Lead Clinical Documentation Specialist

Your future role at a glance

Location: Remote

Department: Clinical Documentation Integrity


Schedule: Full-Time | Day

Salary: $96,208.99-$134,109.89 per year

#LI-remote

Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 97,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Benefits that help you thrive

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
• Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
• Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
• Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program , counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
• Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
• Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more

How you'll make an impact in this role

• The Lead Clinical Document Specialist (CDS) - Rapid Response serves as a high-level clinical documentation integrity expert, deployed to address urgent, complex, or high-impact issues across the CDI program. This role supports strategic initiatives, facilitates rapid-cycle audits, and investigates documentation and coding anomalies in real-time. The Rapid Response Lead works collaboratively across departments to drive accurate documentation, coding integrity, and risk adjustment capture, while supporting training, compliance, and data-driven decision-making.
• Serve as the primary resource for urgent CDI issues (e.g., payer denials, audits, DRG validation). Address immediate system needs (e.g., high denial rates, quality issues, new coding rules).
• Mentor front-line CDSs on complex cases, query framing, and escalation. Analyze documentation and coding data for trends and improvement.
• Lead and ensure compliance of strategic CDI initiatives across markets/systems. Evaluate strategic results and recommend implementation pathways.
• CCDS Certification is required for this position.

What minimum requirements you'll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

Required Credential(s):

• Clinical Documentation Prof. credentialed from the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate'
  degree/Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience OR 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required. 2 years of leadership or management experience preferred.

What additional preferences we're seeking

• Lead experience
• Project Management experience
• CCDS Certification is required

Equal employment opportunity employer


Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

Fraud prevention notice


Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

E-Verify statement


Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.

Responsibilities

• The Lead Clinical Document Specialist (CDS) - Rapid Response serves as a high-level clinical documentation integrity expert, deployed to address urgent, complex, or high-impact issues across the CDI program. This role supports strategic initiatives, facilitates rapid-cycle audits, and investigates documentation and coding anomalies in real-time. The Rapid Response Lead works collaboratively across departments to drive accurate documentation, coding integrity, and risk adjustment capture, while supporting training, compliance, and data-driven decision-making.
• Serve as the primary resource for urgent CDI issues (e.g., payer denials, audits, DRG validation). Address immediate system needs (e.g., high denial rates, quality issues, new coding rules).
• Mentor front-line CDSs on complex cases, query framing, and escalation. Analyze documentation and coding data for trends and improvement.
• Lead and ensure compliance of strategic CDI initiatives across markets/systems. Evaluate strategic results and recommend implementation pathways.
• CCDS Certification is required for this position.

Qualifications

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

Required Credential(s):

• Clinical Documentation Prof. credentialed from the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate'
  degree/Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience OR 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required. 2 years of leadership or management experience preferred.