Escalation Policy
Good Morning All,
Up until this point, we have not had a true escalation policy as we did not have a dedicated physician advisor to whom these could be escalated. Now that we do, I need to come up with a policy. I wrote a 'dream' one years ago but our physician advisor would like to see some from other facilities to see what is 'standard' across the industry.
My current policy has these key elements:
1. CDI places query
2. If no response in 48hrs, direct contact (phone or face-to-face) is made with provider by CDI
3. If no response in 24hrs, escalated to physician advisor, they contact the MD.
4. If no response within 24hrs of MD contact, escalate to CMO.
Are those reasonable time frames? Should everything be 48hrs? How do you handle physician schedules, off service days, etc?
If you have any samples you are willing to share, please let me know.
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Up until this point, we have not had a true escalation policy as we did not have a dedicated physician advisor to whom these could be escalated. Now that we do, I need to come up with a policy. I wrote a 'dream' one years ago but our physician advisor would like to see some from other facilities to see what is 'standard' across the industry.
My current policy has these key elements:
1. CDI places query
2. If no response in 48hrs, direct contact (phone or face-to-face) is made with provider by CDI
3. If no response in 24hrs, escalated to physician advisor, they contact the MD.
4. If no response within 24hrs of MD contact, escalate to CMO.
Are those reasonable time frames? Should everything be 48hrs? How do you handle physician schedules, off service days, etc?
If you have any samples you are willing to share, please let me know.
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404