Book excerpt: The Complete Guide to CDI Management Cheryl Ericson, MS, RN, CCDS, CDIP Stephanie Hawley, RN, BSN, ACM Anny Pang Yuen, RHIA, CCS, CCDS, CDIP Managing a CDI department can be a daunting task for new and seasoned managers alike. The Complete Guide to CDIManagement provides CDI program managers and directors with insight into the most common issues associated with implementing, staffing, running, and growing a CDI department. The book also covers core skills such as auditing and metrics, and it provides strategies for overcoming challenges related to electronic records, changing regulatory landscapes, and resource limitations. The Complete Guide to CDI Management incorporates the deep expertise of multiple authors with varied backgrounds who have come together to share their firsthand knowledge. From reporting structures and productivity measurement to defining a mission and physician engagement, this definitive resource addresses the wide array of issues facing CDI managers and directors in today's hospital environment. Table of Contents About the Authors Introduction Chapter 1: An Introduction to CDI for the New Manager History of Coded Data The Medical Coder The Prospective Payment System Adding "Severity" Into the DRG Methodology CDI Basics Summary Chapter 2: Growing a CDI Department The Traditional Role of CDI CDI Review Population Principal Diagnosis Assignment Types of DRG Reviews Quality Focus Summary Chapter 3: Developing Relationships Sharing the Mission Physician Engagement Obstacles to Developing a Physician Relationship Leveraging Queries as an Educational Tool The Art of Clinical Validation The Query Format Query Templates Fostering a Relationship With Coding Networking Summary Chapter 4: Department Structures and Staffing Expectations Department Structures Staffing/Hiring Physician Advisor Creating a Career Ladder Continuing Education CDI Department Meetings Evaluations Credentialing Initialing vs. Revitalizing Summary Chapter 5: Demonstrating the Return on Investment Measuring Success Productivity and Sample Metrics Summary Chapter 6: Challenges and How to Overcome Them Organization Issues Resource Issues Summary Appendixes Appendix A: Resources