2024 ACDIS Conference

Bookmark and Share

2024 ACDIS Conference

Product Code: CDI040824--

March Early Bird Pricing: $999.00

* Required Fields

Availability: In stock

$999.00

Your Price:
$0.00

each
Add Items to Cart

SAVE $100 again. Early Bird pricing is back for March!

ACDIS members save $100! JOIN HERE.
Call Customer Service at 800-650-6787 to
receive your discount.
Group discounts available for registrations 5 or more!

Want to talk to a member of our dedicated team?
Contact Us via email at hcevents@hcpro.com or 800-650-6787 ext. 4005.

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Monday, April 8 – Thursday, April 11, 2024 | Indianapolis, IN

The ACDIS Conference is back in an all-new city, and we’re so excited for our 16th annual conference that we just couldn’t wait until May. In April 2024, the ACDIS team invites you to discover what’s on the horizon for CDI! 

You’ll find sessions for all experience levels and backgrounds in each of the conference tracks for 2024:

  • Clinical & Coding: A much-loved conference staple, examine core clinical and coding components vital to those engaged in medical record reviews, perfect for those new to CDI as well as those looking to expand or refresh their knowledge.
  • Professional Development & Collaboration: Expand your professional skills, deepen your leadership acumen, and explore opportunities to collaborate with other departments.
  • Quality & Regulatory: Explore the ways regulatory initiatives affect CDI practices and the ways programs are meeting new challenges by examining how documentation affects quality of care outcomes.
  • Program Development & Denials Management: Ensure your program keeps pace with the evolving CDI landscape and learn strategies for combating denials.
  • Innovation & Expansion: Discover cutting-edge advancements, including non-traditional settings, technology and analytics, outpatient CDI, and pediatrics.

The 2024 ACDIS Conference features fresh insights, empowering keynotes, and ample networking opportunities. Reignite your passion for the profession and return to your organization ready to implement creative and innovative new strategies.

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:

  • Summarize key clinical indicators necessary to create effective queries for common diagnoses
  • Identify elements of compliant physician queries
  • Determine data elements necessary to ensure your CDI program’s return on investment
  • Define metrics to support physician education and engagement
  • Incorporate clinical validation and denials management into mature CDI program capabilities
  • Determine which quality of care elements your CDI program can best address
  • Identify CDI program measures to ensure staff productivity and professional growth

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 

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Keynote Speakers

Discovering Potential
Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC,
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
In the science of physics, potential energy is the energy held by an object because of its position relative to other objects, stresses within itself, its electric charge, or other factors. My interpretation is that the potential is the secrets that lie within an object. Your potential is derived from the secrets that lie within yourself, your undiscovered self.

We all are responsible for seeking our own potential and for assisting others in discovering theirs. When I look back on my career, the proudest moments have been when influencing that discovery in others. This presentation focuses on opening oneself up to challenges and on focusing that internal energy to discover your potential and that of others.

The FUNdamentals of Meaningful Leadership
Paul Long
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
What if everyone in your organization could identify true fulfillment, feel empowered to create it, and embraced joy through the process?

Our work environment, workforce, and traditional market strategies are evolving. Through this evolution, one thing remains consistent: an overwhelming human desire to feel fulfilled.

In this keynote experience, Paul Long leverages his concept of “Fundamism” to deliver a more deliberate approach in the creation of professional and personal fulfillment. Organizational change, culture, and our professional experience are created both top down and the bottom up. Impactful leaders consistently find a way to help teams feel empowered to manifest the experience they desire.

Whether you are a leader of a team, family, or just looking for ways to lead yourself, Paul’s FUNdamentals of Meaningful Leadership will arm you with tactical ideas to enhance your overall effectiveness. An added benefit? Paul’s unique delivery and infectious energy will lead you through a wealth of emotions as you laugh, think, and have FUN.

At a time where many are waiting for others to create fulfillment for them, be the leader who feels empowered to and helps others manifest it themselves!

Time to Recharge: Managing Your Energy, Not Your Time
Karen McCullough
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Learn how to re-charge your battery and energize others. Many of us race through life without ever taking a break. And no matter how hard we try, there’s never enough time to get everything done. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. A recent study reports a probable cause for the widespread malaise. Nearly 75% of Americans state that, no matter how hard they work, they feel as if they are not moving forward and need better time management. In this program, you will discover how managing your energy and not your time is the key to better performance and a more fulfilled life. Karen shares her personal energy rituals and top ways to increase focus, stamina, and productivity.

What’s Your MVP? Leadership Lessons from the Coach who Inspired Ted Lasso
Donnie Campbell
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Coach Donnie Campbell is a math teach and a high school basketball coach from Kansas who was plucked out of obscurity when Jason Sudeikis, the American actor and star of the 5-time Emmy Award winning show, revealed to Stephen Colbert on the late show that Campbell was in part the impetus for the lead character he plays with such wit and wisdom. It was back in the late 1990’s when Jason played basketball at Shawnee Mission West and Donnie was his coach. Little did Campbell know that all of the pearls of wisdom he was dropping on Jason and the team would appear years later and make an indelible impression on millions around the world.

Coach Donnie Campbell’s colorful keynote provides valuable leadership lessons that can be seen on the court, but more importantly applied in the workplace.

At a time when embracing your uniqueness is a rare quality, he shows how to define your core values while forming your mission, values, and plan.

This one-of-a-kind keynote is a real treat for the audience as it combines heartfelt storytelling with specific lessons in leadership that are just as successful on the basketball court as they are when applied in the real world. Donnie weaves together his personal stories of inspiration with tactical take-aways that are more than applicable and welcomed in today’s challenging environment.

Additional Highlights

A Total Eclipse of the Chart (Review)

Before we gather to share our CDI tips and best practices, there will be a total solar eclipse happening on the horizon right outside our doors. Without a SHADOW of a doubt, this will be an exciting way to kick off a week of discovery. Right before the opening reception, on Monday, April 8 at 3:06 p.m., Indianapolis will experience a total solar eclipse. Interested attendees are invited to view the eclipse together, right outside the conference door. We’ll have eclipse viewing glasses on hand for your viewing pleasure and comfort, presented by Iodine, so make time to DISCOVER the eclipse with ACDIS! 

First-time attendee networking reception

If you’re a first-time attendee, we’ll have a networking event within the larger Welcome Reception especially for you! The Welcome Reception runs from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on April 8 in the Exhibit Hall. At 5:00 p.m., look for a table with a “First-Time Attendee” sign and come and join us. It will be an opportunity to connect with other first-time attendees, get tips and tricks from ACDIS staff, and meet some of our CDI Boot Camp instructors. 

Eat, Meet & Discover

Looking to make connections with others who have a shared interest? Join us for special networking meet-ups hosted by ACDIS CDI instructors and staff to facilitate networking and problem-solving. During lunch on Tuesday, April 9, look for discussion groups dedicated to: 

  • Outpatient CDI
  • Pediatric CDI
  • CDI educators
  • New and aspiring leaders**

Meet Your Neighbors

Make friends from your state during state chapter/networking group day! On Wednesday, April 10, look to see if there’s a table for your state and meet local(ish) colleagues. No chapter for your state? Consider starting one! 

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Agenda

Monday, April 8, 2024

2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration

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


Tuesday, April 9, 2024

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Registration & Buffet Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks From ACDIS: Discovering Potential
Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC
In physics, potential energy is the energy held by an object because of its position relative to other things, stresses within itself, its electric charge, or other factors. One interpretation is that potential is the secrets that lie within an object. We all are responsible for seeking our potential and for assisting others in discovering theirs. Often, our proudest career moments are when we aid that discovery in others. This presentation focuses on opening oneself up to challenges and focusing that internal energy to discover your potential and that of others.

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Keynote Session: The FUNdamentals of Meaningful Leadership
Paul Long
What if everyone in your organization could identify true fulfillment, feel empowered to create it, and embrace joy through the process? Our work environment, workforce, and traditional market strategies are evolving. One thing remains consistent through this evolution: an overwhelming human desire to feel fulfilled. In this keynote, Paul Long leverages his concept of "Fundamism" to deliver a more deliberate approach to creating professional and personal fulfillment. Organizational change, culture, and our professional experience are created from the top down and the bottom up. Impactful leaders consistently find a way to help teams feel empowered to manifest the experience they desire. Whether you are a leader of a team, a family, or just looking for ways to lead yourself, Paul's FUNdamentals of Meaningful Leadership will arm you with tactical ideas to enhance your overall effectiveness. An added benefit? Paul's unique delivery and infectious energy will lead you through many emotions as you laugh, think, and have FUN.

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Suspect Sepsis, Say Sepsis!
Jennifer Brettler, DO, FACP, CHCQM-PHYADV, and Shannon Menei, MBA, MSN, CCDS, CCM, CPHQ
This session will outline a multidisciplinary approach to enhance the identification, capture, and documentation of sepsis. The speakers will provide tangible strategies to engage healthcare leaders, leverage resources, educate providers, and use reported data to lead quality improvement efforts, all through collaboration with CDI, coding and clinicians.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion in CDI
Angelica Cage, MBA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CDIP; Chinedum Mogbo, MBBS, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCDS, CCS; and Nicole Tebo, RN. Moderated by Linnea Archibald
Join members of the ACDIS Diversity and Inclusion Committee for a panel discussion about the CDI profession. The panel will discuss the diversity of professionals who work in CDI and how to make the most of everyone's unique skills; share best practices for hiring more people with diverse backgrounds and making all individuals feel welcomed and included on the team; and have a conversation about how to help everyone be their authentic selves in the workplace. This lively session will encourage questions from the audience and sharing of personal experiences.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Quality 101: Get Your CDI Team Involved
Julie Morales, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Dawn Vitalone, RN, CCDS, CIC
Healthcare systems and CDI program leaders place great importance on quality. However, with numerous areas to consider, such as Medicare Star Ratings, PSIs and Elixhauser, it can be daunting to understand how a CDI program can impact quality. Join this session as experts guide attendees through the fundamentals and discuss how to start their quality improvement journey. Attendees will learn how to utilize their data effectively, identify factors within and outside their control, and effectively communicate with leadership about the duration and steps involved in improving quality.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
Mastering Clinical Guidelines: A Roadmap to Minimize Denials
Karen Elmore, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Nancy Williams, MD
This session is designed to empower CDI professionals with the knowledge and strategies necessary to navigate clinical guideline development and provide them with the tools to successfully appeal denials. Through practical case studies and examples, attendees will learn how BJC HealthCare developed their clinical guidelines and increased their ability to defend clinical denials. Participants will gain an understanding of common pitfalls that lead to denials and the impact it has on reimbursement and documentation. By the end of the session, participants will have a clear clinical guideline roadmap and tools to navigate the challenges of clinical denials.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Pediatric CDI: Reaching New Heights
Amy Bush, BS, RN, MJ, CCDS, CCS, and Jeff Morris, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS
While often viewed as a component of the larger adult CDI world, pediatric CDI has its own identity. Pediatric clinical and coding nuances differ from their adult counterparts, often necessitating CDI subject matter experts dedicated to the pediatric and neonatal populations. Attendees of this session will explore the unique qualities and skillsets of expert pediatric CDI professionals, the ins and outs of this unique world, and the future of pediatric CDI. Additionally, this session will offer advice for overcoming the common challenges to implementing a successful pediatric CDI process.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Query With Confidence
Michelle Rivoli, MHA, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Rhoda Chism, MHL, RN, CCDS, CCS, CPHQ
"To query or not to query..." but perhaps the more important question is, "How do I query with confidence?" Documentation clarification is a fundamental responsibility of a CDI professional. Whether you're a CDI specialist or a coder, querying can sometimes feel uncomfortable or even downright scary. This session will spotlight the 2022 update of the ACDIS/AHIMA query practice brief, explore query etiquette for success, and offer practical tips for writing compliant and effective queries.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Purpose-Driven CDI: Aligning With Organizational Goals
Deanne Wilk, MPS, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS
A purpose-driven CDI program emphasizes the importance of aligning CDI efforts with the organization's strategic goals and objectives. Successful CDI programs leverage collaboration between CDI professionals, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure that the documentation accurately reflects the patient's clinical status and needs. This session will show how this approach not only enhances the quality of documentation, but also supports the organization's overall mission to deliver high-quality patient care.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Tackling the Complexity of Patient Safety Indicators by Leveraging a Concurrent, Collaborative Gameplan
Brianna Brown, MSN, RN-BC, and Dana Jones, RN, BSN, CCDS
Regulatory agencies' specifications and guidelines can create conflict among departments who are all working towards the same goal: quality patient care that is accurately reflected in that the medical record. Learn how Stormont Vail Health leveraged a collaborative approach between the CDI, quality, and coding departments during the concurrent phase of the patient's stay to generate a 45% reduction in their patient safety indicator (PSI) quality data.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
ACDIS and NAHRI Present: CDI Collaboration With UR: Managing Denials
Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRC, and Teri Rice, RN, MSN, MBA, MHA, CHC
CDI can collaborate with case management/utilization review (UR) teams to better manage medical necessity denials. CDI's focus is usually on clinical validation, but medical necessity/level of care denial volumes continue to increase based on documentation issues. This session will highlight basic CMS rules related to medical necessity, illuminate common denial targets, and offer tips for developing a collaborative relationship with case management/UR teams to reduce denials through concurrent CDI medical record reviews.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Balancing Act: Leveraging Low- and High-Tech Solutions for Clinical Documentation
Vaughn Matacale, MD, CCDS, and Christopher Evans, MD, MPH
ECU Health has developed a multi-tiered approach to improve comorbidity capture as part of a CDI initiative across its nine hospitals in eastern North Carolina. This session describes the development, implementation, and monitoring of separate, but complementary, technology solutions with varying levels of complexity. The presenters discuss the lessons learned and how to balance the tools available including the use of natural language processing to generate CDI queries, real-time actionable provider performance feedback, standardized rule-driven note templates, and an on-demand educational library that is accessible directly from the EHR.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Overdose, Poisoning, and Adverse Effect
Laura Anderson, RN, BSN, CCDS, and Anita Schmidt, BS, RHIA
This session will address overdose, poisoning, adverse and toxic effects, and under-dosing. Content will cover chapter-specific guidelines and sequencing of these events, and American Hospital Association Coding Clinic guidance will be examined in the context of various coding scenarios.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Discovering Green Flags for Successful Leaders
Tamara A. Hicks, MHA, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, CCDS-O
Are you new to leadership in CDI? Or maybe you've been a leader for a while, but still think you can learn more about being an effective leader? In this session, attendees will learn what being a "green flag leader" means and how to become one. Attendees will gain insight into emotional intelligence and what it takes to be a mentor as a leader. Ultimately, being a manager and being a leader are two different things and it's important to understand the difference.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Coloring Outside the Lines: PCS Focused–Audits for Optimizing Revenue Cycle Outcomes
Adriane Martin, DO, FACOS, CCDS
Many organizations are looking for opportunities to bring in new processes to enhance revenue capture or to make the existing processes more efficient to reduce cost. By thinking outside of the box and taking an innovative approach to the mid-revenue cycle, organizations can optimize outcomes using your existing data and staff. This session focuses on how organizations can use PCS-focused audits to enhance revenue capture and ensure compliance and quality outcomes congruent with the level of care delivered. The speaker will review areas of the revenue cycle that are impacted by the accuracy of PCS coding with supporting case examples and financial data and outline how to create a data-driven action plan for the implementation of a PCS-focused review.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
Beyond Problem Lists: How to Document Is Just as Important as the What
Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS
Most CDI programs and professionals focus their provider education efforts on current diagnosis definitions, clinical recognition, and correct documentation terminology. The documentation nuances necessary for the construction of the most accurate, representative, and defendable narrative, however, are frequently overlooked. Learn what one CDI program at an academic medical center teaches its medical staff to create a seamless narrative to ensure coding consistency and effective denials defense. This session will review the documentation practices necessary to get the clinical story correct before the patient goes home, ensuring accurate and efficient coding, medical necessity justification, hospital status designation, and denials prevention.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Exploring Pediatric Length of Stay and Mortality
Sandra Love, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CPC, and Joy Bombay, MSN, MHA, RN, CCDS
The pediatric population is not just little adults. Not clinically, and not when it comes to CDI and coding. The stark differences mean CDI programs need to develop a specific pediatric focus, rather than applying their adult CDI practices to this population. Attendees of this session will learn how Brenner Children's Hospital made great inroads to improving its pediatric length of stay and mortality statistics through a structured documentation program. This session includes data from the organization, case studies, and a defined action plan that you can use to improve your own pediatric CDI department.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Debridement Coding and Documentation Requirements
Leigh Poland, BS, RHIA, CCS, CDIP
This session will review the types of debridement, key terms used for debridement procedures, the instruments used for debridement, and tips to code the debridement procedure accurately. The speaker will outline ICD-10-PCS guidelines, documentation requirements for debridement procedures, and diagnoses commonly associated with debridement procedures. Attendees also will gain a clearer understanding of the financial impact associated with incorrect code assignment and incomplete documentation.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Leveraging Power Dynamics to Secure Your Place in the CDI Space
Lucinda Lo, MD; Wendy Arafiles, MD, FAAP; and Sheilah Synder, MD, FAAP
Interprofessional healthcare teams of all sorts struggle with the consequences of implicit power dynamics. In the CDI space, unique layers of power dynamics add complexity to working relationships between individuals from various professional backgrounds. It takes effort and intention to build the concept of belonging, and the CDI professional's job is to communicate the common goal of creating a complete depiction of patients' complexity and acuity. Using lessons learned from hospital code teams and family-centered rounds, this session will explore the concept of CDI as part of the care team and offer tools to advocate for CDI's role.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Moving Into 2024: What Changes Will V28 Bring for Risk Adjustment?
Amy Pritchett, CCS, CRC, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CDEI, CDEO, CDEC, CANPC, CASCC, CMPM
This session will begin by delving into the complicated world of risk adjustment and end with the transition from Version (V) 24 to V28 for Medicare Advantage plans. The speaker will also discuss changes and how they will affect reimbursement not only in Accountable Care Organizations but also across Medicare Advantage Organizations.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
CDI Specialists and Denial Management: Can the CDI Industry Truly Affect Denials and Appeal Success?
Sherian Kelley, RN, CCDS, and Teresa Helwig, BSN, RN, CCDS
This session will provide a comprehensive look at how the role of a CDI specialist affects far reaching areas of the denials management landscape, beyond the usual focus area of clinical validation denials. A CDI specialist's chart review work can have implications for commercial payers, Medicare fee-for-service, and auditor processes. Attendees will come away with strategies for collaborating cross-departmentally in the denials management process, the ability to identify common denial targets, and a greater knowledge of the denials landscape and CDI's role within it.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
How AI Can Augment (Not Replace) CDI Specialists: Using AI To Complete Prebill Reviews
Michael Gao, MD
McLaren Health Care's CDI program is mature, encompassing both concurrent and pre-bill reviews, but still the organization was unmatched by payers who could leverage multiple review levels to recoup every possible dollar. To address the problem, CDI leadership opted to use artificial intelligence to ensure that all opportunities were captured on the front end, developing algorithms to scan every chart and inviting physician input. In this session, attendees will learn how developing this technology at the pre-bill stage helped augment CDI's efforts without disrupting workflows or replacing CDI specialists' clinical expertise.

4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Bonus sessions

CEUs and Certifications: Q&A with ACDIS and AHIMA
Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRC; Tammy Combs, RN, MSN, CDIP, CCS, CNE; and Rebecca Hendren
Join ACDIS CDI Education Specialist Sharme Brodie and AHIMA Education Program Director for CDI Tammy Combs for a Q&A session about ACDIS and AHIMA CEUs. Plus, Brodie and ACDIS Director of Programming Rebecca Hendren will discuss how earning your CCDS or CCDS-O credential can take you to the next step in your career. Specifically, Brodie will explain what the exams cover, how best to prepare, and what it’s like to sit for in-person or remote-proctored exams.

Discover ACDIS PRO With Laurie Prescott
Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC; Adrienne Trivers; Karla Kozak
Join members of the ACDIS team, including Interim Director Laurie Prescott, 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 Guides.

 

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Buffet Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Presentation of the ACDIS Achievement Awards
Rebecca Hendren and Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC
Come celebrate the 2024 winners of the 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: Time to Recharge: Managing Your Energy, Not Your Time
Karen McCullough
Many of us race through life without ever taking a break. And no matter how hard we try, there's never enough time to get everything done. If this sounds like you, you're not alone. A recent study reports a probable cause for the widespread malaise. Nearly 75% of Americans state that, no matter how hard they work, they feel as if they are not moving forward and need better time management. In this session, you will discover how managing your energy and not your time is the key to better performance and a more fulfilled life. Karen McCullough will share her personal energy rituals and top ways to increase focus, stamina, and productivity, teaching you how to recharge your battery and energize others.

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Encephalopathy: Understanding the Clinical, Quality, Coding, and Risk Implications
Teresa Butler Washington, RN, LMSW, CDIP, CCS
Encephalopathy is a crucial diagnosis to master, given its clinical, quality, coding, and risk implications. In this session, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of encephalopathy and learn how to assign the appropriate ICD-10-CM codes for several types. Additionally, attendees will become familiar with associated Coding Clinics, opportunities for identifying social determinants of health, and Elixhauser risk adjusters.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Lessons in Leadership: Making a Lasting Difference in the Current CDI Landscape
Anne Robertucci, MS, RHIA, and Linnea Archibald
This session will provide an in-depth look at ACDIS survey data on the state of CDI staffing, professional development, and key performance indicators, paired with practical advice from a seasoned CDI leader. The speakers will discuss how leaders can build an excellent CDI team and support them from hiring to promotion. Then, using mortality and quality reviews as the lens, attendees will learn how key leadership concepts like building a business case for more FTEs and creating a career ladder can empower staff members to make a tangible difference for their organization and patient population.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
A 2024 Perspective on CDI Compliance
Cheryl Erickson, MS, RN, CCDS, CDIP
The financial pressure on hospitals and healthcare systems continues to grow following COVID-19, as hospitals have reached their highest case mix index, and proving continued financial return on investment becomes increasingly difficult. This session goes back to the basics, reviewing what it takes to support compliant CDI practice. The speaker will share Centers for Medicare & Medicaid resources that identify documentation and coding practices at-risk for improper payment and how this information should be integrated into a compliant CDI practice. Additionally this session provides a close look at  industry guidance from parties including the American Hospital Association, the American Health Information Management Association, and the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
Building Resilience: CDI Strategies for Proactive Denials Prevention
Penny Jefferson, MSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, CRC, CHDA, CRCR, and Tami L. McMasters-Gomez, MHL, BS-HIM, CCDS, CDIP
CDI professionals play a critical role in ensuring accurate and complete clinical documentation that is aligned with coding guidelines and payer requirements. Attendees will gain insights into common denial causes and learn practical approaches to prevent them through collaboration with medical staff, use of technology, continuous monitoring, and data analytics. By fostering a clear understanding of the link between documentation and reimbursement, this session aims to equip CDI specialists with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance revenue integrity, comply with regulatory standards, and contribute positively to patient care quality.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Pediatric Critical Illness: MODS and Pulmonary Hypertension
Amy Sanderson, MD; Wendy Arafiles, MD, FAAP; and Sheilah Snyder, MD, FAAP
The field of pediatric critical illness is full of descriptive terms that may not easily translate to diagnosis codes. The use of non-specific terms can create challenges for CDI specialists and coding professionals attempting to select the most appropriate diagnosis codes. Join three pediatric critical care and hospital medicine physicians in a discussion about multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and pulmonary hypertension, exploring what these terms mean to providers and how to interpret clinical documentation for accurate reporting.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Social Determinants of Health: Tackling Documentation and Coding Challenges
Michelle Knuckles, RHIA, CDIP
This session will review social determinants of health and outline their impact on healthcare outcomes. The speaker will explore Utah Health's coding and CDI strategy to increase SDoH capture as well as how healthcare facilities can partner with community agencies to improve patient outcomes.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Emotional Intelligence: Do I Have It, Do I Want It?
Rhoda Chism, MHL, RN, CCDS, CCS, CPHQ, and Shelly Sepulveda, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, CCDS
Many studies have found that people do not leave because they dislike their jobs, but because of poor management. In today's market, hiring excellent CDI employees is increasingly difficult, so retaining staff has become of utmost importance. Effective leadership encompasses more than management alone. During this session, attendees will learn how they can develop their emotional intelligence and protect their teams from attrition due to poor leadership.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Under Pressure! Our Journey to Reduce PSI 3 and Improve Patient Outcomes
Jaime Bennett, BSN, RN; Sheila Wade, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NEA-BC; and Lydia Koepke, MS, APRN, RN-BC, CWON
Learn how Northwest Medicine created a role for a CDI nurse to facilitate multidisciplinary concurrent and retrospective reviews, ultimately resulting in a 38% reduction of PSI 03. The speakers will discuss definitions of skin failure as well as  ways to introduce these definitions to providers and staff. Additionally, they will explain how they introduced a Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse (CWON) role to promote interdisciplinary collaboration in determining the etiology of wounds and outline a system for tracking the impact of this review process.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
CDI Education: Where to Start
Kim Hefelfinger, RN, CCDS, CCM, and Whitney Bardowell, MSN, RN, CCDS
Education is at the heart of all CDI efforts. In this session, attendees will learn strategies and build their educational toolbelt to help them implement or expand their current CDI educational efforts. The speakers will share their successful approaches for CDI education with medical providers, nursing staff, and CDI teams, whether that education is provided in-person or virtually.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Rediscovering Obstetrics: The Impact of Clinical Documentation
Teresa Brown, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS
Leveraging the latest tools and techniques, accurate and thorough documentation can play a pivotal role in ensuring positive health outcomes for mothers. This session will provide an in-depth look at the critical aspects of obstetrics and clinical documentation, providing practical strategies to enhance clinical documentation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of mortality, quality indicators, and social determinants of health in obstetrics, identify common opportunities in the documentation, and explore clinical case studies for this unique patient population.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Impellas: Getting to the Heart of the Matter
Alicia Pinsonneault, BSN, RN, CRCR
As a state-of-the-art device allowing for advances in cardiac care and patient outcomes, it is important to understand what an Impella is, how it works, and when and why it is indicated. This session will review the surgical DRGs associated with Impellas, the importance of accurately coding the approach and duration of the Impella, and Coding Clinics associated with various Impella scenarios. The speaker also will provide tips for deciphering Impella documentation for coding and identifying potential query opportunities.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Growing Each Other: Building Positive Mentorships
Stacey Rohen, RN, CCDS, CDIP, and Keri Miller, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS
Mentorship has benefits for both the mentor and the mentee and offers an effective pathway toward employee engagement and retention for both new and experienced employees. Developing a mentorship program helps staff members grow professionally and personally. This session, presented by both a mentor and mentee, will explore the benefits of this model, discuss the components of active listening, and unpack the dangers of imposter syndrome.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Introduction to the Medicare Payment Integrity Program: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities
Sherry Goyal, MD, MBA, CHRI, CPC, CRCS
CMS introduced the Medicare Integrity Program to optimize hospital reimbursements for medically necessary and covered services and ensure long-term financial viability of Medicare insurance coverage while discouraging fraud, abuse and overuse. This session provides an introduction to the program, explains how to recognize an organization's current level of compliance with the program, and discusses how to decrease revenue leakage related to payment integrity review.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
Hospital Denials: Ins and Outs and Obtaining Success
Laura Werner, DC, MSN, RN, BA, BSN, CDIP, CRCR, CCS, and Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCDS
Hospital inpatient clinical and coding denials have increased substantially over the years. Health information management/coding and CDI departments, however, can partner to address these denials, making a manageable difference from their organizations. In this session, attendees will learn how CDI teams can play a role in reviewing denials, focused record reviews, writing appeal letters, and tracking and trending denial data, even impacting payer contract negotiations. Establishing a strong process for all steps in the denials and appeals process is vital for success in the current denials landscape.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Pediatric Inpatient Behavioral Health: CDI Impact
Jorde Spitler, BSN, RN, CCDS; Rachelle Musselman, BSN, RN, CCDS; and Kelly Blankenship, DO
The CDI team at Dayton Children's implemented an in-depth CDI review of inpatient pediatric behavioral health records which revealed an area of opportunity. According to the DRG data the team uncovered, nearly 80% of their admissions were due to depression; however, when they conducted audits and reviewed benchmarking data, they found that depression accounts for 25%-40% of admissions in actuality. Attendees of this session will learn how a focused effort related to pediatric behavioral health helped bring the organization's percentages back within benchmarking expectations and ensured accurate reimbursement for the care provided.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Expedition Discovery: The Search for Physician Engagement Through CDI Education
Sonja Racke, RN, BSBM, CPC, CRCR, and Tammy Brandes, RN, BSN, CCDS, CRCR
The session will look at different provider learning styles and various ways to leverage educational initiatives and materials to meet these different styles. Learn how one site brought about change, achieved success, and increased engagement amongst its medical staff.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
UM, Care Management, and CDI: Are We Truly Collaborating?
Shirlivia Parker, MHA, RHIA, CDIP, BS-HIM, and Alvin Gore, MD
Frequently, case management/utilization management (CM/UM) and CDI teams function in siloes. The two departments, however, are much more closely aligned than many may think, and documentation equally impacts both critically. One of the most effective collaborations between CM/UM and CDI centers on the denials management process through committee work and the role of the physician advisor. This session will offer insight into how CM/UM and CDI working together ensures both groups are operating at full capacity and achieving positive outcomes.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Improving Patient Care Through Documentation: A Physician's Perspective
James Fee, MD, CCS, CCDS
As the healthcare industry shifts from a reactive "sick" delivery model to one that focuses on healthy lives through prevention, how does CDI evolve provider collaboration while at the same time, supporting the sustainability of healthcare as a business?  In this session, a hospitalist will share a story that offers a new perspective on how to make documentation a part of care delivery. The speaker will explore key areas for CDI expansion including outpatient/ambulatory coverage and population health planning while maintaining strong inpatient results. The concepts of evaluation and management leveling, hierarchical condition categories, social determinants of health and quality measures will be reviewed within the context of a provider's workflow.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
Opportunity or Not: Data-Driven Secondary Reviews
Yasar Suleman, MBA/HCM, MBBS, CCS, CCDS, CAPM, CRCR, and Michelle McCormack, MBA/HCM, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, CRCR
Like many organizations, Stanford Health Care was being pressured from both sides: Outside vendors would tell them they were missing potential revenue, all while the clinical teams were questioning the code set and CDI efforts. After repeated requests to do deep dives into specific DRGs and/or codes to identify potential areas for impact, the Stanford Health Care team developed the Annual Work Optimization Plan to maintain future results of their CDI work and show their impact.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Good, Better, Best: Creating an Ambulatory CDI Process With Retrained Team Members
Leah Burton, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, and Julie Bell, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS
Many organizations are interested in addressing hierarchical condition category (HCC) opportunities, but don't have the budget to hire expert staff for these reviews. Before abandoning the idea of an ambulatory CDI program, this session will show how they can retain their current resources and use homegrown tools to kickstart their programs. Attendees will learn what knowledge and training is required for HCC reviews, understand the different functions within the ambulatory CDI process, and see how those functions could change as a program matures over time.


Thursday, April 11, 2024

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Buffet Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Keynote Session: What's Your MVP? Leadership Lessons from the Coach Who Inspired Ted Lasso
Donnie Campbell
Coach Donnie Campbell is a math teacher and a high school basketball coach from Kansas who was plucked out of obscurity when Jason Sudeikis, the American actor, and star of the 5-time Emmy Award-winning show, revealed to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show that Campbell was in part the impetus for the lead character he plays with such wit and wisdom. It was back in the late 1990s when Jason played basketball at Shawnee Mission West, and Donnie was his coach. Little did Campbell know that all the pearls of wisdom he was dropping on Jason and the team would appear years later and make an indelible impression on millions worldwide. Coach Donnie Campbell's colorful keynote provides valuable leadership lessons that can be seen on the court but, more importantly, applied in the workplace. At a time when embracing your uniqueness is a rare quality, he shows how to define your core values while forming your mission, values, and plan.

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Case Study: Automate Malnutrition Documentation to Accurately Reflect Risk and Improve Documentation and Quality Metrics
Trish Dasch, BSN, RN, CCDS; Kevin O'Malley, MD; and Diane Hanna, MBA, RHIA, CCS
Between 2016 and 2019 at Johns Hopkins Hospital, as many as 20–65% of patients with malnutrition confirmed by a registered dietitian were not assigned a malnutrition diagnosis code at the time of final health information management coding. In response, a multidisciplinary team convened. Learn how this team performed intensive manual chart reviews, deployed education to providers and coders, and created an electronic malnutrition documentation tool to more accurately and efficiently represent and report the patient population with malnutrition. This initiative also resulted in improved support for malnutrition to be reported as a secondary diagnosis and decreased query rates.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Discover Your CDI Team and Go from Good to Great: Increase Retention and Achieve Your Goals
Angelica Cage, MBA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CDIP
Recruiting and retaining top CDI talent is a challenge in today's job market and leaders must choose whether to hire permanent staff or lean on agency placements to fill the gaps. In order to increase retention and employee buy-in, leaders must understand the reasons that lead to staff turnover. In this session, attendees will explore ways to increase engagement, connectivity, and how to be proactive during onboarding.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Risky Omissions and Partial Truths: Frequently Overlooked Risk Variables
Michael D. Teague, MD, SFHM, CCS
This session will discuss frequently overlooked risk variables by clinicians in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Vizient risk models and identify the implications of omitting them from documentation. Case examples will be utilized to demonstrate the impact of documentation on quality metrics such as mortality, length of stay, and patient safety indicators.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
Discover the Pathway to Developing an Advanced CDI Program
Suma Chacko, MBA, RHIA, CCS; Carrie Horn, MSHA, BBA, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRCR, CPC, CHFP; and Michelle Spera, MSN, RN
What does it mean to have an "advanced" CDI program? In this session, attendees will learn how Baylor Scott & White Health has developed and structured a CDI program that encompasses inpatient reviews, outpatient reviews, and CDI education. Additionally, this session will show how building an optimized program requires a constant eye toward growth opportunities, evaluating the current state of the program and evolving continually.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Endgame: DRG Reconciliation—The CDI Power Move
Rebecca Willcutt, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CRC, CCDS-O, and Barbara Brant, MPA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS
DRG reconciliation ensures coding accuracy and compliance, establishes a better working relationship between CDI and coding, and will increase an organization's case mix index and CDI financial impact. Ultimately, a successful reconciliation process will decrease payer denials, decrease inaccurate quality measure capture, increase coding accuracy, and more. This session will explore Cooper University Health Care's reconciliation process, illustrate how attendees can implement a similar process within their organizations, provide practical tips for measuring the impact of a reconciliation process, and offer advice for developing education based on findings from the process.

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

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Benefits of a Reconciliation Process in a CDI Program
Jennifer Kemp, RN, CCDS; Jillian Kotcher, BSN, RN, CCDS; and Valaria Issa, BSN, RN, CCDS
In this session, learn how a well established reconciliation process allows for collaboration between CDI and coding and improves the integrity of the data reported. The speakers will review their process, provide examples of rebilled cases and education for both CDI specialists and coders, and offer evidence for how the reconciliation process assists with correct code assignment for improved metrics and billing.

Track 2: Professional Development & Collaboration
Prebill Reviews: The Key to CDI and Coding Education
Andrea M. Smith, RN, BSN, MSN, CCDS, and Rebecca McDade, BS, RHIA
In an effort to improve their Leapfrog and Healthgrades scores, the CDI and coding teams at Washington Regional embarked on a journey to identify educational gaps and improve publicly reported quality scores. In collaboration with their software vendor, they were able to develop an effective pre-bill review process that ultimately improved their grades from Cs to As. During this session, attendees will learn from Washington Regional's experience and identify how pre-bill reviews can support real-time education and accurate claims processing, and lead to measurable improvements.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Sneak Peek: ICD-11
Brenda Watson, MLS, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CRC, CPMA
This session provides an exciting look at the codes and conventions contained in ICD-11 and where the United States stands regarding adoption of ICD-11. Attendees will gain an understanding of the history of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) as well as the key differences between ICD-10 and ICD-11 and what steps they can take to begin conversations related to the potential future adoption of ICD-11.

Track 4: Program Development & Denials Management
A Path of Discovery: One CDI's Journey of Virtual Learning and Successful Performance

Janell Murray, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Denice Piwowar, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP
The majority of CDI teams operate remotely in today's CDI landscape, making education and orientation for new staff members a challenging endeavor. Those developing the educational programs and those going through the programs themselves must understand how key performance indicators are used for evaluating individual performance and what educational support is at their disposal for further success and professional development. In this session, attendees will get a CDI reviewer's perspective on Banner Health's remote orientation process.

Track 5: Innovation & Expansion
Incorporating Advanced CDI Technology to Help Sustain Program Success

Judy Moreau, MBA, RN, BSN, and Andrea J. Eastwood, MA, RHIA
Incorporating CDI technology functionality into daily workflows can help drive performance to improve clinical documentation and maintain CDI program performance. Through tangible examples, attendees of this session will learn how advanced CDI technology such as case prioritization, evidence-based coding, leveraging code-level confidence, automated query impact tracking, quality indicator referrals, and more, can drive CDI performance.

11:35 a.m.
Conference Adjourns


Agenda subject to change

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Speakers

Adriane Martin, DO, FACOS, CCDS, graduated from the University of North Texas Health Science Center with her Doctorate of Osteopathy. She completed her general surgery residency at Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas/Fort Worth in 2004. She has been practicing general surgery for 15 years. Since 2014, Martin has been a part of the Enjoin team. Integrity and caring for people are the two factors that were the drivers behind her surgical career and continue to be the guiding force in her current role as vice president of physician services, where Martin serves as a subject matter expert in ICD-10 CM/PCS coding, DRG and quality management, denials management, and Industry thought leadership, speaking both at the state and national level.

Alicia Pinsonneault, BSN, RN, CRCR, graduated from New Mexico State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and worked as a bedside nurse for eight years. Her experience includes working in cardiovascular intensive care units with recovering post-op cardiac surgery patients, as well as managing cardiac assist devices such as Impella®, Tandem Heart®, ProtekDuo®, IABP, and implantable LVAD/RVADs. She also cross-trained as an ECMO specialist. She transitioned to CDI in July of 2021 and has been reviewing cardiac surgery and cardiac interventional cases for an Ardent Health System facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the last two and a half years.

Alvin Gore, MD, is a board-certified family physician with extensive experience in all aspects of physician advisor duties. Initially an associate director of family medicine residency program, Gore has been working as a physician advisor since 2010. Currently, he is a director for utilization management for Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. He is responsible for all aspects of the physician advisor role including CDI/CDQI, utilization management second-level reviews, denial prevention and management, physicians’ education and outreach, various cost optimization, and population health projects.

Amy Bush, BS, RN, MJ, CCDS, CCS, has been a pediatric nurse for 30 years and in CDI for over 6 years. She joined the Cooper University Health Care family over five years ago with the birth of CDI in the Cooper Children’s Regional Hospital. Bush also held multiple positions at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia over the course of a 20-year career, mainly in pediatric intensive care. She has held other positions in consulting, advocacy, and case management. She is a co-leader of the national ACDIS pediatric networking group (APDIS), a member of the ACDIS chapter advisory board, dual-certified in CDI and coding, and holds a Master of Health Law degree. Bush has presented in various venues, serving as a guest lecturer at two universities, a featured speaker at grand rounds, and a regular contributor to APDIS. She is an active participant in the ACDIS-ACPA collaborative.

Amy Pritchett, CCS, CRC, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CDEI, CDEO, CDEC, CANPC, CASCC, CMPM, C-AHI, BSHA, is the manager of HCC coding/audit and education services with more than 20 years of medical billing and coding experience. Her high-level auditing skills encompass both facility and professional fee services. Pritchett’s broad expertise includes RAC reviews, chargemaster reviews, inpatient MS-DRG and APR-DRG, outpatient coding assessments, and clinical documentation integrity. She has held director, management, and lead educator positions where she was responsible for facility coding, auditing and review, P/L, revenue cycle, and the managing of pro-fee audit for specialty clients including physician evaluation and management leveling. Pritchett is a certified ICD-10/CM/PCS instructor, AAPC-approved instructor, and serves as an adjunct professor of medical billing and coding within the University of South Alabama Medical Billing and Coding Program.

Amy Sanderson, MD, is a pediatric intensivist at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) and is an assistant professor in anesthesia at Harvard Medical School. She was the physician advisor for the BCH CDI program for eight years. Sanderson has presented at several national conferences, published scholarly articles on medical documentation, and contributed to the book Pediatric CDI: Building Blocks for Success. In addition, she is a founding member of the Pediatric Documentation Research Collaborative, a research group that focuses on documentation-related issues in pediatric hospitals.

Andrea J. Eastwood, MA, RHIA, system director for clinical encounter and documentation excellence at Trinity Health based in Livonia, Michigan, has more than 25 years’ experience in both acute and ambulatory care settings. She has worked in various leadership roles, including CDI, HIM, care coordination, case management, and cancer program leadership. In her current role, she is responsible for program leadership and oversight across inpatient CDI.

Andrea M. Smith, RN, BSN, MSN, CCDS, is an inpatient and outpatient CDI manager at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She has been in the CDI profession since 2014 and a nurse since 2001. Her prior experience includes ICU, dialysis, med/surg, and cardiology.

Angelica Cage, MBA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CDIP, is the director of CDI at Tufts Medicine in Boston. She has eight years of CDI experience, including as an acute care hospital and system CDI manager, senior consultant advisor, and manager in CDI consulting services. Her background includes critical care nursing in the trauma/surgical/neuro ICU, burn ICU, and PACU, as well as in utilization review, case management, and quality/risk management. Cage has brought success to CDI programs by integrating a more collaborative workflow and relationship between CDI and HIM, establishing advanced CDI training, implementing quality-focused objectives, revising physician education, participating in appeals and denials management, and serving as subject matter expert to a hospitalist readmissions reduction council. Cage has been a speaker at the national ACDIS conference, guest speaker on the ACDIS Podcast, and guest columnist in the CDI Journal. She currently serves on the ACDIS Chapter Advisory Committee, ACDIS Regulatory Committee, and is a chair of the ACDIS Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Anita Schmidt, BS, RHIA, has expertise in ICD-10-CM/PCS, DRG, and CPT® with more than 15 years’ experience in coding in multiple settings, including inpatient, observation, and same-day surgery. Her experience includes analysis of medical record documentation, assignment of ICD-10-CM and PCS codes, and DRG validation. She has conducted training for ICD-10-CM/PCS and electronic health record. She has also collaborated with clinical documentation specialists to identify documentation needs and potential areas for physician education. Most recently she has been developing content for resource and educational products related to ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, DRG, and CPT. Schmidt is an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer and is an active member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Minnesota Health Information Management Association.

Anne Robertucci, MS, RHIA, is the vice president of the clinical revenue cycle at Prisma Health in Taylor, South Carolina. She has more than 30 years of experience in health information management (HIM) and middle revenue cycle operations, including coding and CDI leadership. She received her Bachelor of Science in HIM and a master’s degree in health information systems from the University of Pittsburgh. She has spent more than 19 years in hospital leadership in revenue cycle, information technology, and compliance at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, with a focus on advancing CDI and coding practices in both hospital and professional fee areas. In addition to her provider experience, she worked on the vendor side as director of product management in revenue cycle technology for a leading technology vendor. In her current role, Robertucci leads CDI, coding, HIM, and risk adjustment coding programs.

Barbara Brant, MPA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, is a CDI professional with over 25 years of clinical nursing experience and 15 years’ experience in documentation improvement efforts as a CDI specialist, coder, and auditor. She has worked both within health systems and outside consulting for documentation and coding improvements. Brant also has a proven ability to lead in the development, training, and implementation of CDI program incentives. With experience working as a recovery auditor contractor for clinical validation, her passion is in teaching the importance of DRG reconciliation and denial prevention to CDI professionals.

Brenda Watson, MLS, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CRC, CPMA, has over 20 years of healthcare consulting experience. She currently serves as a senior program manager at AGS, LLC, responsible for managing projects in support of state and federal programs, the development and implementation of compliance, coding, and billing audits for affiliate customers with multiple locations nationwide, and the development and implementation of training programs for affiliate internal staff and external students.

Brianna Brown, MSN, RN-BC, is a board-certified medical surgical nurse by background. She spent four years at the bedside and four years as a charge nurse before transitioning into a CDI manager role. Brown is in her seventh year of being the CDI manager. Her primary responsibilities include oversight of CDI staff and their productivity and outcomes, monitoring DRG reports to identify opportunity for capture, performing physician-focused documentation education to promote accurate MS-DRG assignment, leveraging technology to ensure revenue and CDI quality optimization and efficiency, and collaborating across departments to promote forward thinking and processes for her organization. She has presented at two national conferences and has had multiple presentations for her collaborating partners, Vizient and 3M, as well as for her internal SVH audience.

Carrie Horn, MSHA, BBA, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRCR, CPC, CHFP, is the system director for outpatient CDI at Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) in Temple, Texas. She has 27 years of nursing experience, 14 of those spent in the CDI profession leading high quality, cost-effective adult and pediatric programs while standardizing process improvement across inpatient and ambulatory CDI operations. Prior to joining BSWH as the outpatient CDI director in 2022, she spent 12 years building and transforming inpatient CDI, outpatient CDI, and provider CDI education at a large academic health system in Michigan. She has expertise in developing, monitoring, and auditing compliant inpatient and outpatient CDI infrastructure, risk adjustment, provider coding education, clinical denials, and post-payment audits. She continues to serve the ACDIS community as a member of the ACDIS Leadership Council and has presented at MACDIS, MHIMA, AHIMA, RISE, the ACDIS Outpatient Symposium, EPIC UGM, 3M, and annually in the ACDIS exhibit hall.

Cheryl Ericson, MS, RN, CCDS, CDIP, is the CDI director of Case Management and Utilization Management at Brundage Group. She is an industry expert in CDI with more than 25 years of revenue cycle experience. She has helped establish industry guidance through contributions to white papers and practice briefs, including several AHIMA practice briefs and white papers with ACDIS in the areas of CDI, denials management, quality, technology, and querying. Ericson is an experienced revenue cycle consultant specializing in reimbursement methodologies. She served as the CDI education director for HCPro and associate director of education for ACDIS. She is well-versed in HIM technologies, with experience implementing CDI and coding tools in a variety of EMR environments. Ericson is a member of the AHIMA CDI Practice Council, ACDIS CCDS Credentialing Committee, and ACDIS Regulatory Committee, and a past member of the ACDIS Advisory Board.

Chinedum Mogbo, MBBS, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCDS, CCS, is the director of CDI at Tenet Healthcare in Dallas, Texas. She has successfully managed various teams, including clinical documentation specialists and coding auditors. Prior to her current role, she worked as a CDI training director for a California-based health system. She actively participates in the CDIP and RHIA exam item writing with AHIMA. She has been involved in the successful development of in-house curriculum for training clinical documentation specialists and serves as co-chair of the AHIMA CDI practice council, working on many projects that provide guidance to the industry. Mogbo has co-authored numerous publications with ACDIS and AHIMA, spoken at industry events, and is a member of the ACDIS Advisory Board and the ACDIS Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Christopher Evans, MD, MPH, is an associate chief medical informatics officer (ACMIO) at ECU Health and an affiliate assistant professor of emergency medicine at Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He is board-certified in clinical informatics and emergency medicine. He has a strong background in data science including SQL, R, and data visualization applications, as well as clinical data model and revenue data model certifications by Epic Systems. Evans completed his emergency medicine residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and subsequently was one of two inaugural clinical informatics fellows at UNC Health in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He currently serves on the Health IT and Innovation committee of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He has authored more than 15 peer-reviewed research articles, serves as an expert peer reviewer for several medical journals, and previously served on the editorial board of Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Dana Jones, RN, BSN, CCDS, has been a registered nurse for almost 20 years. She started her nursing career in cardiac care and soon transitioned to the role of charge nurse where she began her experience in data collection and metric monitoring. She spent nine years of her career in this role, and in 2013, she left cardiac care to accept a CDI specialist position. By 2015, she had achieved her CCDS and was promoted to the CDI team lead position in 2018. She has been involved in several performance improvements projects within her department as well as hospital-wide initiatives with huge success. She has had the opportunity to share her accomplishments at two national conferences, once in 2022 and another in 2023 at the 3M Client Experience Summit.

Dawn Vitalone, RN, CCDS, CIC, is a senior inpatient consultant with 3M HIS. Dawn has been a registered nurse for over 30 years with a background in orthopedics, neurology, medical-surgical, home health care, hospice, and case management. Prior to joining 3M, Vitalone has held positions as a CDI manager and played a key part in developing a comprehensive CDI program for the medical facility. She also held roles as a DRG and clinical validation auditor for two well-known auditing companies. Vitalone earned her certification in clinical documentation in 2012 from ACDIS and inpatient coding (CIC) from AAPC in 2015.

Deanne Wilk, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS, is a CDI education specialist for ACDIS at HCPro. She serves as a full-time instructor for the CDI Boot Camps and as a subject matter expert for ACDIS. Wilk is an accomplished healthcare professional with a diverse background in health information, medical coding, nursing, and CDI. With a strong passion for making a difference, Wilk has dedicated her career to improving the quality and integrity of clinical documentation within the healthcare environment for improved patient care. Wilk has served on the ACDIS Advisory Board and founded the Central Pennsylvania ACDIS local chapter, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the profession and sharing her expertise with others.

Denice Piwowar, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, is the director of CDI at Banner Health based in Phoenix, Arizona. She leads a robust CDI team that consists of over 80 team members supporting 20 hospitals in three states. She has 28 years of nursing experience and eight years in CDI. Prior to discovering CDI, she spent 20 years working in adult medical oncology in both inpatient and outpatient settings with various clinical and leadership positions. Piwowar is a member of the ACDIS Leadership Council and co-lead for the Arizona ACDIS chapter. She has been published twice in the ACDIS Journal.

Diane Hanna, MBA, RHIA, CCS, is currently the director of inpatient coding at the Johns Hopkins Health Care System. She has 40 years of health information management experience in large and small academic centers, community hospitals, children's hospitals, and the Veterans Administration. In addition to HIM, her roles include management of utilization management, quality assurance, medical staff services, and teaching.

Coach Donnie Campbell is a math teach and a high school basketball coach from Kansas who was plucked out of obscurity when Jason Sudeikis, the American actor and star of the 5-time Emmy Award winning show, revealed to Stephen Colbert on the late show that Campbell was in part the impetus for the lead character he plays with such wit and wisdom. It was back in the late 1990’s when Jason played basketball at Shawnee Mission West and Campbell was his coach. Little did Campbell know that all of the pearls of wisdom he was dropping on Jason and the team would appear years later and make an indelible impression on millions around the world.

Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCDS, has over 40 years of experience in HIM, coding, CDI, and compliance. Bryant is the past president and director of CHIA, having been an HIM volunteer on local, state and national levels and served on and led many CHIA, AHIMA, HFMA and ACDIS workgroups and committees. Bryant served two years on the AHA Coding Clinic editorial advisory board. She is a sought-after advisor, mentor, national educator, speaker, and author on clinical coding compliance and ethics, reimbursement, CDI, physician querying, and coding regulations. Over the past six years, she has been an expert witness and consultant for clinical coding, documentation, denials, charging, and MS-DRGs. Currently, she works part-time as an independent HIM coding and CDI compliance consultant.

James Fee, MD, CCS, CCDS, is the CEO at Enjoin based in Germantown, Tennessee. He is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics and maintains a clinical practice in hospital medicine. Fee has been involved in operations and process development of CDI programs nationwide, including training physician advisors, coders, and CDI specialists. A frequent speaker at professional conferences, he has authored articles for many publications, including ACDIS, and has served on the ACDIS Advisory Board.

Jaime Bennett, BSN, RN, has been employed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) since July 2016 as a kidney transplant nurse coordinator for five years and clinical documentation integrity specialist for two years. Since 2021, she has been reviewing PSI 3 and mortality cases for NMH CDI.

Janell Murray, BSN, RN, CCDS, has over 14 years of experience in nursing and over nine years in the CDI profession. She recently joined Banner Health as the CDI educator, covering all Banner Health hospitals. Prior to Banner Health, she worked as a CDI specialist for Brundage Group and Parkview Health Systems. Her nursing background includes telemetry and the ICU/CCU, serving as a nursing team lead, preceptor, and department educator. As a CDI specialist, she has served as a committee member, working in critical access hospitals and level one trauma/teaching facilities. She assisted with onboarding and lead the continued education updates for her team. Murray is a member of Indiana ACDIS chapter, serving as the Indiana ACDIS social media manager from 2020 to 2022 and then as the Indiana ACDIS president from 2023 to 2025. She also recently joined the ACDIS Chapter Advisory Committee.

Jeff Morris, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, has 27 years of nursing experience in adult critical care, medical-surgical, and pediatric critical care, and 12 years of experience in CDI. Morris is presently a manager of CDI at NYU Langone Health where he has built on his experience in CDI and revenue cycle management. He is dual-certified in CDI and coding. Morris is active in ACDIS, holding a current position as co-leader of the national ACDIS pediatric networking group. He is a past ACDIS advisory board member (2018–2021) and former co-leader of the Alabama ACDIS chapter. Morris has presented at past ACDIS conferences, as well as numerous state and local events. He was also a contributor to the 2017 book Pediatric CDI: Building Blocks to Success.

Jennifer Brettler, DO, FACP, CHCQM-PHYADV, is the medical director of clinical documentation integrity for ChristianaCare. With more than a decade of experience in hospital medicine, Brettler also serves as a physician advisor for the utilization management department. She is the liaison between clinical caregivers and the mid-revenue cycle team. She engages the medical staff through various educational programs to facilitate improvement in clinical documentation, risk capture, and quality outcomes. Brettler also works in collaboration with the health information management coding team and the medical staff to ensure accurate DRG assignment, and provides consulting on audit defense.

Jennifer Kemp, RN, CCDS, is employed at Ascension St. John Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Detroit. She has a background in medical-surgical, inpatient rehab, and home health case management since 2007. She began her career in CDI in 2015, became CCDS-certified in 2022, and is active in the Michigan ACDIS local chapter.

Jillian M. Kotcher, BSN, RN, CCDS, is a CDI specialist for Ascension in Detroit. She has 15 years of critical care nursing expertise and was the 2011 recipient of the Nursing Excellence Award through Ascension. She has served on numerous committees such as the Quality Improvement Nursing Committee and the Professional Nursing Committee through Ascension. She started her CDI career in 2012, became CCDS-certified in 2018, and is involved in the ACDIS Michigan chapter.

Jorde Spitler, BSN, RN, CCDS, is the CDI program manager at Dayton Children's Hospital. He has been in this role for four years and has a total of seven years of experience in CDI. Prior to this, he worked as a house float registered nurse and has accumulated a wealth of experience in various specialties over his 16 years of working at Dayton Children's Hospital. Spitler's areas of expertise include pediatric critical care, emergency room, NICU, H/O, and transport. In addition, he is a member of the ACDIS Leadership Council and actively participates in the ACDIS pediatric networking group and CDI CHA groups.

Joy Bombay, MSN, MHA, RN, CCDS, is the inpatient manager for clinical documentation excellence (CDE) at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She performs a clinical/leadership position that coordinates all activities related to compliance, denials management, mortality reviews, and quality assurance as well as education with the CDE team and providers. Her CDI career started in 2014 after spending 20 years in bedside nursing, providing care in the acute care setting as well as nursing leadership.

Julie Bell, BSN, RN, CCDS, CRC, is a vice president within the professional fee services division of Claro Healthcare, a premier consulting firm dedicated to helping hospitals and health systems navigate the unique challenges they face through collaboration, depth of knowledge, and a singular focus on healthcare. In 2017, Bell became a CDI consultant and works with clients to improve documentation, enhance knowledge, and optimize quality performance through her expertise in evaluation and management documentation and hierarchical condition category capture. Her expertise is provided through education to providers and clinical documentation teams, process review, and refining approaches.

Julie Morales, BSN, RN, CCDS, is a senior inpatient consultant with 3M Health Information Systems. Morales has been a registered nurse for over 25 years with most of her clinical experience in critical care. She began her CDI career in 2005 and has spent her time in various positions, including concurrent reviewer, clinical documentation quality integrity auditor, and CDI management and consulting. In her current position with 3M, Morales assists customers with implementation, revitalization, training, and monitoring of their clinical documentation programs.

Judy Moreau, MBA, RN, BSN, is the vice president of mid-revenue cycle for Trinity Health headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. She is responsible for providing leadership for the organization in HIM, clinical documentation, and coding. Prior to joining Trinity Health, Moreau worked as a consultant for Deloitte and Touche, performing revenue cycle, coding, compliance, and clinical trial engagements. She has also managed both private and academic physician practices. Moreau has published multiple articles on revenue cycle issues and presented at multiple national conferences on CDI.

Karen Elmore, BSN, RN, CCDS, is the program manager for physician and CDI engagement, documentation, and education at BJC HealthCare based in St. Louis, where she focuses on all things education. Elmore focuses on CDI education for CDI specialists, physicians, coders, and ancillary staff, prepares orientation for CDI specialists, CDI managers, providers, physician champions, and physician advisors, and leads the CDI preceptor council. She also reviews clinical insurance denials and mediates mismatches between CDI staff and coders. Elmore has spoken at ACDIS in 2018 and 2020 and has been a part of panel discussions at ACDIS. Elmore was awarded ACDIS Excellence in Provider Engagement in 2020. Elmore is a member of the ACDIS Events Committee, ACDIS Chapter Advisory Board, ACDIS Leadership Council, ACDIS Mastermind Council, a co-lead of the Kansas City ACDIS local chapter, and co-leader and founder of the Missouri State ACDIS chapter and the annual Show Me State ACDIS Conference

Karen McCullough is a nationally known keynote speaker and expert on change, generational opportunities, and workforce trends. McCullough helps organizations cut through the generational biases and get back to reality by leveraging their team’s strengths, enriching the work environment, and driving better results. Each of her presentations brings a realistic perspective on workplace trends and employee engagement while offering actionable content. For the past 15 years, McCullough has shared her insights to top organizations such as VMware, Procter & Gamble, US Department of Justice, JPMorgan Chase, Symantec, McGraw-Hill, National Homebuilders, Shell Oil, Mercedes Benz, The World Bank, American National Insurance, Humana, United Way, American Heart Association and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She started speaking in 2000 and began to learn more and study generational differences. Today her interest in the generations has become her passion and mission. Her programs include case studies, current research, and up-to-date information and discoveries about Millennials and soon-to-be in the workforce Gen Z.

Kelly Blankenship, DO, is the associate chief medical officer of behavioral health and the clinical lead for the behavioral health expansion at Dayton Children’s Hospital. She completed her medical school training at Ohio University and her psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Wright State University. She then went on to complete an autism/developmental disabilities fellowship at Indiana University. Afterwards, she stayed in Indianapolis and worked at a community mental health center for five years. She then transitioned to Grand Rapids, Michigan were she created and directed a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program, which had a focus on adolescent addiction, for three years.

Keri Miller, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, is a CDI manager at the University of Miami specializing in CDI education and quality. She has eight years of experience working in the CDI field, providing her a vast knowledge of quality indicators and compliance metrics. Miller sits on the ACDIS Chapter Advisory Board, leads the Michigan ACDIS local chapter, and is a past member of the ACDIS Leadership Council.

Kevin O’Malley, MD, is an assistant professor in the department of medicine of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a hospitalist at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. His areas of focus are clinical medicine, clinical informatics, and education.

Kim Hefelfinger, RN, CCDS, CCM, is a CDI specialist educator at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida. She has over 30 years of experience in medical/surgical, orthopedics, observation, pediatrics, respiratory care, case management, and leadership. Her CDI career began in 2018 as a concurrent reviewer. She transitioned to the CDI educator role in 2022 and actively provides ongoing education to the CDI staff, physicians, and clinical nursing staff.

Laura Anderson, RN, BSN, CCDS, is a registered nurse and CDI specialist/educator with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare profession. She obtained her BSN at the University of Minnesota and spent most of her bedside nursing career on medical-surgical care units. Her clinical documentation experience began in 2007, covering CDI specialist training, education development, and physician engagement. She has served as a CDI team lead and consultant, working with senior leadership to incorporate CDI work into documentation compliance and quality metrics. Anderson also has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Winthrop University, with research experience in liver cancer and radiation-induced leukemia. She has presented at the state and national levels for ACDIS and serves as a co-lead for the Minnesota state chapter.

Laura Werner, DC, MSN, RN, BA, BSN, CDIP, CRCR, CCS, is the executive director of CDI for Community Health System. Werner has over 30 years of clinical experience, including 14 years in CDI where she has assisted in the implementation, design, and development of both inpatient and outpatient programs for acute care and critical access CDI departments. Werner is an international lecturer and a published author, who has lectured for ACDIS, ACDIS' California local chapter, AHIMA, and CHIA. She is considered an expert on creating and maintaining remote working environments.

Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC, is the interim ACDIS director and CDI education director at HCPro. She is the lead developer and instructor for the CDI Boot Camps at HCPro, a subject matter expert for ACDIS, and a member of the CCDS-O certification committee and the ACDIS Advisory Board. Prescott frequently speaks on the ACDIS Podcast and at ACDIS conferences and webinars. She is the author of The Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist’s Complete Training Guide and the ACDIS Pocket Guide series. Prescott has served in a variety of health systems and settings since joining the nursing profession in 1985. She developed and implemented a CDI program in 2007 before coming to HCPro in 2013.

Leah Burton, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, is currently the manager for outpatient clinical documentation integrity at UK HealthCare in Lexington, KY. Burton oversees all chart reviews and efforts toward CDI standardization. Prior to coming to UK, she held various roles including manager of documentation and coding education, and lead compliance analyst. Burton obtained an associate’s degree in applied science, starting her career as a staff support specialist in cardiothoracic surgery. Eventually, she obtained her CPC (certified professional coder), CPMA (certified professional medical auditor), and CPC-I (certified professional coder – instructor). Burton has taught several CPC certification classes and numerous educational sessions across UK HealthCare.

Leigh Poland, BS, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, has over 25 years of revenue cycle management experience and has worked extensively in the coding and education realm for the last 20 years. Her true passion is coding education and making sure coders are equipped to do their job accurately and with excellence. On multiple occasions, Poland has presented at the AHIMA National Convention, the ACDIS Convention, and the AAPC Convention. She has been a guest speaker for AHIMA webinars, written articles for the AHIMA Journal, For the Record, and Part B News. Poland has traveled across the U.S. and internationally, providing coding education. At her institution, she is responsible for managing continuous coding education and certification preparatory programs for 3000+ coders. She is a key advisor to the AGS Health International Coding Training Academy.

Linnea Archibald is the associate editorial director, publications and membership, for ACDIS. She oversees the management and strategic development of the ACDIS Leadership Council, including membership recruitment and engagement, and day-to-day offerings. Archibald is responsible for the strategic planning of ACDIS’ publications, including the CDI Journal and CDI Strategies. She works closely with ACDIS’ Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Chapter Advisory Committee and is responsible for the oversight of ACDIS' local chapters and networking groups. She hosts the “Leadership with Linnea” series on the ACDIS Podcast.

Lucinda Lo, MD, is a practicing pediatric hospitalist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which she joined in 2003. She is a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and is board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics. She is currently the physician advisor for CDI and CM. Lo provides education to medical staff on topics related to CDI and gives feedback regarding their CDI efforts. She participates in utilization management and denial reviews, as well as the formulation of associated institutional policies and practices. Lo has presented on CDI at several national conferences including ACDIS, NPAC and PHM.

Lydia Koepke, MS, APRN, RN-BC, CWON, has been employed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) since September 2015, serving as a staff nurse for four years and an education coordinator for two. Since 2021, she has served as a wound ostomy nurse clinician. Koepke has been involved in NMH's quality improvement projects on a yearly basis and acted as a content expert during the development of NMH's skin failure definition. She is a supportive member of the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) and the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) Society. Koepke presented a poster on the use of infrared thermography in wound assessment at the annual conference of Northern Illinois Affiliates, the local chapter of the WOCN Society, in October 2023. She has presented a poster at the American Healthcare Association Leadership Summit on the wound ostomy nurse clinician model of care at NMH in July 2023. 

Michael Gao, MD, is the co-founder and CEO of SmarterDx, which provides AI-powered pre-bill reviews to help hospitals capture revenue and quality opportunities. Prior to SmarterDx, Dr. Gao was the medical director for transformation at the New York-Presbyterian Health System, where he oversaw AI and automation projects across the revenue cycle and care delivery domains. He is also an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell and Mount Sinai.

Michael D. Teague, MD, SFHM, CCS, serves as the medical director of coding and documentation at the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Since 2013, he has held the position of physician advisor and continues to work as a practicing hospitalist (a position he has held since 1996) overseeing adult inpatients with complex medical conditions. Teague served as the chief of staff at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in 2022. He also holds board certifications in hospital medicine, hospice, and palliative medicine, and is an accredited Epic physician builder

Michelle Knuckles, RHIA, CDIP, is the manager of inpatient coding and clinical documentation integrity at the University of Utah Health, where she has enjoyed the past 34 years serving in various roles within the health information management department. Knuckles has served in her current role for the past 14 years, fostering a cohesive and collaborative partnership between inpatient CDI specialists, coders, quality and patient safety staff, inpatient rehab prospective payment coordinators, and, most recently, registered dieticians. Using technology and innovative approaches to integrating coding and CDI, Knuckle's team has consistently met and exceeded key performance indicators in financial and quality initiatives, as well as reported outcomes. She is also a clinical documentation integrity preceptor for Weber State University, providing biannual presentations to AAS students in the HIT program, and is passionate about the multi-specialty approach to clinical documentation integrity and code assignment.

Michelle McCormack, MBA/HCM, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, CRCR, has been the director of clinical documentation integrity at Stanford Health Care for over 10 years. She has over 18 years of CDI experience, following a clinical nursing background in a variety of areas. McCormack has led successful CDI departments in academic medical centers, community hospitals, and multi-hospital systems. McCormack is an experienced speaker, with engagements at the local, state and national levels, including the national ACDIS and AHIMA conferences. She has also spoken at the International Clinical Documentation Improvement Australia (CDIA) conference in addition to numerous podcasts and webinars. McCormack has been an ACDIS member since 2008 and was the co-founder and chair of the Minnesota chapter. She is a former ACDIS Advisory Board member and current member of the ACDIS Leadership Council.

Michelle Rivoli, MHA, BSN, RN, CCDS, has been a clinical product consultant at Iodine Software since 2021. She brings over 35 years of experience in healthcare to the role, having worked as a nurse for over two decades. Rivoli holds a master's degree in healthcare administration and is CCDS- credentialed. She is passionate about bridging the gap between integrity and opportunity in order to achieve documentation accuracy.

Michelle Spera, MSN, RN, began her nursing career in a Level 1 Trauma/surgery ICU, and then spent several years traveling in a variety of ICU settings before transitioning to perioperative services. During her perioperative years, she worked as staff, charge, educator, and a manager for inpatient, outpatient services. Spera has also held several non-traditional nursing roles, including EHR-credentialed trainer, supply chain strategic sourcing manager, quality and patient safety specialist, and clinical informaticist. Most recently, she transitioned to CDI and has worked closely with specific departmental improvement projects, in particular, leadership initiatives for CDI educational alignment. Spera believes in working collaboratively to drive consistent messaging for providers and staff.

Nancy Williams, MD, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis. After serving as private practice internist and hospitalist, she became a physician champion, and the medical director of quality assurance/clinical documentation. She is now the physician advisor for BJC, leading physician champions at the 14 individual BJC hospitals. Williams led the mortality reduction initiative, which resulted in the Missouri Baptist Hospital increasing its rating from three-stars to five-stars, and its observed-to-expected ratio decreasing from 1.13 to 0.6. Her current advisory role focuses on education across the organization, and the dissemination of CDI tools such as the BJC clinical guidelines, video vignettes, SmartPhrases, hospital newsletters, tip sheets, and virtual presentations with continuing medical education.

Nicole Tebo, RN, is the director of CDI operations at Advocate Health in Marinette, Wisconsin. Tebo's nursing background ranges from medical-surgical, to oncology, to leadership. She has worked in CDI for more than 10 years. When her hospital joined Advocate Aurora Health, Tebo moved into a regional CDI manager role overseeing teammates across the north region of Wisconsin. In 2022, she became the director of CDI operations, overseeing CDI teams in all 16 hospitals across Wisconsin. She is currently a member of the ACDIS Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Paul Long spent over a decade successfully leading teams of 300+, improving service organizations of 2,000+, and being responsible for $30M in annual revenue while serving as a strategist for employee engagement and customer relations nationwide. As more people asked Paul about his secret sauce to creating joyful workplaces that led to extreme growth, he slowly started amassing his strategies which he turned into his first book FUNDAMISM: Connecting to Life Through F.U.N. Paul’s practical, yet rich FUNdamentals provide business audiences with tactical solutions for growth by helping individuals and teams change their perspective and create more fulfillment in business and life.

Penny Jefferson, MSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CRC, CCS, CHDA, CRCR, a manager of CDI at UC Davis Health, entered the world of healthcare 32 years ago. Jefferson's career includes 14 years as a critical care nurse and 11 years in CDI. She accepted a position with Mayo Clinic in 2019, starting as a concurrent CDI reviewer and progressing to supervisor of CDI at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In December 2022, Jefferson accepted a position with UC Davis Health as a CDI manager where she is excited to continue her career path in CDI leadership.

Rachelle Musselman, BSN, RN, CCDS, is a CDI specialist at Dayton Children's Hospital with 18 years of experience in pediatrics. Her nursing background includes specialties in hematology, oncology, critical care float, and leadership. For the past seven years, she has worked in CDI and is currently a CDI lead. Musselman has a passion for CDI and enjoys collaborating with her peers and educating her providers. She is currently seeking to expand CDI's role in the behavior health departments at Dayton Children's Hospital.

Rebecca McDade, BS, RHIA, is the director of revenue integrity at Washington Regional Medical Center (WRMC). She started at WRMC as the inpatient coding manager before being promoted to director. In her role as director, McDade oversees the mid-revenue cycle functions and provides education to physicians, nonphysician practitioners, and clinical staff regarding proper documentation. She works closely with the quality department to review outcomes data and to ensure proper documentation/coding for reporting. McDade has 13 years of experience in inpatient coding and eight years in coding and CDI leadership.

Rebecca Willcutt, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, CRC, CCDS-O, began her nursing career in 1981 and has progressively advanced her leadership skills in a variety of roles over the years; these roles include being a business owner, certified life care planner, certified Medicare set aside specialist, case management and utilization review specialist, manager of CDIP at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and CDIP consultant for Nuance. Since 2014, Willcutt has served as the director of clinical documentation integrity at Cooper Health Care in Camden, New Jersey. In the past, she has been a speaker at several ACDIS national conferences, local chapters, and is a past recipient of the ACDIS Professional of the Year Award. Willcutt is also a charter member of the ACDIS Leadership Council.

Rhoda Chism, MHL, RN, CCDS, CCS, CPHQ, is the director of CDI at Steward Healthcare headquartered in Dallas. She has more than 20 years of CDI experience and more than 30 years of nursing experience, with an extensive background in critical care, emergency care, case management, and utilization review. She obtained a master’s in health leadership with a focus on quality outcomes and population health. Chism holds certifications in clinical documentation, coding, and healthcare quality and is a frequent presenter at national and state ACDIS conferences. She is passionate about education and CDI’s role in ensuring hospitals’ quality data is accurately abstracted and reported.

Sandra Love, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CPC, is the director of solutions for Norwood in Austin, TX. She has more than 17 years of nursing experience and 11 years in CDI. Previously, Love served as a manager of outpatient clinical documentation excellence at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she helped implement two pediatric CDI programs and an outpatient CDI program. A past president of North Carolina ACDIS, Love has spoken at ACDIS chapter meetings and past national ACDIS conferences. She is also a former member of the ACDIS Events Committee and ACDIS Leadership Council.

Shannon Menei, MBA, MSN, CCDS, CCM, CPHQ, is a director of clinical documentation integrity. With over 16 years of experience, Menei has held various leadership positions within ChristianaCare. Menei's journey began as an RN III, honing in on clinical skills and gaining valuable firsthand experience in patient care. Following this, she transitioned into managerial and leadership roles where she assumed responsibilities as the manager, and then director, of care management. As director, she led the care management team through the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to strengthen the hospital’s partnership with post-acute care facilities/services to breakdown discharge barriers. In 2022, Menei returned to her true passion as the director of clinical documentation integrity and continues to work towards optimizing the accuracy of provider documentation.

Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRC, is a CDI education specialist with HCPro. She serves as a full-time instructor for HCPro's CDI boot camps and as a subject matter expert for ACDIS. Brodie has more than 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry that also includes consulting for medical staff and physician education. She is the co-author of The Essential Guide to Supporting Quality Care Measures Through Documentation Improvement, and she serves as the co-chair of the ACDIS Regulatory Committee, as well as the chair of the CCDS Committee.

Sheila Wade, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NEA-BC, has worked as a nurse for 13 years in various roles and is currently the operations and performance manager for patient care. In her current role, she supports nurse-driven quality indicators for her organization. Wade is passionate about high-quality, safe patient care and has co-led various initiatives across her organization to reduce hospital-acquired pressure injuries. She takes pride in collaborating with frontline staff to identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes and enhance nursing practice.

Sheilah Snyder, MD, FAAP, is a pediatric hospitalist and CDI physician advisor for Children’s Nebraska in Omaha, Nebraska. The majority of her work is clinical, but her main motivation is to improve clinical outcomes for her patients and accurately document their care. Dr. Snyder serves as a physician champion for the hospital’s Epic inpatient team, which allows her to leverage the EMR to help produce excellent CDI outcomes. She has presented on pediatric CDI at the ACDIS conference for several years and is also a contributor to the book Pediatric CDI: Building Blocks for Success.

Shelly Sepulveda, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, CCDS, is manager of CDI for the Northeast division at Steward Health Care headquartered in Dallas. She has over seven years of CDI experience, more than 25 years of nursing experience, and possesses an extensive background in neonatal ICU, nursing management, and professional development. Sepulveda currently serves as a member of the ACDIS Leadership Council and was published in the January/February 2022 ACDIS Journal, in which she discussed the effects of emotional intelligence on behavior.

Sherian Kelley, RN, CCDS, has 46 years of nursing experience spanning medical, surgical, and ICU nursing. Kelly spent 19 years in nursing management as a clinical coordinator for two surgical units and then accepted a position as the director of nursing for her organization's skilled nursing facility. After that, she was involved in case management and, with the onset of MS-DRG's, exposure to clinical documentation denials. For three years, CDI was Kelly's main focus, with a specialty in compliance for denials, appeals, and internal auditing. While in these positions, she educated providers and provided department-specific education. Kelly has participated in and continues to serve on several of her organization's committees including the evolving technologies committee, compliance risk assessment team, utilization review committee, and the acute rehabilitation compliance committee. She is currently a senior defense nurse auditor for payer contracting.

Sherry Goyal, MD, MBA, CHRI, CPC, CRCS, earned a master's of business administration in healthcare from University of Scranton in 2015. In 2003, Goyal graduated from medical school in India and then served in the Indian Army Medical Corps as a medical officer until 2007. Goyal then earned ECFMG certification in 2011. She is an active member of the American Medical Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Goyal joined the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) in 2018 and is an active member of Rapid City AAPC chapter. She has more than 20 years of healthcare experience, working in a number of diverse roles such as physician, army medical officer, credentialed Epic inpatient provider trainer, revenue integrity analyst, and chargemaster supervisor. Goyal is currently working at the Rush University Medical Center as CDM coordinator.

Shirlivia Parker, MHA, RHIA, CDIP, BS-HIM, has over two decades of experience supporting coders, inpatient and outpatient CDIs, and physicians at numerous hospitals across the U.S. Parker has worn many hats throughout her career, serving in roles such as HIM Director, 3M 360 implementation specialist, senior manager in CDI (inpatient and outpatient), physician documentation educator, clinical coder/auditor, CDI and denials management specialist. She has been a part of the national ACDIS Leadership Council and has spoken nationally for ACDIS, AHIMA and the American Care Management Association conferences. Parker currently serves as vice president of compliance, education and ethics at Medovent Solutions in CDI and coding services.

Sonja Racke, RN, BSBM, CPC, CRCR, has over 35 years of nursing experience in the northern Kentucky/Cincinnati metropolitan area. She has worked as a CMS contractor in multiple areas of regulatory compliance and has served as an expert witness alongside the OIG in prosecuting Medicare fraud. Racke assisted the ARHQ in mapping and configuring PSIs during the ICD-10 conversion and aided in performing medical necessity and DRG validation audits for the CMS RAC. Racke began her career in clinical documentation integrity in 2019 with Ensemble Health Partners as the regional manager of CDI for the southwest Ohio region, where she led and oversaw CDI teams at five acute care facilities.

Stacey Rohen RN, CCDS, CDIP, is a director at Optum Advisory Services. She has over 25 years of professional experience in healthcare, including medical-surgical, step-down units, emergency room, adult critical care, nursing management, utilization review, and clinical documentation integrity. In a previous role, Rohen was responsible for multiple hospital inpatient CDI programs across the nation, from local hospitals to large academic centers to hospital systems; during this time, she managed programs and implemented best practices to achieve rigorous and accurate documentation standards. Rohen now spends most of her time educating providers and other CDI professionals in both inpatient and outpatient arenas.

Suma Chacko, MBA, RHIA, CCS, is the system director for inpatient CDI at Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) in Temple, Texas. She has extensive and diverse experience in the healthcare industry, particularly in the fields of clinical documentation integrity, health information management (HIM) and utilization review (UR). Over the span of her 29-year career, Chacko became a UR Coordinator, coding manager, and then the director of HIM and CDI. Her dedication and passion in CDI has led her to her current role as corporate CDI director at BSWH. She has further contributed to the professional growth of the CDI community by actively engaging with ACDIS, and participating in multiple ACDIS Leadership Councils as well as ACDIS national conferences.

Tamara A. Hicks, MHA, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, CCDS-O, is the director of clinical documentation excellence at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has over 39 years of experience, including more than 25 years in CDI. A founding member of Wake Forest’s CDI team in 1999, she also served as a founding member of the ACDIS Advisory Board and was re-elected to the board in 2016. Hicks co-wrote the original CCDS exam, serves on the ACDIS CCDS-O Certification Board, serves as the social media coordinator of the North Carolina ACDIS board, and received the 2019 ACDIS Professional of the Year award.

Tami L. McMasters-Gomez, MHL, BS-HIM, CCDS, CDIP, is the director of coding and CDI services at the University of California Medical Center at Davis based in Sacramento, California. She has more than 30 years of experience in HIM, starting her career as a file clerk in the medical records department of a small rural hospital. McMasters-Gomez has worked in a variety of roles, including coder, auditor, supervisor, manager, and director. She is a member of the 2022/2023 ACDIS Leadership Council and the inaugural ACDIS Outpatient Leadership Council Mastermind. McMasters-Gomez was appointed to the ACDIS Advisory Board for the 2023–2026 term, and is an AHIMA-certified ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer.

Tammy Brandes, RN, BSN, CCDS, CRCR, is a clinical documentation specialist supervisor. Brandes has been a nurse for more than 20 years, with a background in critical care nursing, case management, and utilization review. She has been in CDI for about 14 years and has been a CDI supervisor for nearly four. Brandes currently participates in two Missouri CDI chapters (St. Louis and Kansas City), and previously served as the vice president of a local ACDIS chapter

Teresa Brown RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, is a clinical analyst with 3M Health Information Systems, Inc. With 33 years of nursing experience, she has worked in various clinical settings (medical, surgical, neurotrauma, pediatric, neonatal intensive care units, emergency department) caring for both adult and pediatric populations. Brown has been dedicated to the field of clinical documentation integrity for the last 15 years with the goal of bridging the gap between clinical documentation and the precise requirements necessary for accurately coded data within health systems. She passionately believes that accurate and comprehensive clinical documentation is essential for providing the highest standard of patient care.

Teresa Butler Washington, RN, LMSW, CDIP, CCS, has been a registered nurse for 40 years now, working in different healthcare settings. She is also a licensed master social worker with 32 years of experience and has earned her CDIP and CCS certifications. For the past 17 years, Washington has worked as a clinical documentation integrity specialist. Currently, she serves as a CDI quality indicator coordinator for a hospital system in Maryland, reviewing medical records to ensure compliance and accuracy. Washington also serves as secretary of the Maryland ACDIS Chapter.

Teresa Helwig, BSN, RN, CCDS, is a defense nurse auditor at WellSpan Health. Helwig has 28 years of experience in roles including ICU nurse, certified procurement transplant coordinator, CDI specialist, and CDI manager. She has presented nursing research posters both at the local and regional conference levels, and will be presenting a clinical case at the upcoming national NATCO conference. Helwig is a strong advocate for inter-departmental education and communication, believing that such collaboration leads to the success of any health system, and, most importantly, the best possible care for the patient.

Teri Rice, RN, MSN, MBA, MHA, CHC, is a regulatory instructor for HCPro, and the lead instructor for HCPro’s Medicare Boot Camp®—Critical Access Hospital Version and Rural Health Clinic Version. She is also an instructor for the Medicare Boot Camp®—Utilization Review Version. Rice serves as a regulatory specialist for HCPro’s PROPEL Medicare advisory services, providing regulatory guidance on coverage, billing, and reimbursement, and is also a subject matter expert for the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI). She has extensive knowledge of Medicare billing and compliance issues in addition to CDI, appeals, denials, and audits.

Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS, is the medical director for CDI and coding at the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has written five books in the field of CDI that address physician advisor training, program management, and recovery auditor appeals. He is a practicing hospitalist, a clinical associate professor in the department of medicine, and the curriculum director of the residency program’s hospitalist rotation. He also has responsibilities in performance improvement, quality, utilization review, case management, compliance, and payer contract negotiation. La Charité is a past ACDIS Advisory Board member and regularly presents at the ACDIS Conference and the ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum.

Trish Dasch is the director of clinical documentation excellence at the Johns Hopkins Health System. In 2008, she was introduced to CDI and has reported to several departments over the years (HIM, QI, and Finance). Dasch is a certified clinical documentation specialist, past vice president of the Maryland ACDIS local chapter, and is currently serving as a member of the ACDIS Leadership Council and the ACDIS Mastermind.

Valaria Issa, BSN, RN, CCDS, is employed at Ascension St. John Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Detroit. In 2012, Issa transitioned to clinical documentation after having worked for more than 20 years as a staff nurse in medical, surgery, women's health, rehabilitation, and cardiac/telemetry. She is CCDS-certified and is a member of ACDIS' Michigan local chapter.

Vaughn Matacale, MD, CCDS, is the director of the physician advisor group at ECU Health in Greenville, North Carolina. Matacale's advisor team has grown to eight full-time physicians and one physician assistant, and they are responsible for conducting post-discharge pre-bill reviews, educating and supporting the coding, CDI, and medical staff, as well as providing full utilization review (UR) support. Matacale has over 19 years of experience in UR work and continues to practice hospital medicine. He currently chairs the patient safety indicator committee, and sits on his hospital's patient safety and quality improvement committee and mortality committee. Matacale serves on the ACDIS Advisory Board, is a past member of the Physician Advisor Mastermind, and is a past attendee of the ACDIS Physician Advisor Exchange.

Wendy Arafiles, MD, FAAP, has been a practicing pediatric hospitalist at Phoenix Children's Hospital for over 15 years specializing in children with medical complexity and technology dependence. Since 2018, Arafiles has also served as the medical director of the CDI program. Both of these roles have provided her skills in medical education, innovations in quality improvement for children with medical complexity, and a foundational understanding of hospital finance. Arafiles' goals are to optimize Phoenix's ability to describe the complexity of the patient population and develop high-value programs in patient and family services. She has presented on both CDI and medical complexity topics at several national conferences, and is an active member of the pediatric documentation research collaborative--a research group that focuses on documentation-related issues in pediatric hospitals.

Whitney Bardowell, MSN, RN, CCDS, is the regional education manager at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida, a position she has held since 2022. Her 15 years of experience include both adult medical-surgical and pediatric populations. She began her CDI career in 2018 as a concurrent reviewer and transitioned to the role of CDE educator in 2021. As a part of the education team, Bardowell actively coordinates and assists with physician education, as well as CDI specialist growth, education, and development.

Yasar Suleman, MBA/HCM, MBBS, CCS, CCDS, CAPM, CRCR, is an education lead who has been with Stanford Health Care since 2018. He is a foreign-trained physician with a Master of Business Administration focused on healthcare management from Western Governors University. With extensive expertise, strong leadership skills, and vast clinical experience, he plays a crucial role in maintaining the highest standards of documentation integrity. His areas of interest and collaboration include data and performance monitoring, quality improvement, CDI, coding, and provider education.

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Location

The JW Marriott will host the conference sessions and a portion of the sleeping rooms.
The exhibit hall will be hosted in the Indiana Convention Center.

JW Marriott Indianapolis
10 S. West Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Indiana Convention Center
100 South Capitol AvenueI
Indianapolis, IN 46225

Hotels and Convention Center are all connected via a covered skybridge. 

JW Marriott Indianapolis, 10 S. West Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 

Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, 601 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, 601 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225 

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
  • Membership Price:  $999.00 — ACDIS members save $100! Call Customer Service at 800-650-6787 for your discount.
  • 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

ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI

April 7 - 8, 2024 | Indianapolis, IN

The ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI is focused exclusively on clinical documentation integrity (CDI) efforts in the outpatient and ambulatory setting and features innovative sessions and dynamic speakers you won’t find anywhere else.

Dedicated to the fastest-growing area of CDI, this two-day event includes diverse sessions for both managers/leaders and clinical chart reviewers, including how to get started in the ambulatory setting, query techniques and nuances, metrics and analytics, and demonstrating return on investment. The addition of two tracks on day 2 allows attendees of varying experience levels ample opportunities to learn.

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

2024 ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum

April 7 - 8, 2024 | Indianapolis, IN

The ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum (previously known as the Physician Advisor’s Role in CDI pre-conference) offers two days of premier education delivered by the country’s leading physician advisors.

With two tracks on day 1, this conference is perfect for both new and veteran physician advisors. Track 1, Physician Advisor 101: Core Skills and Responsibilities, breaks down the key responsibilities of the physician advisor, building a strong foundation for those new to the role. Track 2, Expanding the Physician Advisor Role, designed for those who have been in the role for some time, features intermediate and advanced-level presentations from physician advisors on the forefront of advancing the profession.

Learn more HERE and save 15% on the 2024 ACDIS Physician Advisor Forum when coupled with the main conference.

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Continuing Education

ACCME
HCPro is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

HCPro designates this educational activity for a maximum of 13 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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.

ANCC
HCPro is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This educational activity for 13 nursing contact hours is provided by HCPro.

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).

*And more to come!

2024 Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) Conference

Sponsors/Exhibitors


Platinum

3M



Gold

Dolbey
Hiteks
Nuance + Microsoft
UASI



Silver

Accuity
AGS Health
 
   
AMN Healthcare

Enjoin
 
GHR RevCycle Workforce   Iodine Software LLC

Optum

RIRCM

Saince

SmarterDX

Tendo
   



Exhibitor

ACS (Administrative Consultant Services)
AHIMA
Brundage Group
Claro Healthcare
Code Quick
Columbia Southern University
CorroHealth
DextroMedical
e4Health
ECLAT Health Solutions
Edifecs
FairCode
Guidehouse
Harmony Healthcare
Intero Group – HIM Services
Kiwi-Tek
Managed Resources Inc.
Maxim Healthcare Staffing
Medovent Solutions
Norwood
OnPoint Healthcare Solutions
PayerWatch
Pediatric Resource Group
RCM
Regard
Stanson Health