CDS engagement and accountability

We are a maturing CDI program in a six-hospital network, with 15 clinical documentation specialists.  Our productivity benchmarks are 8-10 new reviews per day, and 12-15 follow-up reviews.  CDSs are responsible for reconciling cases with coders, and mitigating PSIs. Our CDSs also pursue "no response" queries x 2 attempts with docs before escalation to mgt. We have a full EMR and a vendor software program for CDI. Many of our CDSs continue to struggle to meet productivity benchmarks. Our consulting vendor supports benchmarks, and we do have a couple of CDSs who regularly meet them. Staff are held accountable for quality, but we have not applied accountability to productivity benchmarks.  Most are averaging 7 new reviews and 8-10 follow-up reviews daily, just under benchmark.

How do you manage productivity standards? What are your productivity standards and do you hold staff accountable? We focus on physician engagement so much as a profession. What do you do to promote CDS engagement?

Thanks for sharing!

Comments

  • In addition to your question, I would also like to ask how Supervisors/Managers handle productivity standards after a holiday weekend.  For example, I have 5 CDIS and our new admit list today is 98 patients (9/2-9/5).  Our goal is to review > or = to 85% new records, and usually maintain > 90%.  Thank you.
  • In addition to your question, I would also like to ask how Supervisors/Managers handle productivity standards after a holiday weekend.  For example, I have 5 CDIS and our new admit list today is 98 patients (9/2-9/5).  Our goal is to review > or = to 85% new records, and usually maintain > 90%.  Thank you.

    We usually prioritize patients after we come back from a holiday weekend. For example, if they are in ICU, vented, etc.. their initial review can wait another day and we try to get to the floor patients that may be closer to discharge...it's definitely a balancing act.

    Jeff

  • in lieu of physician ongoing education within a facility, shouldn't the benchmark of query rates be decreasing which would signify that a program is on target for success especially if financial goals and response rates , and agreement rates, are above the benchmark?
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