Re: Job description and pay structure questions

Linda_Rhodes

Hi everyone,
Our CDI dept is entertaining the idea of adding a couple of coders to
the team. We are currently an all-RN team. I am curious as to how other
CDI depts that employ both RN's and Coders handle the pay structure and
job descriptions.

1) Is the pay scale different for both?
2) Are the job descriptions different? Different role for coding other
than CDI?
3) What job and skill requirements, certifications are required for
Coding professionals?

Any feedback would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Linda




Linda Rhodes RN, BSN, CCDS
Manager Clinical Documentation Improvement
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Wilmington, North Carolina
Office # 910-815-5544
Cell " 910-777-8344
e-mail : linda.rhodes@nhrmc.org

sharon.cole

For coders CCS, RHIT, or RHIA at the minimum – they are expected (as are nurses) to get their CCDS. We use the same job description since we are all doing the same job. Pay scales I believe are on the same level although I cannot say that for certain as that is managed by our director. We have been unable to keep coders since the team is salaried and they all want to work part time in the coding dept picking up extra hours – this is not allowed per Ascension and so none of them stay longer than a year or so. It was recently decided by the director not to hire coders anymore because of this. It’s a shame because I really value the coding insight. As soon as I complete my BSN in Oct, I will be looking into taking some coding courses and possibly looking into the RHIT, although I have heard the coding classes are a more valuable investment for CDI.

Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
CDI Specialist
254.751.4256
Sharon.cole@phn-waco.org

sharon.cole

For clarification – I agree with my director since so much time and resources are used to train someone for CDI. I just hate not having that expertise on the team was what I meant.

Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
CDI Specialist
254.751.4256
Sharon.cole@phn-waco.org
ilege.

fishdl@shands.ufl.edu

· Our pay scale for all CDI Specialists (regardless of background) is the same, and is in line with our Case Management / UR pay scale – which is one level higher than for IP Coders.


· We have one job description for CDI Specialist. We do not have different roles – just different strengths.


· From our Job Description:

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current RN licensure in the State of Florida. Minimum 5 years of recent clinical experience in an acute care hospital setting. Utilization review or medical record coding experience preferred.

OR Minimum 5 years’ experience in medical record coding/reimbursement with Registered Health Information Administration (RHIA) with bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management OR Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) with associate degree OR Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) OR Certified Professional Coder (CPC) with comparable education.

Thanks,
Donna
Donna Fisher, CCS, CCDS
CDI Coordinator
Ext 48769

Linda_Rhodes

Thank you Donna and Sharon for the helpful information!
Linda



Linda Rhodes RN, BSN, CCDS
Manager Clinical Documentation Improvement
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Wilmington, North Carolina
Office # 910-815-5544
Cell " 910-777-8344
e-mail : linda.rhodes@nhrmc.org

don.cdi.rn@gmail.com

We have not been successful in recruiting an experienced coding
professional for the CDI role ... however have repeatedly tried!
Candidate pool of applicants received were not competitive for the
role.

1 -- comp & benefits determines pay scales ... and it is different
(AFAIK, related to their market analysis and comps within the
organization). Philosophically don't agree with this ...
2 -- separate PDs, though role, responsibilities, etc. would be the
same. Role would be full time focus on CDI activities and interests
(certainly opportunity for special projects, area of interest, etc. but
that is more of an operational decision than driven by PD). One thing
that is different, is the required amount of experience is actually a
bit lower for the coding professional by a year or two.
3 -- RHIA, RHIT or CCS required. As with nursing, the associates
degree requires a couple more years of experience than the bachelors.
Acute inpatient experience (with tertiary setting strongly preferred).
Strong clinical knowledge base expected.

Don

============

Linda_Rhodes

Thanks Don. I really would like to fill 2 of my 4 requested positions
with "the right" coding professional. In the face of ICD-10, I think
they would only strengthen the CDI team. I will let you know what
happens.
Linda


Linda Rhodes RN, BSN, CCDS
Manager Clinical Documentation Improvement
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Wilmington, North Carolina
Office # 910-815-5544
Cell " 910-777-8344
e-mail : linda.rhodes@nhrmc.org

Unknown

We have close to a 50/50 mix of coding/HIM professionals and RN’s and the pay scale, as well as the job description, is the same. All of our staff do the same type of chart review and clarification/queries. I do know of departments where the coding staff have a different role, so I could see how that might change the job description. We require either a CCS, RHIT or RHIA for our coding/HIM professionals.



Linda Haynes, RHIT, CCDS

Manager, CDI

Legacy Health

lhaynes@lhs.org

evanspx@sutterhealth.org

We have hybrid team of RHIA/RN (BS level) and all 100% CCDS. No difference (as it should be) in pay scale as we are all expected and required to have skill sets allowing us to interchangeably audit and review charts concurrently. We work with Core Measures, VBP, ROM, SOI, Complications, MD education, VBP, etc. More than just a DRG review. It is very difficult to find and recruit anyone with experience and either the CDIP or CCDS Credential.

Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS

Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.637.9002
Fax: 415.600.1325
Ofc: 415.600.3739
evanspx@sutterhealth.org