Clinical Documentation Specialist Physician Internal Medicine (Hospitalist Experience Required)

Clinical Documentation Specialist Physician Internal Medicine (Hospitalist Experience Required)

Houston Methodist is seeking a Clinical Documentation Improvement Physician (CDI Specialist) with Internal Medicine Hospitalist experience to support documentation excellence, clinical integrity, and accurate representation of patient acuity and complexity of care. This role partners closely with hospitalists, care teams, coding, and quality leaders to ensure clinical documentation reflects the full scope of patient care delivered, consistent with Houston Methodist's mission of unparalleled safety, quality, service, and innovation.

The ideal candidate is a respected physician advisor who blends strong clinical judgment, documentation expertise, and a collaborative, educator mindset while consistently modeling Houston Methodist's I CARE values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Documentation Integrity & Physician Advisory

• Serve as a physician subject matter expert for clinical documentation improvement (CDI) initiatives across inpatient Internal Medicine and Hospitalist services.
• Review medical records to ensure accurate, complete, and compliant clinical documentation that reflects severity of illness (SOI), risk of mortality (ROM), and medical decision-making in alignment with regulatory and quality standards.
• Provide peer-to-peer education to hospitalists and advanced practice providers on best practices in documentation, clinical specificity, and compliance.
• Collaborate with CDI specialists and coding teams to clarify clinical indicators, diagnoses, and procedures through clinically appropriate documentation queries.
• Support accurate documentation related to quality metrics, patient safety indicators, and value-based care initiatives.
• Conduct case reviews for utilization management

Quality, Safety & Performance Improvement

• Partner with physician leaders and multidisciplinary teams to improve documentation impacting quality outcomes, patient safety, and publicly reported metrics.
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives that enhance care delivery, reduce documentation-related denials, and support organizational goals for clinical excellence and financial stewardship.
• Promote best practices aligned with Houston Methodist's Standards of Practice, patient experience principles, and culture of accountability and collaboration.

Education & Collaboration

• Act as a trusted advisor to physicians by fostering a respectful, collegial environment that supports continuous learning and improvement.
• Assist with onboarding and ongoing education of providers regarding EHR documentation standards, clinical specificity, and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with clinical, operational, compliance, and revenue cycle stakeholders to ensure alignment and shared accountability.

Qualifications

Required

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
• Board Certified in Internal Medicine (or Board Eligible with intent to certify).
• Active Texas Medical License or eligibility for Texas licensure.
• Demonstrated Hospitalist experience in an acute care inpatient setting.
• Strong knowledge of inpatient clinical workflows, medical decision-making, and documentation standards.

Preferred

• Prior experience as a Physician Advisor, CDI Physician, or Clinical Documentation Specialist Physician.
• Familiarity with severity of illness (SOI), risk of mortality (ROM), quality indicators, and value-based care measures.
• Experience working in a large academic or integrated health system environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead physician-to-physician education and change management initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and educate peers effectively.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with attention to detail.
• Collaborative, service-oriented mindset aligned with Houston Methodist's culture of respect, compassion, and excellence.
• Ability to balance clinical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.

Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group is an integral part of Houston Methodist's overall strategy to become one of the nation's leading academic medical centers. Established as a nonprofit corporation certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Specialty Physician Group enables physicians to maintain autonomy with respect to clinical practice while growing their practice within an academic environment.

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.