CCDS Exam (again!)
I am wondering if anyone has advice on the CCDS Exam.
• How long did you study?
• What did you study?
• What was difficult about the exam?
• What surprised you about the exam?
I recently received my auth to test and I am scrambling to take the test in the next few weeks because we are moving soon. I am wondering if I am being unrealistic. I only have 15 months of CDI experience. However, my facility has been great about putting me in a position to be involved in a lot in the hospital so I think I have decent knowledge not just of CDI, but also coding, quality, RACs, etc. I work VERY closely with coding (and recently got my CCS) and quality, am on the RAC/Denials committee’s as well at ICD-10 committees. I am the lead in our CDI team so I have been forced to learn quickly!
I have the CCDS study guide and started going over it today. So far, it’s a good overview but nothing shockingly new or anything. I’m not real sure where else to go from there?
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Office: 928.214.3864
Cell: 928.814.9404
• How long did you study?
• What did you study?
• What was difficult about the exam?
• What surprised you about the exam?
I recently received my auth to test and I am scrambling to take the test in the next few weeks because we are moving soon. I am wondering if I am being unrealistic. I only have 15 months of CDI experience. However, my facility has been great about putting me in a position to be involved in a lot in the hospital so I think I have decent knowledge not just of CDI, but also coding, quality, RACs, etc. I work VERY closely with coding (and recently got my CCS) and quality, am on the RAC/Denials committee’s as well at ICD-10 committees. I am the lead in our CDI team so I have been forced to learn quickly!
I have the CCDS study guide and started going over it today. So far, it’s a good overview but nothing shockingly new or anything. I’m not real sure where else to go from there?
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Office: 928.214.3864
Cell: 928.814.9404
Comments
I am making a CD for annother person of the bunches of articles and resources I accumulated. I will make you a copy as well.
As to preparation, I took the test in July 2011, did not start being a CDI person until Feb 2010, so I also had 15 months experience. In my case, I also performed functions as the HIM Applications Specialist for coding and CDI applications 2 days a week most weeks. I did not start really studying from the study guide until I scheduled the test. I read the study guide twice, read the CDI specialists handbook twice, read the ICD-9 coding guidelines, the several AHIMA articles about CDI, all the CDI journals back to the beginning, many other articles I accumulated, lots of RAC stuff, and many blog posts. I believe I prepared well and my score validated that. The exam was difficult and was comprehensive in its testing of clinical indicators. Make sure you take a good drug book!
When is your test? PM your address and I will send you a CD of all kinds of CDI, Coding, and RAC goodies.
Mark
Mark N. Dominesey, RN, BSN, MBA, CCDS
Sr. Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Information Technology
5255 Loughboro Rd NW
Washington DC, 20016-2695
W: 202.660.6782
http://www.sibley.org
mdominesey@sibley.org
Personally I think if you passed CCS exam, the CCDS exam will be a breeze.
Sharon
Sharon Cooper, RN-BC, CCS, CCDS, CDIP
AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer
Clinical indicators were big. That makes perfect sense, It is just tough to study for that kind of thing in my opinion....
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Office: 928.214.3864
Cell: 928.814.9404
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Office: 928.214.3864
Cell: 928.814.9404
Sharon Cooper
3563 Philips Highway Suite 106
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
contribute to the expense of making copies. Thx, Cindy
Jill Lindsey, RN, BSN
Phoenix Children's Hospital
Clinical Documentation Specialist
602-810-4197
Ext. 3-0725
I also plan to take the test soon and will be extremely thankful if you could add me to your list of recipients. I am unable to go to the conference this year, so would you mind mailing me a copy of your CD? I will be more than happy to contribute to the expense of you making and mailing one to me. My email is below. Let me know if this is something you would be willing to do.
Thank You!
Colleen Ocello, RHIT
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital
562.698.0811 Ext 12915 or Vocera
cocello@pih.net
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, and
people will forget what you did, but people will never
forget HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL."
~Maya Angelou