2025 ACDIS Conference

2025 ACDIS Conference

Sunday, May 4 – Wednesday, May 7, 2025

The 17th annual ACDIS conference returns to sunny Orlando, Florida in May 2025, and the ACDIS team invites you to seek inspiration beneath the palm trees.

Each person has unique experiences and perspectives to share—this is a chance to share yours and hear from others. Join your CDI community and consider this: Who will you inspire in 2025?

The 2025 ACDIS conference features critical industry insights, transformational keynotes, and ample networking opportunities. As always, ACDIS provides continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages during breaks, and an opening night reception, all included with registration.

After attending this event, learners will be able to:

• Determine data elements and metrics necessary to ensure your CDI program’s return on investment
• Identify strategies for managing denials and mitigating risk
• Summarize the elements of a compliant physician query
• Discuss strategies for engaging providers with clinical documentation integrity efforts

Who Should Attend?

• Clinical documentation integrity specialists
• CDI staff
• Inpatient coders
• CDI managers/directors
• HIM managers/directors
• Case managers
• Revenue integrity specialists
• Chief financial officers
• Chief medical officers
• Physician advisors 

2025 ACDIS Conference

Agenda

Sunday, May 4, 2025

2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and Welcome Reception

Monday, May 5, 2025 (Purple & Orange Day)

Attendees are encouraged to wear ACDIS colors (purple and orange!) in celebration of the profession.

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks From ACDIS: Who Will You Inspire?
Rebecca Hendren and Deanne Wilk, MPS, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Keynote Session: Unstoppable
Alex Weber

What would you do if you were UNSTOPPABLE? What could you lead? Who might you become? What could you
achieve? Everyone hits setbacks, fears, and failures, but not everyone knows how to overcome their challenges with
a reliable and consistent system. As an American Ninja Warrior, award-winning host for NBC, acclaimed author, and
U.S. Lacrosse Coach of the Year, Alex Weber has reached record-breaking achievements as a leader and peak
performer. But with these accomplishments, he's also had to face intense pressure, hard failures, and his own
limitations.

In this keynote, Alex gives you his battle-tested system to achieve peak leadership and performance in the most
critical moments when you need to be at your best—and when other people need you to be at your best. The stakes
are high and you can't afford to lose out to stress, doubt, negativity, and your competition. It is in these moments
when you need to tap into your ultimate confidence, creativity, resourcefulness, and peak performance. When most
people stop, you will keep going, growing, and getting better so you accomplish your goals that matter most. This is
how you win in your work, your relationships, and your life!

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
Optimize Sepsis Documentation for Accurate Quality, Revenue, and Patient Outcomes
Beth Wolf, MD, CPC, CCDS

As sepsis continues to be a leading cause of mortality in hospitalized patients, accurate identification and
documentation are crucial. This session will empower you to refine your query practices, ensuring they align with
current diagnostic criteria, and gain insights into the financial and regulatory implications of sepsis documentation.
Learn strategies to solidify the role of CDI in this key clinical initiative and ultimately improve patient outcomes

Professional Development & Collaboration
Why Synergy Between UM and CDI Is Important to Patient Care
Fran Jurcak, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, and Sheila Duhon, MBA, RN, CCDS, CCS, A-CCRN

Documentation continues to be the key link between patient, provider, and payer, with utilization management (UM)
and CDI specialists playing key roles in ensuring accuracy in the medical record. Poor documentation does not just
impact the healthcare organization; it also has a direct impact on the patient’s care and their corresponding bill. This
session will define the needed synergy between UM and CDI while addressing the impact of these roles on patient
care.

Quality & Denials
How to Achieve All A's in Healthcare
Alexis Wells, MSN, RN, LSSYB, CCDS, and Stacia Gandee, RHIA, CCS, CDIP

Learn how coding, CDI, and quality can collaborate to ensure accuracy in quality measure data collection and
ultimately impact public reporting of provider and hospital performance. The speakers will discuss various quality
measures, including those from CMS and individual states as well as quality registries and databases, and explain
how claims data affects reporting. Plus, they’ll provide concrete strategies that coding, CDI, and quality departments
can implement to effect positive change.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Driving Systemwide CDI Excellence: The Evolution of a Large Health System’s CDI Team From Good to Great
Faisal Hussain, MD, MHIIM, RHIA, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, and Julie Salomon, RN, BSN

Over the past year, Wellstar Health System, which operates a network of 12 hospitals in Georgia, has experienced 
remarkable improvements, including a 24% leap in staff efficiency and a 34% growth in the financial impact 
resulting from CDI inquiries. However, these gains were not achieved by increasing the number of FTEs. 
In this session, hear how the CDI team found new ways to be efficient using their current resources—
leveraging data to shape their strategies, adopting industry best practices, delivering thorough training 
to employees, engaging in partnerships such as with the coding department, harnessing technology, tracking 
key performance metrics, securing quantifiable results, and embracing continuous process improvement.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Growing a New Program: The Birth Pains and Joys of Obstetric, Neonate, and Pediatric CDI
Jennifer Seisser, MSN, RN; Lindsey Kramer, BSN, RN; and Amber Watters, MD, MS

Learn how Northwestern Medicine expanded their CDI program to include obstetrics, neonates, and pediatrics across
eight community hospitals and one academic medical center. The speakers will explain the outcomes of their two-
year-old program and provide tips for implementing a similar program at your own hospital. Hear firsthand how to
propose this program to the C-suite, cultivate existing staff, leverage IT solutions, engage new providers, and share
results with the C-suite.

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break (Exhibit Hall)

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
A Systematic Approach to Finding CDI Query Opportunities
Kathleen Joseph, RN, BSN, CCDS, and Diksha Sharma, MD, CCDS

Perfect for both novice and advanced CDI specialists, this session will provide a systematic and easy-to-follow guide
to ensure thorough chart reviews, thereby preventing missed CDI opportunities. Detailed case examples will be
utilized to explain the concept of systematic review. Furthermore, the discussion will cover various “hidden” areas in
the record, such as diagnostics, pathology reports, and ancillary staff notes, which CDI specialists can leverage to
identify and support query opportunities.

Professional Development & Collaboration
How to Build High-Performing Teams
Tamara A. Hicks, MHA, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, CCDS-O, and Melinda B. Matthews, MHA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP

This session will focus on cultivating high-performing teams through the understanding of key elements such as
fostering trust, addressing team dynamics, and mastering delegation for overall team effectiveness. This
comprehensive approach will equip attendees with skills to encourage productive team environments and achieve
collective success; attendees will also get practical strategies and insights that enable them to cultivate and lead
high-performing teams.

Quality & Denials
Success You Can’t Deny: Fighting Back Denials With a Winning Combo
Gopi J. Astik, MD, MS; Kristine Green, MSN, RN; and Dave Sowers, BSN, MS, RN, CCDS

In this session, the speakers will describe their multidisciplinary process for evaluating denials and writing appeals,
led by a CDI nurse and physician advisor and including frontline clinician champions from service lines. Learn how to
leverage the denials and appeals process to educate the CDI team via case-based feedback and how denials can be
used to improve future documentation practices for clinicians. Plus, get advice on how to start similar programs at
your own institution.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Inspire Critical Thinking to Unlock the Power of Accurate Reconciliation
Angelica Cage, MBA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CDIP

Accurate reconciliation is crucial to achieving excellent outcomes. In this session, learn how to define reconciliation,
create a CDI reconciliation process, and validate the data. Plus, outline the implications of CDI, analytics software,
and continued education on reconciliation, and discover the key to inspiring critical thinking through the reconciliation
process.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Pediatric Sepsis Update: Phoenix Is the New SIRS!
Lucinda Lo, MD; Wendy Arafiles, MD; and Amy Sanderson, MD

In January 2024, the pediatric Phoenix Sepsis Criteria were published, superseding the SIRS sepsis criteria. Join the
speakers to learn what makes the Phoenix criteria unique compared to preceding criteria sets and compared to
current adult sepsis criteria. Practice applying the Phoenix criteria by working through several pediatric case example
so that you can confidently apply the criteria during your chart review, clinical validation process, CDI queries,
and appeals and denials

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch—provided (Exhibit Hall)

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
Unwinding Acute Myocardial Injury, Demand Ischemia, and Acute Myocardial Infarctions
Dawn Valdez, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CRC

This session will help CDI and coding professionals identify the differences between acute myocardial injury, demand
ischemia, and acute myocardial infarctions through a discussion of basic anatomy and diagnostic testing. Attendees
will also gain a better understanding of troponin calculations and the different types of acute myocardial infarctions.
Plus, the speaker will discuss relevant coding guidance and Coding Clinic content.

Professional Development & Collaboration
Transforming Perceptions: Inspiring Growth Through Audits
Jordan Trafan, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN, TCRN; Elizabeth "Liz" Hodgeson, RN; and Jaime Stanford, RN, CCDS

Join the Banner Health CDI Auditing Department to hear how changes to their auditing processes successfully
transformed staff perception of audits. In this session, the speakers will review the different strategies they
implemented to shift the auditing experience from punitive to educational. Learn how they modernized the auditing
process using emotional intelligence, and get tips to analyze your own auditing practices and help your CDI
department grow.

Quality & Denials
CDI School: A Field Trip on PSI 90 Bus Line—Know Your Drivers and Rules to Ride
LaKisha Richardson, BSN, RN, CCDS, CRCR

This session is intended to provide CDI and coding professionals with an easy-to-understand approach to addressing
PSI 90 and understanding the role they play in their facility’s quality outcomes. The speaker will provide tips for
recognizing documentation that indicates the presence of PSI 90 and identifying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Plus,
learn how to apply the relevant coding guidelines and Coding Clinic answers as well as identify query opportunities.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Refining Excellence: Data-Driven Second-Level Reviews
Brittani Winkler, MHA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, and Susanne Warford, RN, MBA, CCDS

During this session, the speakers will showcase how they use data to determine the scope of their second-level
reviews with a focus extending beyond financial impact to include quality. They will explore how to dive into data and
identify the areas of greatest opportunity. Plus, they will discuss the types of second-level reviews, including prebill
and quality audits, that helped their organization achieve excellence and passively impact concurrent CDI technology
and workflows, staff education, and provider education.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
The ROI of Outpatient CDI
Jason Jobes, MSPA, and Carol Ann Hudson, RN

Determining the true return on investment (ROI) for a properly resourced outpatient program that includes staff,
management, technology, provider education, and workflow implementation remains difficult. The biggest obstacle
most motivated CDI professionals receive is from organizational leadership, and this session will demystify the ROI
question—and not just from a financial standpoint. Properly implemented outpatient CDI programs help with the
capture of patient severity across populations and increase the quality of individual patient care via improved
monitoring of chronic conditions, enhanced scheduling, and accurate problem lists.

2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Networking Break (Exhibit Hall)

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
The Back-Breaking Work of Reviewing Spinal Surgery Cases
Connie Ryan, MBA, MAcc, RN, CDIP, and Erica Braun, MS, RN, CCDS

Coding spinal surgeries presents multiple challenges for CDI specialists, medical coders, and revenue cycle.
Reviewing operative notes to identify the appropriate ICD-10-PCS codes can be difficult even for the most seasoned
CDI and coding professionals. Assigning the wrong codes can result in significant payment reductions for hospitals,
impacting their bottom line. This session will explore the data related to spinal surgeries, provide guidance for
accurate ICD-10-PCS coding, discuss the most common CCs and MCCs reported by large and community hospitals,
and provide guidance on how to use data to drive documentation and coding integrity.

Professional Development & Collaboration
From Challenge to Change: Inspiring Transformation Through Servant Leadership
Jessica Vaughn, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRC, and Tamika Wolford, BSN, RN, CCDS-O, CRC

This session will explore the critical role of servant leadership in organizational change. By examining the core
principles of servant leadership, you can gain practical insight for fostering resilience, empathy, and team
collaboration. This presentation will inspire and motivate you to embrace change as an opportunity for growth while
also demonstrating how servant leadership creates a positive and supportive environment for successful
transformation.

Quality & Denials
Query Denials: The New Battleground With Payers
Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CDIP, CCDS, and Robin Sewell, CCS, CDIP, CPC, CIC, CCDS-O

Payers are increasingly employing a new tactic in the denials war: denying the reporting of a diagnosis when
attributed to a noncompliant query. Appealing query denials requires expertise in clinical validation and a deep
understanding of industry query practice guidance. This session will share both the CDI and coding professional
perspectives in performing these types of appeals and explain how collaboration can contribute to higher overturn
rates. The speakers will share examples of different query denial trends, with corresponding strategies for refuting the
denials as well as query best practices that can minimize them.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Clinical Legal Implications of Payer Documentation Integrity Audits
Richelle Marting, JD, MHSA, RHIA, CPC, CEMC, CPMA, CPC-I, and R. Kendall Smith, Jr., MD, SFHM, ACPA-C

This session will explore the evolving landscape of payer documentation integrity audits, commonly referred to as
clinical validation audits. Attendees will receive practical advice on contract negotiations to protect hospital interests
and strategies for CDI professionals to manage audit responses. Additionally, the presentation will address common
challenges posed by payers, such as restrictive timelines and access issues, which can hinder hospitals' ability to
respond effectively. The discussion will also consider the potential for these audits to interfere with clinical decision-
making, raising concerns about encroaching on the practice of medicine.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Pediatric CDI: Pediatric Guidelines and Key Diagnoses
LeeAnne Gill, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Tom Brazelton, MD, MPH, FAAP

The pediatric team at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Health comes from a wide variety of backgrounds, including
CDI, coding, and pediatric critical care. This wealth of experience allowed the team to develop robust pediatric
internal guidelines, all based on best practices and interdepartmental collaboration with pediatric providers. This
session will provide a high-level overview of clinical indicators for UW Health’s most common pediatric queries, such
as respiratory failure, heart failure, and sepsis.

4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Get Credentialed: An Introduction to the CCDS and CCDS-O
Rebecca Hendren

Join ACDIS Director Rebecca Hendren for a discussion on how earning your CCDS or CCDS-O credential can take
you to the next step in your career. Specifically, she will explain what the exams cover, how best to prepare, and what
it’s like to sit for in-person or remote-proctored exams.

Get Inspired With ACDIS PRO
Karla Kozak

Join the ACDIS team for an informative discussion about how ACDIS PRO can streamline your medical record
reviews, ensure accuracy, and minimize denial risk. Learn best practices for using clinical indicators in your CDI
reviews, get tips for applying Patient Safety Indicator exclusions and inclusions, see firsthand all the information
ACDIS PRO has to offer, and understand the difference between ACDIS PRO and the ACDIS Pocket Guide.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (State Chapter Day)

Wear your state pride to facilitate networking with other people from your area! During lunch, check out tables
dedicated to specific networking groups or your state’s local chapter.

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Breakfast (Exhibit Hall)

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Presentation of the ACDIS Achievement Awards
Rebecca Hendren and Deanne Wilk, MPS, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS

Come celebrate the recipients of the 2025 ACDIS Achievement Awards and discover the incredible contributions
these individuals have made to the profession. We’ll also announce the winning organization in the drawing for
$5,000 in CDI education and resources!

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Keynote Session: The Power of Belonging in Healthcare: Unlocking Trust and Connection for High-Performing Teams 
Dr. Nika White

Explore strategies to cultivate a culture of belonging that empowers healthcare teams to thrive, innovate, and deliver
exceptional care. This session will highlight the role of belonging in enhancing collaboration, reducing burnout, and
driving high performance—ultimately improving patient outcomes. Attendees will gain actionable insights to embed
belonging into team dynamics, fostering deeper engagement, trust, and connection across their organization.
Discover how inclusive workplace culture fuels high-performing teams, and take away practical tools to strengthen
belonging and excellence in the healthcare environment.

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
Brain Compression, Cerebral Edema, and Associated Conditions
Amy Sanderson, MD; Sheilah Snyder, MD, FAAP; and Lucinda Lo, MD

The field of neurologic illness is full of descriptive, nonspecific terms that may not easily translate to diagnosis codes,
creating challenges for CDI specialists and hospital coders. Join three pediatric critical care and hospital medicine
physicians in a discussion about brain compression and cerebral edema, exploring what these terms mean to
providers and how to successfully interpret clinical documentation.

Professional Development & Collaboration
CDI and Quality: Moving From Partnership to a New Role
Mary Alice Dewees, BSN, RN, CCDS, CRC; Fakhar J. Khan, MD; and Marcy Pease, BSN, RN, CCDS

Hear how a large healthcare system’s CDI program developed a collaborative relationship with the quality
management department, ultimately creating the unique role of quality improvement clinical documentation specialist.
This role is an opportunity for programs to achieve clinical documentation excellence, increase employee satisfaction,
promote career growth, and improve patient safety by incorporating traditional CDI work with quality work related to
Patient Safety Indicators, hospital-acquired conditions, and risk variables that influence observed to expected
mortality. Attendees will take away strategies for determining how this role could benefit their organizations.

Quality & Denials
Impacting O:E Mortality Through Second-Level Non-Mortality Reviews
Keri Miller, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, and Tiara Minor, RN, BSN, CCDS

In this session, the speakers will discuss how to improve observed to expected mortality by creating a second-level
review team focused on capturing risk adjustment diagnoses to more accurately represent the patient population of
the organization. Attendees will learn how to identify ways to better support the organization's mortality goals,
establish a second-level CDI risk adjustment program focused on non-mortality reviews, utilize CDI software tools to
capture common risk adjustment diagnoses, and demonstrate the impact of a focused second-level CDI risk
adjustment program.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Building the Case for a Physician Advisor
Jessica Risner, BSN, RN, CCDS, CRCR, and Raman Singh, MD, CCDS

JIn this session to learn how to build the case for a dedicated CDI physician advisor. The speakers will discuss the
benefits of adding a physician advisor to the CDI team and offer considerations for who can fulfill this role, including
different clinical backgrounds to contemplate. Plus, gain insight into how to measure the success of
adding a dedicated physician advisor role

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Navigating the Maze of Risk Adjustment: Considering Inpatient, Outpatient, and Ambulatory Settings
Kathryn DeVault, MSL, RHIS, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, and Linda Wiseman, RN, BSN, CCDS

Whether you're navigating inpatient, outpatient, or ambulatory settings, this session is designed to deepen your
knowledge of healthcare risk adjustment and its significant implications and provide actionable strategies for
improving outcomes. Join the speakers as they unravel the complexities of risk adjustment across various healthcare
settings and explore the intricacies of methodologies such as Elixhauser, CMS stars, AHRQ, Vizient QA, and the
latest insights on CMS-HCC v28. This session will provide valuable insights into the application of risk adjustment,
offering a comprehensive understanding of its impact on healthcare organizations.

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break (Exhibit Hall)

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
Key Takeaways From KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease
Edgar V. Lerma, MD, FACP, FASN, FPSN (Hon), and Lourdes Albino Cacanindin, MD, CCDS

This session will tackle the evaluation and management of people with or at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD)
based on the recently published KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline. The speakers will discuss how to classify
CKD, distinguish between CKD and acute kidney disease, and analyze the accuracy of the estimated glomerular
filtration rate. Plus, attendees will understand the different approaches to managing patients with or at risk of CKD as
well as the value of a comprehensive treatment strategy.

Professional Development & Collaboration
Finding Meaningful Purpose in CDI
Deborah Jones, MSN, RN, CCDS

For nurses and other healthcare professionals who entered the industry with a mission of helping others, finding a
sense of meaningful purpose while working in CDI may seem elusive. This session will focus on how CDI contributes
to organizational success and how CDI efforts support colleagues, patients, and the broader community. The speaker
will discuss how to shift perspective and focus on the broader impact of the role as well as opportunities for personal
and professional growth.

Quality & Denials
Mastering the Art of Persuasion: Crafting Effective Denial Appeal Letters
Kim Conner, BSN, CCDS, CCDS-O

Denials continue to be a focus for CDI professionals, and CDI departments are tasked with not only concurrent record
reviews for clinical validation, but also writing the appeal letters when validation denials are issued. Learning how to
write an effective denial appeal letter involves understanding the reasons for the denial, gathering and presenting
relevant evidence and documentation, and articulating a compelling case that leads to improved outcomes. This
session is intended to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to persuasively argue for the reversal of
a denied claim or decision.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Using Data to Derive Dollars From Cases Unreviewed by CDI
Sathya Vijakumar, MS, MBA, LSSGB; Katie Bravo, RHIA, CDIP, CCS; and Kearstin Jorgenson, MS, CCS, CIC, CPC, COC

The impact of CDI programs is often measured in dollars recovered from query responses, which implies that the
more charts reviewed, the higher the query rate, and the higher the query rate, the higher the impact. However, the
speakers’ health system is staffed at 0.23 FTE per 1,000 charts, and the system has approximately 50% CDI review
coverage; this leaves a lot of revenue uncaptured. In this session, the speakers share how their team creatively used
data to identify the opportunity in cases unreviewed by CDI and, with the help of a concurrent coder, successfully
recovered millions of dollars in missed revenue.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Mastering Newborn Facility Coding: Key Guidelines and Documentation Strategies
Leigh Poland, BS, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CIC

Delve into the intricacies of ICD-10-CM/PCS coding and documentation for newborn facility coding. This session will
focus on the common coding audit error trends identified in newborn encounters, providing a comprehensive review
of the ICD-10-CM/PCS guidelines for newborn, perinatal, and congenital conditions. Additionally, the speaker will
highlight key Coding Clinic guidance relevant to newborn encounters. Participants will also gain insights into
documentation integrity opportunities and engage in case studies to discuss correct code assignment and
documentation practices.

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch—provided (Exhibit Hall)

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
FIGHT CANCER: Oncology Overview and Query Opportunities
Cindy Labins, MSN, RN, CCDS, and Adriana Cecchini, MSN, RN, CIC

This session will provide attendees with an overview of the different oncology populations and a step-by-step
approach to conducting an oncology chart review. The speakers will explain how to identify common diagnoses and
review the impact on severity of illness/risk of mortality and quality metrics such as Vizient and Elixhauser. Attendees
will also learn the FIGHT CANCER acronym and how it can assist in query opportunities.

Professional Development & Collaboration
Optimizing Hospital Reporting by Empowering Physicians Through CDI Education
Kalee Vincent, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCDS-O, CCS, and Terrance Govender, MD

In this session, attendees will learn how to optimize hospital severity reporting through education and provider
engagement, encouraging physicians to make an impact through their own documentation. The speakers will discuss
how they moved from traditional CDI education to a provider-empowered proposition by taking a top-down approach,
educating providers on high-impact, prevalent conditions specific to each service line. Plus, attendees will gain
strategies for analyzing the effectiveness of education and reporting.

Quality & Denials
The Impact of Admit Type on Patient Safety Quality Metrics
Penny Jefferson, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CCS, CDIP, CRC, CHDA, CRCR, CPHQ, ACPA-C, and Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCIP, CCDS

In this session, the speakers will provide comprehensive education on the definition of admit type, emphasizing its
significance in determining the inclusion and exclusion of Patient Safety Indicators (PSI) in quality reporting. CDI
professionals can significantly enhance reporting accuracy by meticulously reviewing PSIs and validating the admit
type, thereby ensuring that only relevant cases are included. Accurate quality scores not only improve the integrity of
reported data, but also support better patient outcomes and resource allocation. This session aims to equip
healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to leverage admit type, as well as CDI practices to
drive quality improvements and ensure accurate quality reporting.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Scaling Prebill Review and ROI at a Large Academic Medical Center
Mike Gao, MD, and Angela Comfort, DBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P

Montefiore, a large academic medical center in the Bronx, New York City, focuses on providing care for underserved
patient populations, and it needed to maximize return on investment and capital efficiency without significantly
expanding staffing. As such, it has been a leader in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across several domains,
including patient support, predictive diagnostics, and imaging. In 2022, Montefiore empowered its CDI specialists by
deploying AI algorithms at the prebill stage to help them do more with less, capturing documentation opportunities
that have added significant revenue and boosted quality metrics.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Unique PICU Conditions: Opportunity for Diagnosis Capture
Amy Sanderson, MD

Many conditions in the pediatric ICU have several associated diagnoses, and this session will explore the clinical
aspects of challenging pediatric diagnoses as well as offer recommendations for query opportunities from a pediatric
critical care physician. Topics include congenital diaphragmatic hernia, hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome,
diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmotic hyperglycemic nonketotic state, hydrocephalus, scoliosis, craniopharyngioma,
and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Networking Break and Exhibit Hall Finale

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
Acute Skin Failure: Our Largest Organ Fails Too!
Keisha Downes, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS

This session will provide a review of skin disorders that impact patients during an inpatient stay, including pressure
injuries, general wounds, and skin failure. Learn how to differentiate skin disorders as well as identify the etiology of
skin failure. Plus, gain a stronger understanding of relevant documentation and coding considerations.

Professional Development & Collaboration
Improving Engagement by Changing Team Culture
Katie Parsley, MSN, RN, CCDS, CPHQ

Discover one team’s journey to find success, caregiver satisfaction, and improved team engagement. The speaker
will discuss what team culture is and how psychological safety impacts success and engagement. Plus, she will
identify the strategies that her team utilizes to improve and maintain team engagement as well as a positive team
culture.

Quality & Denials
How to Partner With UR to Decrease Denials Up Front and Write Appeals When Needed
Melissa Buchner-Mehling, MD, CPHYADV, FABQAURP, and Chia-Shing Yang, MD, FACP, FHM

Stabilizing the revenue cycle and decreasing revenue loss through denials is a challenge for any hospital.
Understanding how insurers audit charts and how the documentation in the chart can be improved to decrease these
denials is critical to maintaining compliance while optimizing revenue. In this session, attendees will gain a deeper
understanding of medical necessity denials, DRG revisions, and improvement of documentation to prevent both. This
will include tips on collaborating with utilization review (UR) to improve documentation for medical necessity, how to
write DRG dispute letters and medical necessity appeal letters, and how to use denial data to decrease future audits.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Harnessing Data-Driven Insights to Streamline Workflow and Mitigate Documentation Leakage
Tamara Adolph, MHA, RN, CCDS; Christopher Riccard, MD; and Fran Jurcak, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O

Even well-established, long-standing CDI programs have some level of documentation leakage. To minimize the
leakage and maximize documentation accuracy and program outcomes, CDI leaders are utilizing data to make
changes in workflow and minimize documentation issues that result in missed revenue or quality reporting. Advent
Health CDI leaders share how they implemented new technology and workflows that provided insight into their data,
allowing them to better identify opportunities to close gaps and minimize documentation leakage. This session will
highlight the data and metrics that the team utilized to make decisions regarding staffing, workflow, and productivity,
and it will cover the outcomes data that identified whether they were able to stem the leakage.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Clinical Documentation Integrity in Veterans Integrated Service Network 10
Robert S. Hodges, MSN, BSN, RN, VHA-CM, CCDS

This session will provide a history of CDI development in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), showing the
similarities and unique differences between CDI programs in the private sector and those in the VHA. The session will
also highlight the successes and challenges faced by the VISN 10 CDI program and identify future opportunities for
growth and progress.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Keynote Session: Accomplish Anything: Forge Your Unstoppable Path
Tom Turcich

Tom Turcich isn't just a world traveler—he's a testament to the power of unwavering determination. Faced with
unpredictable terrain, diverse cultures, and countless adversities, Tom's seven-year, 28,000-mile walk around the
world is an odyssey that transcended the physical and delved deep into the realms of self-reflection. Whether it’s
braving months in the desert or navigating Wyoming's extreme winter, Tom's stories prove one thing: Resilience isn't
inherited; it's built. Tom will show how embracing the journey, not the destination, creates a growth mindset that turns
motivation into discipline—the key to unstoppable progress.

Too often, we lack direction. We feel unmotivated, and our grand plans wither under the weight of everyday
challenges. Tom's story reveals that the answer lies in building a powerful internal compass based on your core
values—the “why” that ignites your drive and sparks innovation. Imagine waking up each day energized by your
purpose. Imagine seeing setbacks not as failures but as catalysts for creative problem solving. This isn't a dream—it's
your future

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
What You Aorta Know About Cardiac Surgery: Understanding Open Interventions, Cardiopulmonary Bypass, and Implications for the CDI Review Process
Alicia Pinsonneault, BSN-RN, CCDS, CRCR

This session will discuss the various types of open interventions, including coronary artery bypass grafts, valve
repairs/replacements, thoracic aorta aneurysm interventions, and implantable left ventricular assist devices. The
speaker will review common principal diagnoses and procedures as well as corresponding surgical DRG assignment
and explore the pathophysiological changes and effects of cardiopulmonary bypass use and what this can mean
following surgery. An analysis of common secondary diagnoses following open cardiac surgery, potential query
opportunities, and case study investigations will allow attendees to better understand how cardiac surgery and the
effects of cardiopulmonary bypass use impact the CDI review process.

Professional Development & Collaboration
No Code Left Behind: Why Reconciliation Between the CDI and HIM Code Set Must Be More Than DRG Mismatches
Donna Wheeler, RN, CCDS, and Stacey Haines, CCS

Join this session to hear Johns Hopkins Hospital’s journey to ensure “no code is left behind.” The speakers will
describe how they secured buy-in for an initial CDI-led reconciliation, as well as how their CDI and HIM teams
collaborated to create workflows, internal guidelines, and education to support each other. They will share strategies
for tracking and trending the outcomes of this process. Finally, they’ll discuss how the CDI and HIM departments
were able to put aside differences in thinking and create a robust hold process to more accurately reflect patient
complexity, quality of care, reimbursement, and reputational rankings.

Quality & Denials
Hidden Gems: Do Not Sleep on These Risk Variables
Amy Kratochvil, RHIT, CCDS, CDIP, and Mercy C. Gonzalez MSN, RN, CCDS

Gone are the days when the CDI specialist’s job stopped once the DRG was validated and an MCC documented;
now they must dig deeper to show the true severity of illness and risk of mortality for their patients. This requires
additional education and queries to the clinical teams, but also education related to risk adjustment for the CDI and
coding teams. Join the speakers to hear about some of the less frequently discussed conditions that may impact risk
adjustment, such as reduced mobility, cachexia, and metastatic cancer, as well as tips to take back to your team so
you do not miss out on reporting these diagnoses.

Program Advancement & Innovation
Diagnosis Definitions: An Organizational Challenge
Sharra Way, RN, CCDS, and Nancy Aming, RN, BSN, MSHA, BC, CCDS, SLR

Creating organizationwide criteria and diagnosis definitions is a challenge when the literature does not establish a
consensus and contains ambiguous or conflicting information. However, having facility definitions assists with
formulating queries and fighting postpayment DRG downgrades. This session will detail one organization’s process
for creating facilitywide diagnosis definitions and provide guidance for operationalizing definitions at your own
organization.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
Applying Social Determinants of Health in a Pediatric Health System, Inpatient and Outpatient
Valerie Bica, BSN, RN, and Viji Anchan, MSN, RN

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are designed for the adult Medicare age group. Therefore, when thinking about
them in pediatrics, the domains must shift to focus on the family and not just the patient. The world of value-adjusted
care and risk stratification has challenged organizations to collect and document these concerns in a way that meets
value-based contract requirements. Learn how the team at Nemours Children’s Health System collaborated with their
peers in social work, psychology, general pediatrics, and pediatric specialty care to identify the SDOH domains that
need to be documented for pediatric patients. You’ll also learn how they addressed associated challenges in both the  
inpatient and outpatient settings.

10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
Refreshment Break

10:35 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

Clinical & Coding
Illuminating Social Determinants of Health: A Call for Better Outcomes
Alma Yap, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, and Thea Campbell, MBA, RHIA

Enhanced data collection, reporting, and analysis of social determinants of health (SDOH) provides valuable insights
into the relationship between social needs or factors and health outcomes. Furthermore, SDOH data inform policy
decisions, guide public health programs and funding allocations, and support initiatives to promote health equity. In
this session, learn how the expanded use of Z codes for SDOH can drive significant improvements in public health by
fostering a more integrated approach to healthcare that addresses both clinical and social needs.

Professional Development & Collaboration
Increased Staff Engagement in a Hybrid World Through Shared Learning
Jacob Neubauer, MN, RN-CNL, CCDS, and Nicole Tebo, RN, BSN, CCDS

Retaining CDI staff is very difficult in this economic environment, especially when team members work remotely, and
engagement has become increasingly important as a result. To continue driving employee engagement, leaders must
become more creative in their teaching and approaches to individual staff members’ needs. This session will offer
attendees unique ways to achieve consistent engagement from their staff and explore how this can improve key
metrics.

Quality & Denials
Why Bother? DRG Denials: Collaboration Is Key
Elaine Koetje, BS, BSN, RN, CCDS, CRCR, CHC; Brooke Twomley, BSN, RN, CCDS; and Britta Wofford, RN, BSN, CCDS, CRCR

Denials can be so irritating... so why bother? The speakers discuss how DRG denials prompted their system to
increase interdepartmental collaboration and education and create standardized clinical guidelines. Ultimately, this
also led to negotiations, effecting positive change to payer contracts. Join this session to hear how you, too, might be
a little less bothered by DRG denials!

Program Advancement & Innovation
Implementing and Sustaining CDI Education: The BJC Experience
Karen Elmore, BSN, RN, CCDS

This session will explore how BJC HealthCare successfully implemented a CDI education program and implemented
strategies to sustain and enhance this education. Attendees will learn about challenges faced, solutions developed,
and the continuous improvement processes that ensure high standards of clinical documentation across the
organization. Plus, gain insight into how BJC HealthCare promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in its education
efforts and evaluates the effectiveness of the CDI education program.

Pediatrics & CDI Expansion
The Outpatient CDI Implementation Maze: Navigating Through the Complexities and Challenges at a VA Medical Center
Kathleen Romero, MSN, RN, CCDS-O, EBP-C, and Blanca Arguello, MSN, RN

Learn how one Veterans Affairs medical center successfully implemented an outpatient CDI program. The speakers
will discuss how to recognize documentation integrity opportunities as well as the importance of identifying strategic
allies to support the creation of the program. Plus, they’ll explain how they collected, analyzed, and interpreted data
to demonstrate the program’s impact on the facility.

— Agenda subject to change —

2025 ACDIS Conference

Location

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
6000 West Osceola Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34746

• Room rate: $234.00 + $38.00 resort fee*/night
• Hotel cut-off date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
• Hotel website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcogp-gaylord-palms-resort-and-convention-center/overview/
• Hotel reservations: Online at https://book.passkey.com/go/ACDIS2025 or call 407-586-2000 and reference the ACDIS Conference

HCPro/ACDIS has no affiliation with any third-party companies or travel assistance providers. Rooms should be booked directly with the event hotel using the official information provided on the website and in the brochure.

Pricing

• Retail Price: $1,099.00
• Early Bird Price: $999.00 — Early Bird deadline: March 3, 2025
• Membership Price:  $999.00 — ACDIS members save $100! Call Customer Service at 800-650-6787 for your discount.
• Membership Early Bird: $899.00 — Early Bird deadline: March 3, 2025
• Interested in attending with a group? Register 5 attendees for the price of 4! Call Customer Service at 800-650-6787 ext. 4111 or email HCEvents@hcpro.com

Additional Savings & Fun

To purchase specially priced Walt Disney World® Meeting/Convention Theme Park tickets, CLICK HERE or call 407-566-5600 and provide group code G0847476.

Tickets are valid 7 days before, during, and 7 days after the meeting dates. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid ticket on the same day are required. To make park reservations, you will need to sign-in to an existing Disney® Account or create a new one and link each ticket. Park reservations are subject to availability – please check the Park Availability Calendar. For details on making a park reservation, please visit Disney Park Pass Experience Updates.

Whether it’s your first visit or your 100th, we recommend reviewing the Walt Disney World® Resort Experience Updates.

ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI

Saturday, May 3 – Sunday, May 4, 2025 | Kissimmee, FL

Discover your CDI program’s potential at the ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI, a two-day event dedicated exclusively to clinical documentation integrity (CDI) efforts in the outpatient and ambulatory settings.

The ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI offers comprehensive sessions for both managers/leaders and clinical chart reviewers, including how to get started in the ambulatory setting, crafting compliant queries, collecting and analyzing metrics, and demonstrating return on investment. With two tracks on Day 2, there are options for attendees of all experience levels. Plus, take advantage of the many networking opportunities to connect with and learn from your peers!

Learn more HERE and save 15% on the ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI when coupled with the main conference.

ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum

Saturday, May 3 – Sunday, May 4, 2025 | Kissimmee, FL

The ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum offers two days of exceptional education delivered by the nation's leading physician advisors.

With two tracks on Day 1, this conference is perfect for both new and veteran physician advisors. In the morning of Day 1, learn the physician advisor's key responsibilities (or brush up on the basics!) with our Physician Advisor Foundations sessions in Track 1, or explore more advanced topics in Track 2. In the afternoon, continue to choose the sessions that interest you most! The two tracks come together on Day 2 for a unified experience.

Learn more HERE and save 15% on the ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum when coupled with the main conference.

2025 ACDIS Conference

Continuing Education

2025 ACDIS Conference

ACDIS
This program has been approved for 13 continuing education units towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist certification, offered as a service of the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS).

AHIMA
This program has been approved for 13 continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Granting of Approved CEUs from AHIMA does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.

NAHRI
This program has been approved for 13 continuing education units towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certification in Healthcare Revenue Integrity (CHRI), offered as a service of the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI).

Continue to check for updates and additional CEU information!

ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum

ACDIS
This program has been approved for 11 continuing education units towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist certification, offered as a service of the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS). 

AHIMA
This program has been approved for 11 continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Granting of Approved CEUs from AHIMA does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.

NAHRI
This program has been approved for 11 continuing education units towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certification in Healthcare Revenue Integrity (CHRI), offered as a service of the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI).

Continue to check for updates and additional CEU information!

ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI

ACDIS
This program has been approved for 11 continuing education units towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist certification, offered as a service of the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS). 

AHIMA
This program has been approved for 11 continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Granting of Approved CEUs from AHIMA does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.

NAHRI
This program has been approved for 11 continuing education units towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certification in Healthcare Revenue Integrity (CHRI), offered as a service of the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI).

Continue to check for updates and additional CEU information!