Orientation to CDS role

cynthia.a.goeweycynthia.a.goewey
in CDI Talk Archive
We are in the process of looking at our orientation program and trying to refine it. We currently spend two weeks with a RN from the consulting company we use and then you are on your own (with assistance from other CDS's). On review of the answers to the question on the website last week in regard to length of time spent in training I see we fall on the low end. Would you be willing to what your orientation program looks like and involves? Do you use a consultant or do you train with in-house staff? What does orientation involve, lenght of time, etc. I appreciate any feedback you may have.
Thanks,
Cindy

Cindy Goewey RN, BSN
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Coding Operations
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Phone: (603) 650-3891 / Fax: (603) 650-6787
Dartmouth-Hitchcock.org

Comments

  • NormaBNormaB
    edited May 2016
    Depending on their background we usually have them sit with the Inpatient Coding section for a while if they have no background in Coding.

    Then for 3 weeks weeks it's shadowing a CDS as she performs her duties. Usually one week of just observation, then she assists the CDS with her workload (as this person usually gets behind) for about a week, then the CDS goes to that person's assigned area and they shadow/assist again.

    The CDS reports back to the Supervisor when she feels the new hire is ready to go out on their own.

    NBrunson, RHIA, CCDS



  • tiffany_susantiffany_susan
    edited May 2016
    Orientation:
    Seems like it changes with each hire, but I think I have it down now!
    I recently tried the online version of the CDI bootcamp ..... LOVE IT! I
    was able to incorporate a new hire at the time and she felt it gave her a
    solid foundation to build the rest of the training on. I would recommend
    splitting the bootcamp up, half a day with bootcamp and a half a day
    shadowing. I give each new CDS a year orientation period, generally they
    are independent much quicker, but they feel less stressed initially
    knowing they have the year. I then spend and hour or so a week reviewing
    worksheets, assisting them in posing queries, tracking, using the software
    and such after the first couple of weeks. This gives them time to get
    familiar with the software, then I can show them in more detail when they
    are not so overwhelmed. I have discovered the need to assign them to one
    CDS to shadow. This gives them more constancy, and eliminates confusion.

    Thank You,
    Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
    Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program
    Guthrie Healthcare System

    "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
    didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
    away from safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
    Discover." Mark Twain







  • cbarnescbarnes
    edited May 2016
    We also do a 6 week orientation. If @ all possible, we also have them do some classroom time for the CDMP Guide, Docuprompters, Coding Clinics, 3M and other educational resources. We're a fairly tight group and we've had 1 person retire in 11 years. We used to have a prn position (but she worn many hats) and she retired, also. We're lucky, because consistency of staff is great. Charlene


  • cbarnescbarnes
    edited May 2016
    Susan, I'm glad to hear the CDI Bootcamp( online version) was a good venture for you. We're looking into using this and then doing the certification exam. Thanks Charlene


  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    One of the articles in the January Journal offers some training tips. I like Susan's idea about spitting up the online CDI Boot Camp into half-day training sessions and half-day job shadowing. The online Boot Camp is also good because you get to have that conference call with the instructor so if the new staff person has questions they don't want to ask you directly they can ask the instructor.
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