Interviewing CDS Applicants

Unknown

For those who ask clinical questions to their CDS interview applicants,
what questions do you ask?

Stacey Forgensi, RN, CCRN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Erie County Medical Center
sforgens@ecmc.edu
Pager 642-1011

tiffany_susan

We use an exam provided by our consultants. It is a great way to "weed
out" not only for clinical strengths, but their ability to interpret
clinical data and apply it.

Sue Tiffany RN, CDS supervisor

cbarnes

Describing clinical indicators for sepsis, chf, respiratory failure and acute renal failure--those acute dx everyone should recognize.

gail_marini

I give the applicant 2 possibly 3 charts with a worksheet (all
patient/physician information is blocked). Although they might not know
the DRGs and MCC/cc's I get an idea of how they think critically. The
applicant will identify the medical reason the patient was admitted and
what co-morbid conditions are significant. There is also a section for
... if you were to query the physician what would you ask or clarify -
this shows written communication skills. During the interview I also give
a clinical scenario and a situation. You have queried a physician and it
wasn't answered ... what is your next step. Next day you see the
physician with the chart and it still isn't answered ... what is you next
step. Third day you see the physician and your query isn't answered ...
what is you next step. This allows me to see how they would interface
with the physician professionally and clinically (supporting medical
criteria, labs etc ...) and also shows at what point would they seek the
advice of their co-workers. Your cases and scenario can reflect any depth
of clinical expertise.

Gail Marini MM, RN, CCS
Manager Clinical Documentation (CDI)
Finance Department
781-624-8413 B-7757

Unknown

Tiffany,
You said you use an exam provided by your consultants when interviewing
applicants. Would you be willing to share some of those questions?


Stacey Forgensi, RN, CCRN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Pager 642-1011

dog

I'm not Tiffany, but if she's got the same consultants we do, I think those are proprietary exams owned by the consultant company, so the questions cannot be shared.

Basically when I took the pre-test, there were a lot of questions about some of the commonly queried diagnoses and their treatment protocols. It was essay/short answer form; no multiple guess. One I remember is what clues could I find in a patient's record that might suggest he's had a MI in the past 8 weeks.

dog

That is Susan, of course, not Tiffany. Was reading the post above mine.

arobinso

I would like to have some input from all of you who have already taken the CCDS exam...I am planning to take within the month and since there is not a real study guide I would like to know if there is anything that was unexpected on the certification? Or just any helpful hints!


Mandi Robinson, RN, BS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Trover Health System
270-326-4982
arobinso@trover.org
"Excellent Care, Every Time"

epracz

There is study guide be released in April for the CCDS exam from HCPRO for $79.00.

arobinso

Yes, but the test is changing in June too. I thought it might be better to go ahead and take it before the update. I am thinking it will probably get more difficult...but thats just my thought.

Mandi Robinson, RN, BS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Trover Health System
270-326-4982
arobinso@trover.org
"Excellent Care, Every Time"

epracz

I would think that the new study guide would be a companion to the new update test.

nbrunson84

I may get an opportunity to sit for it in Chicago after the Conference -
anyone know of study groups meeting after "off-hours"? Anyone going who
would be willing to have study groups "off-hours"? Maybe we should
start another post for ACDIS Conference/ACDIS Test.


Norma T. Brunson, RHIA
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Bay Medical Center

bea.smith

Any coders out there taken this exam?

nbrunson84

Glorianne Bryant(RHIA, CCS, ACDIS) has taken the test. :-)





N. Brunson, RHIA

Clinical Documentation Specialist

Bay Medical Center

bea.smith

How much experience in the CDI role before she took it?

dog

I took the CCDS test two weeks ago and passed. I have 25 years in nursing, the last 16 months as a CDS. I didn't think it was terribly hard, but the clinical questions were cardiopulmonary-heavy and I work in a hospital that is almost all cardiovascular and pulmonary. Lots of RAC questions and, oddly, POA coding symbol questions which even our coder didn't know when I asked her after the test. I finished the 3 hour test in 45 minutes.

(FWIW, MUCH easier than the CCRN exam, which I took in 1989!)

Renee

Linda Renee Brown, RN, CCRN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Arizona Heart Hospital

arobinso

Did the RAC questions stem from the CMS approved audit list? RAC questions seem a little odd since the majority have not yet encountered them yet. Since you mentioned the POA questions, I think I will at least wait until I go through coding bootcamp in 3 weeks, as it sounds like that may help me. I too have a strong cardio background, from the OR, Cath lab and CCU. I hope I get that test! LOL

Mandi Robinson, RN, BS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Trover Health System
270-326-4982
arobinso@trover.org
"Excellent Care, Every Time"

Unknown

Don't worry too much about the exam. I took it without studying it.

There were 100 questions total:
20 were on anatomy and phys, pathophysiology, pharmacology and medical
terminology
20 were on Medical record documentation
15 on rules and regulations, and IPPS
12 on official coding guidelines
some on communication skills, and compliance.

You are able to bring in your drug book and DRG expert manual. They were
enough.

Good luck.

nbrunson84

Thank you Mandi! That's valuable! Hopefully they won't change the test too much from the first to next version.

nbrunson84

Thank you Robin!

Sorry - Gloryanne Bryant is one of the charter members of the ACDIS Certification Board.

http://www.hcpro.com/acdis/Advisory_Board.cfm