consultants and/or software

tpeytontpeyton
in CDI Talk Archive
Our facility used to use JA Thomas however administration has chosen not to renew. Does anyone do CDI with no consultant company? or software guides? How do you have things set up if you don't mind sharing...we use hybrid records here.

Comments

  • robert.hodges2robert.hodges2
    edited May 2016
    I started my program with no consultant. Only the CDI Specialist's Handbook, joining ACDIS and reviewing the forms and tools library, and taking an opportunity to job shadow CDI at the facility where I used to work. I built my own database to track the reviews and queries and established my newsletter among other things. The key thing I did though was have one on one meetings with the chief of staff, director of nursing, chief of medical service and the hospitalists to find out what they felt the issues were and how to best work with them to improve clinical documentation.

    Of course the great folks here on CDI talk have been and continue to be a great resource when the odd question pops up.

    I know this is rather general, but if you have particular questions, shoot me an email.

    Robert

    Robert S. Hodges, BSN, MSN, RN, CCDS
    Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
    Aleda E. Lutz VAMC
    Mail Code 136
    1500 Weiss Street
    Saginaw MI 48602
     
    P: 989-497-2500 x13101
    F: 989-321-4912
    E: Robert.Hodges2@va.gov
     
    "We are dealing with Veterans, not procedures; With their problems, not ours." --General Omar Bradley

  • don.cdi.rn@gmail.comdon.cdi.rn@gmail.com
    edited May 2016
    Back in 2008, there was an on-line poll:
    12/14/08 Is your CDI program home-grown or consultant-based?
    100% home grown: 28%
    Run by a consulting firm: 16%
    Started off consultant-based, now we run it: 44%
    Was home grown, but we needed consulting: 12%

    Also check out these questions (each touches on consulting involvement):
    10/23/09 For your daily CDI activities, what is your most indispensable reference?
    2/28/2011 What is your planned primary method/vehicle for ICD-10 training?
    4/25/2011 Do you generate your own CDI data reports or use a consultant/vendor?

    I think you'll find that there are a number of folks who either started a program on their own, or moved away from their initial consultant or have periodically engaged with a consultant for specific needs. Of course, others stay with a consultant for a long period of time.

    ACDIS is a wonderful resource and goes a long way towards supporting ongoing excellence.

    One thing to consider -- especially from a data collection perspective, I believe with JATA (at least if you were a full consult client to begin with) it is possible to only use their software and not any of their ongoing services.

    This is what we are doing -- we still use the software (relatively inexpensive, works well enough). We also engage with a different consultant for specific needs and services but that is more of an alcarte approach.

    A few years ago there was no dedicated 'free standing' CDI software available -- so the only option was either consulting company or a home grown & built excell / access database. Today, there are several software offerings available. There are 2 keys to a homegrown database -- IT involvement and support to really get a strong base; and secondly a smaller CDI shop I suspect can do better with a simpler data collection software.

    Don

    Donald A. Butler, RN, BSN
    Manager, Clinical Documentation
    Vidant Medical Center, Greenville NC
    DButler@vidanthealth.com ( mailto:mDButler@vidanthealth.com )


  • paxnerospaxneros
    edited May 2016

    We started "home-grown" but we needed a Consulting firm to give us focus and
    training in more specific areas of data collecting. Same w/software - it
    gave us a tool to generate reports to work from (again- focus), and
    something to collect/store our data to prove our worth to our institution.

    NBrunson, RHIA,CDIP,CCDS

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