The third quarter target concurrent physician query response rate for each physician in a hospital gastroenterology department was 80%. Nine physicians met or exceeded this metric; however, two physicians had third quarter concurrent physician query response rates of 19% and 64%. What is the best course of action for the clinical documentation integrity (CDI) physician advisor/champion?
Correct Answer:
C
According to the ACDIS Practice Brief, a query escalation policy should describe how to handle situations in which an answer is not received, an inappropriate answer or comment is provided, etc. The escalation policy should address when the issue is brought to the physician advisor, the department director, or administration with defined actions as to the responsibilities at each level. The policies should reflect a method of response that can realistically occur for the organization1. In this case, since two physicians have significantly lower query response rates than the target, the CDI physician advisor/champion should schedule individual meetings with each low-performing physician to provide feedback, education, and support. A group meeting with all physicians may not be effective or efficient, as it may not address the specific barriers or challenges faced by the low-performing physicians. A meeting with the chair of the gastroenterology department may be helpful, but it may not be sufficient to resolve the issue without direct communication with the low-performing physicians.
References:
✑ CDI Week 2020 Q&A: CDI and key performance indicators1
A hospital noticed a 30
Correct Answer:
A
The step that the clinical documentation integrity (CDI) manager should take to help avoid future Medicare violations is to collaborate with physician advisor/champion and revenue cycle manager. The physician advisor/champion can help with educating and engaging the physicians on the importance and impact of clinical documentation on coding, reimbursement, quality measures, compliance, and patient care. The revenue cycle manager can help with analyzing and monitoring the denial trends and patterns, identifying and resolving the root causes of denials, implementing corrective actions and preventive measures, and ensuring timely and accurate claim submission and appeal processes. References: : https://www.ahima.org/media/owmhxbv1/cdip_contentoutline_2023_final.pdf : https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077
A 56-year-old male patient complains of feeling fatigued, has nausea & vomiting, swelling in both legs. Patient has history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage III, coronary artery disease (CAD) & hypertension (HTN). He is on Lisinopril. Vital signs: BP 160/80, P 84, R 20, T 100.OF. Labs: WBC 11.5 with 76% segs, GFR 45. CXR showed slight left lower lobe haziness. Patient was admitted for acute kidney injury (AKI) with acute tubular necrosis (ATN). He was scheduled for hemodialysis thenext day. Two days after admission patient started coughing, fever of 101.8F, CXR showed left lower lobe infiltrate, possible pneumonia. Attending physician documented that patient has pneumonia and ordered Rocephin IV. How should the clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) interact with the physician to clarify whether or not the pneumonia is a hospital-acquired condition (HAC)?
Correct Answer:
D
The clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) should interact with the physician to clarify whether or not the pneumonia is a hospital-acquired condition (HAC) by asking the physician to indicate if the pneumonia was present on admission (POA) based on the initial chest x-ray. This is because the POA status of a condition affects its coding, reporting, and reimbursement, and it is the responsibility of the physician to document the POA status of all diagnoses. The CDIP should not assume that the pneumonia developed after admission based on the timing of symptoms or treatment, as this may not reflect the true clinical picture. The CDIP should also not ask the physician about the causal relationship between the acute kidney injury and the pneumonia, as this is not relevant to the POA status. The CDIP should also not avoid querying the physician based on the presence of another MCC, as this may compromise the accuracy and completeness of documentation. (CDIP Exam Preparation Guide)
References:
✑ CDIP Exam Content Outline
✑ CDIP Exam Preparation Guide
✑ Present on Admission Reporting Guidelines
Which of the following individuals is the first line of escalation for an unanswered query?
Correct Answer:
A
The first line of escalation for an unanswered query is the CDI Manager because they are responsible for overseeing the CDI program and ensuring compliance with query policies and procedures. The CDI Manager can monitor the query response rates, identify the providers who are not responding, and communicate with them to address any issues or barriers. The CDI Manager can also provide education and feedback to the providers on the importance and benefits of timely query responses. If the CDI Manager is unable to resolve the problem, then they can escalate it to the next level, such as the Medical Director or the CDI Steering Committee. (CDIP Exam Preparation Guide)
References:
✑ CDIP Exam Content Outline1
✑ CDIP Exam Preparation Guide2
✑ Q&A: Establishing an escalation policy for inappropriate queries3
Which of these medical conditions would a clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) expect to be treated with Levophed?
Correct Answer:
A
Levophed is a brand name of norepinephrine, a medication that is similar to adrenaline and acts as a vasopressor, meaning that it constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure. Levophed is indicated to raise blood pressure in adult patients with severe, acute hypotension (low blood pressure) that can occur with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures1. One of these conditions is septic shock, which is a life-threatening complication of sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to infection. Septic shock is characterized by persistent hypotension despite adequate fluid resuscitation, along with signs of organ dysfunction and tissue hypoperfusion. Levophed is used as a first-line vasopressor agent in septic shock to restore adequate perfusion pressure and tissue oxygenation.
Acute respiratory failure, multiple sclerosis, and acute kidney failure are not indications for Levophed treatment. Acute respiratory failure is a condition in which the lungs cannot provide enough oxygen to the blood or remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood. It can be caused by various lung diseases, injuries, or infections. The treatment of acute respiratory failure depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition, but it may include oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, medications to treat infections or inflammation, or other supportive measures. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, causing inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary depending on the location and extent of the nerve damage, but they may include vision problems, numbness, weakness, fatigue, cognitive impairment, or pain. The treatment of multiple sclerosis aims to reduce the frequency and severity of relapses, slow the progression of disability, and manage the symptoms. It may include immunomodulatory drugs, corticosteroids, symptomatic medications, physical therapy, or other interventions. Acute kidney failure is a condition in which the kidneys suddenly lose their ability to filter waste products and fluids from the blood. It can be caused by various factors that impair the blood flow to the kidneys, damage the kidney tissue, or block the urine output. The symptoms of acute kidney failure may include decreased urine output, fluid retention, nausea, confusion, or shortness of breath. The treatment of acute kidney failure depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition, but it may include fluid management, electrolyte replacement, dialysis, medications to treat infections or inflammation, or other supportive measures. References:
✑ CDIP Exam Preparation Guide, 2021 Edition. AHIMA Press. ISBN:
9781584268530
✑ Levophed Uses, Side Effects & Warnings - Drugs.com
✑ Levophed (Norepinephrine Bitartrate): Uses, Dosage ?? - RxList
✑ Levarterenol, Levophed (norepinephrine) dosing ?? - Medscape
✑ [Septic Shock: Practice Essentials ?? - Medscape Reference]
✑ [Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for ?? - PubMed]
✑ [Acute respiratory failure: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia]
✑ [Multiple sclerosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic]
✑ [Acute kidney failure - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic]
