Building a Strong CDI Program: Clinical Documentation Improvement Strategies That Work

Clinical documentation is a critical lever for improving patient care, safeguarding compliance, and securing fair reimbursement. 

Unfortunately, it’s also a long-standing weak spot across the industry.

Even more alarming, ​a 2023 survey conducted by the Healthcare Financial Management Association's Pulse Survey program for AKASA revealed that nearly 50% of providers experienced an increase in claim denial rates compared to the previous year—with inadequate clinical documentation cited as a primary contributing factor to these denials.

In a value-based care environment, poor documentation leads to concrete negative outcomes: missed diagnoses that affect patient care, underreported acuity that misrepresents case complexity, and underpayment that impacts your bottom line.

So, how do you move from problem to progress? 

It starts with a Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) program grounded in evidence, driven by collaboration, and designed for long-term success. In this article, we’ll explore practical strategies that work.

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Getting Your House in Order: Preparing for CDI Program Implementation

Before building a CDI program, you need a clear understanding of your current documentation ecosystem. That means taking a data-informed, strategic approach to identify gaps and build consensus.

1. Conduct a Documentation Audit

Start with a comprehensive audit. This includes reviewing:

• DRG mismatches
• Missed secondary diagnoses
• Query response rates
• Denial reasons tied to documentation gaps

This baseline helps pinpoint where breakdowns are happening, whether due to a lack of specificity, incomplete problem lists, or vague terminology.

2. Prioritize High-Impact Clinical Areas

Not every department will benefit equally from CDI attention. Focus your efforts on:

• High-volume or high-revenue specialties (e.g., cardiology, pulmonology)
• Service lines with a history of under-documentation
• Departments with frequent denial trends

Targeting these areas first can accelerate early wins and demonstrate the program’s value.

3. Secure Leadership Alignment

A CDI program will only go as far as your leadership allows. Garner support from:

• Clinical leadership (CMO, medical directors)
• Revenue cycle executives (CFO, HIM leaders)
• Compliance and quality teams
  
  

4. Define Success Metrics Early

Clear KPIs allow you to measure success and course-correct when needed. Start with:

• Case Mix Index (CMI) trends
• DRG shifts and reconciliation
• Physician query response and turnaround time
• Documentation-related denial rates

Make these metrics visible across departments to maintain transparency and engagement.

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Implementing Your Clinical Documentation Improvement Program: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once the groundwork is laid, it’s time to operationalize your CDI strategy. Here’s how to structure and execute it effectively.

1. Build the Right Team and Structure

A robust CDI program isn’t a one-person job—it’s a multidisciplinary effort that demands clinical insight, coding knowledge, and operational oversight.

At a minimum, your team should include:

• Clinical Documentation Specialists (CDS): Nurses or clinicians trained in documentation best practices.
• Coders: They bring the technical lens needed to ensure alignment with ICD-10 and CMS guidelines.
• Physician Advisors or Champions: Trusted peers who can engage other physicians.
• Compliance Officers or Auditors: To ensure queries and documentation follow regulatory guidelines.

Appoint a CDI lead to keep communication flowing, coordinate team activities, and act as the single point of accountability.

2. Standardize the Core: Guidelines and Education

Documentation quality improves when expectations are clear and consistent. That means creating standardized guidelines that are both compliant and clinician-friendly.

Start by aligning templates and workflows with:

• ICD-10-CM requirements
• CMS-specific guidelines
• Organizational quality initiatives
  
  

To make it stick, pair these guidelines with specialty-specific training. For instance, cardiologists should know the difference between documenting “heart failure” and “acute on chronic systolic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction”.

Clinician training shouldn’t be one-and-done. Make it part of onboarding, annual refreshers, and real-time coaching when documentation gaps are found.

3. Integrate CDI Into the EHR Workflow

A modern CDI program works best when integrated with the clinical documentation process—not isolated in spreadsheets or paper forms.

That's why workflow integration should be a priority based on your available systems. Your CDI approach should align with clinical workflows as seamlessly as possible, offering timely guidance without creating friction.

The level of integration depends significantly on your EHR capabilities:

• Some EHRs provide built-in CDI functionality
• Others allow integration with external CDI tools
• Some systems have limited integration options or lack CDI capabilities entirely

When CDI tools can be connected to documentation, coding, and billing platforms, teams can:

• Surface documentation opportunities during or shortly after the patient encounter
• Generate compliant, structured queries
• Ensure clinical terms align with codable language
  
  

4. Establish a Query Management Framework

Building on the query metrics defined earlier, establish a structured framework for managing the entire query lifecycle. This framework should include:

• A standardized escalation process: Define the path for queries that go unanswered or receive insufficient responses
• Documentation templates: Create standard templates that adhere to AHIMA and ACDIS guidelines while maintaining physician usability
• Educational feedback loops: Use query responses to identify educational opportunities for both clinical staff and CDI specialists

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5. Monitor What Matters: CDI Metrics That Drive Change

While you'll track the success metrics established earlier, operational excellence requires translating data into action. Develop a systematic approach to performance management that includes:

• Regular performance review cycles: Schedule monthly CDI performance reviews with cross-functional stakeholders
• Root cause analysis: When metrics indicate issues, conduct structured analyses to identify the underlying causes
• Action planning protocol: Create a standardized process for developing, implementing, and following up on improvement plans
• Outcomes reporting: Document the financial and clinical impact of CDI interventions to demonstrate value

Clinical Documentation Improvement: Avoiding the Common Pitfalls

Even well-intentioned CDI program implementation can stall. Here are the traps to avoid:

1. Alert Fatigue

Too many prompts can desensitize clinicians. Prioritize high-value opportunities, such as:

• Cases with MCC/CC potential
• Sepsis, heart failure, or respiratory failure
• Readmission risk documentation

2. Neglecting Ongoing Physician Education

Clinical documentation isn’t intuitive for most physicians. Without continuous training, even well-designed CDI programs fall flat. Make education practical, relevant, and tied to their specialty.

3. One-Size-Fits-All Strategy

Different specialties have different documentation challenges. Customize your approach to each department’s terminology, common diagnoses, and workflows. 

The 2022 CDI Salary Survey indicates a decrease in the percentage of professionals holding the title of CDI specialist, from 47.37% in 2021 to 39.11% in 2022. This trend suggests a diversification of roles within CDI programs, which may impact program effectiveness.

Amplifying CDI Program Implementation With Smart Technology

Technology doesn’t replace CDI teams—it assists them. Here’s how to make the most of modern tools:

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP scans clinician notes in real time, flagging vague or incomplete language and suggesting areas for improvement.

AI-Driven CDI Platforms

AI tools analyze documentation patterns and predict which cases are most likely undercoded or misclassified, helping prioritize queries more effectively.

They can also:

• Automate parts of the query process
• Highlight documentation risk areas
• Improve workflow efficiency
  
  

Mobile Tools for Physicians

Apps that allow clinicians to review and respond to queries on their phones or tablets significantly reduce delays and workflow disruptions. 

Final Takeaway

CDI program implementation isn’t just about fixing documentation after the fact—it’s about getting it right from the start. Once done right, CDI leads to:

• Better patient records that reflect clinical reality
• Improved coding accuracy and fair reimbursement
• Fewer denials and rework cycles
• Stronger readiness for value-based care models

For hospitals seeking deeper support, a trusted partner to healthcare payers and professionals, like HOM RCM, brings strategic insight and hands-on implementation expertise. 

Our experience with CDI and revenue cycle alignment helps turn complexity into streamlined, measurable outcomes.

Our key offerings include: 

• Comprehensive Documentation Review: Ensures accuracy, completeness, and compliance in clinical records.
• Bridging Clinical & Coding Gaps: Enhances documentation quality for optimized reimbursements.
• Medicare Risk Adjustment (MRA) Compliance: Tracks MRA compliance with continuous feedback to providers.
• HCC & RxHCC Coding Accuracy: Captures risk-adjusted codes for better patient profiling and reimbursement.

To see how we can help you, get in touch with us.