in Medicine, Licensed – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Or Physician – Regional MSO Credentialing Or Registered Professional Nurse (RN) – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Or Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Or APN Controlled Substance – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Or Full Practice Authority APRN Control Substance – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Or Full Practice Authority APRN – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Required Licenses (Missouri) Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) – Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) Or Physician Assistant – Missouri Division of Professional Registration Or Physician – Regional MSO Credentialing Or Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State Or Registered Nurse (RN) – Missouri Division of Professional Registration Or Nurse Practitioner – Missouri Division of Professional Registration Required Licenses (Oklahoma) Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) – Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) Or Acknowledgement of Receipt of Application for Physician Assistant – Oklahoma Medical Board Or Physician Assistant – Oklahoma Medical Board Or Physician – Regional MSO Credentialing Or Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State Or Registered Nurse (RN) – Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) Or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) – Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) Or Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP‑C) – American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Required Licenses (Wisconsin) Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) – Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) Or Physician Assistant – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Or Physician – Regional MSO Credentialing Or Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State Or Registered Nurse (RN) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Or Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Work Shift Day Shift (United States of America) Benefits Paid Parental Leave: one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro‑rated based on FTE). Flexible Payment Options: voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday. Upfront Tuition Coverage: provides upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement SSM Health is an equal‑opportunity employer. SSM Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr SSM Health