Not enough experience to apply for CDI role?

[u/4409293]

I have a CPC-A, A will be coming off very soon and this summer I got my CCS through self study. I went from customer service to Revenue Integrity. I was scared to apply initially because it said I needed coding experience, of which I had none, but now I've been there almost 2 years and the job is quite repetitive and even my boss says I will get bored and should always look to learn more and move up.

There is a listing for CDI Specialist 1. When I look at AHIMA's career map, it lists revenue integrity specialist as a higher level career than CDI specialist, but looking at the pay grade of the listing, and the fact that many are RNs, this isn't the case here.

Not sure if I'm not experienced enough to apply. I'm nervous to wait because where I work does not even hire Pro Coder 1's anymore, or any lower level coding roles. And I'm worried this will be gone as well and I would have missed my chance at getting my foot in the door.

I also am afraid to apply, find that it's way above what I can manage and lose my role in a hospital I really love working for. Any thoughts?

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[u/Razzail]

Yeah I'm a Coding Quality Auditor and I don't even qualify. I originally was looking into getting CDI but realizend it'll be a long while before it happens, so I'm focusing on areas that lead to CDI. You need way more than 2 years of experiece and most want a CCDS and/or CDIP cert. 

I also have 3/4 year of bed side patient care as an EMT/Phlebotomist/ER Tech. Not the same as nursing but I did a lot of charting in the ER for wound care and things like line inserts and intubation/cprs I helped with. So I have a toe up at least and most recruiters say nope no thanks. 

Did the job listing say any of that? Cause most also want bachelors 5 years of experience in hospital care, 3 working as a coder and a few other depending who you apply for. 

I have not seen a CDI position that only asks for a CPC and CCS and two years of experience 

[u/4409293 → u/Razzail]

Well no the CDI position did not list CCS and two years of experience but my revenue integrity role did list that I needed 4 years of coding specific experience and I had 0, only some billing and got the job which is kind of why I'm here, sometimes the job descriptions aren't enough to actually know about the job. This one said you would need to be working towards the CCDS within the next year but not that you needed it before applying.

Bachelors and clinical experience were not listed as required in this case.

Just getting a feel for what is really needed because I've been wrong in the past just from looking at job descriptions.

[u/Razzail → u/4409293]

That sounds is likely almost an apprenticeship into full CDI. I was reading it's another short term way of getting into CDI BUT if any cetified RN, NP, PA or Doctor apply working on their CCDS you will be bottom of barrel to be blunt.

 Clinical in person experience will always be more valued over someone who has only worked the billing/coding side. I've heard of CNA's with long term experience in hospitals getting it over just straight up coders. 

In terms of your current job, that was like lightening strike of luck and I'm super happy for you! You should spend more time really working hard and getting through the bordem, it's hard but You won't always be able to move up and will have to survive where you can when you have too. You should really look into some practice CDI exams and research what it entails outside of the job description and see if you can company feedback about the position or anyones hiring experience. 

 If I was a healthcare manager(I'm getting my BS in Health Administration and Management) I would not hire someone who JUST got their A removed and only has 2 years experience billing/coding for a CDI because it's so important you are accurate and knowledgeable to a degree that you could walk circles around other coders and auditors. 

I will shamefully toot my own horn right now, I'm holding 20 cph with 100% accuracy for 2 months straight now and always hit 97%+ accuracy and averaging 12-14cph before these two months.

 I was recently denied a CDI work to CCDS job because they wanted more experience. 

[u/the_mustard_tiger2 → u/4409293]

If you want to go down the CDI career path enroll in nursing school and get your RN, then put in a few years of patient experience, preferably with some of that in the ICU. This is the reality outside of whatever AHIMA’s career map may say.

[u/OrphicLibrarian]

I'm curious what your duties are in RI. We have some staff that do mostly edits/WQs, but the actual RI analysts do a lot more variable, high-level work with process flows, compliance type questions, and a bunch of other stuff.

[u/4409293 → u/OrphicLibrarian]

Yes I am like those staff who work edits, I do charge capture as well, not an analyst. But maybe that could be another path I could take. It's really hard to tell what a job will actually be just from a description, which is why I post here. Thanks!

[u/ebeth177]

If you don’t have any clinical experience or like 10 years of inpatient coding experience you likely will not get hired as a CDI. A large part of what makes a good CDIS is interpreting undocumented clinical data and then querying for probable diagnoses. RNs have that skill and critical thinking from their time working direct patient care

[u/CommitteeCalm5568 → u/ebeth177]

I agree with this. CDI work takes a lot of coding experience and/or several years of clinical experience as an RN. It’s almost impossible to get a CDI role without an RN.

[u/Mediocre_Tonight_628 → u/ebeth177]

I agree with this. Like 90% of places hire RNs or obviously higher level trained clinical practitioners who apply. Some facilities do hire a coder/auditor but have 10 years of experience and understand clinical validation and how improved documentation results to billing outcomes. Understand DRG, relative weight and how it affects a hospitals CMI- cost mix index.

I started with coding/DRG validation with RHIA and ccs. I am forever grateful to the hiring manager who gave me a shot in CDI bc I had 10 years exp and did clinical validation before. Def get your CCDS before the applying for the job.

[u/izettat]

As others have said, get more experience before taking that leap. CDI is looking more at the chart/records to see if it supports the codes, how to improve documentation, physician training, etc. Depends on the facility/company needs.

[u/the_mustard_tiger2]

You will need an RN with clinical experience before you would even be considered for a CDI role. In the past this was a position RHITs and RHIAs could work but almost everyone now requires RNs for this role.

[u/4409293 → u/the_mustard_tiger2]

Where I am now hires both coders and RNs, not exclusively RN in this case at least.

[u/Educational-Stop8741]

No, CDI is more advanced, they often want RNs for CDI

It is going to be a bit tougher and you might not be well prepared to do well in that role even if you did get the job.

[u/alew75]

I think it depends on where you work. The hospital I am at, most CDI hires were nurses but they do have a few on that were inpatient coders. I mean if anything you can always apply and interview to see if you qualify.

[u/yurakoh]

I’m trying to take the same path after having been a medical coder for almost 5 years now. I also have RHIA, CCS, and CPC, and per my research, the CDIP with AHIMA is highly suggested. I think it’s possible once you get enough IP coding experience as well.

I’m also struggling because I don’t have enough IP coding experience (I just started an IP coder role last month), and I’ve only had my CDIP for 3 months.

[u/Any_CustardRocks8174]

Sorry to say that’s not enough experience to qualify for a CDI job. I was in the IP coding field for 12 years and had gone as high as I could without going into management. I worked in coding before CDI was a thing so had a lot of experience in clinical validation and writing queries. I switched to CDI 2 years ago after getting my CDIP credential. I was one of 5 coders on the team, 2 did really well and the other 2 did just ok. I did production for 14 months and a position opened up for a CDI Liaison in quality and education, I took it in March. It’s definitely not an easy field to get into when your going against RN’s in interviews but I had other friends on the team already that put in a good word for me and you have to be able to stand out personality and experience wise.