This discussion also provides an opportunity for students to connect with fellow students, ask poignant questions, seek clarification, and contribute to the overall discussion. Give your thoughts and opinions on their response. Reminder: There are no right or wrong responses to this or other discussions; it is important to be respectful in your postings especially in response to others.

First goal for my CDI program is to set a minimum review rate of 40 per week for each CDI specialist. Each CDI specialist is partner with one specialist, and each pair are assigned to either cardiology, oncology, nephrology, or infectious disease. When one group is ahead of a goal, other pair would assist other pair. An assignment of specialty is rotated quarterly. This will be monitored by a CDI manager weekly.

Setting the allowed response time along with creating a standardized Query Queue is my second goal. Each query includes name of patient, Medical Record #, date of admission, a CDI specialist name, a patient's clinical information, and the detailed reason why clarification is required. Four CDI performance metrics that are used for the upcoming year are review rate, physician response rate, clinical conditions most often inquired, and top MS-DRG reviewed.

A review rate goal of 40 per week includes 15 new reviews and 25 follow-up reviews. As some reviews may take longer than others, each CDI specialist will coordinate and assist each other to meet the department goal of 320 per week.

A clearly crafted query for physicians needs to be sent on the day a medical record was viewed. Physician responses are expected within five business days. Query queue must be monitored and followed up regularly. Tracking clinical conditions that are queried most often, document completeness of each specialty can be determined. Based on findings, physician education will be conducted. Decrease in query rate would help increase CDI team's view rate.

At a weekly audit, the performance is tracked. Each specialist is rated as Stretch Goal, Exceeding, Meeting, and not Meeting. A specialist who did not meet the goal in any given week in a month, a performance improvement plan is designed by data analysis. I selected the metric goal to motivate and encourage CDI specialists to have higher production and quality. Having a certain query format helps both a CDI specialist and a physician to be clear and concise in their notes, and it helps to meet the response deadline.

Top MS-DRGs viewed provides basis to create a specified training manual and to project a facility's revenue.

A CDI manager reports metrics and findings to a CDI director weekly, and a CDI director reports to COO monthly. The data will also be used at a yearly review for each CDI specialist.