Conference Description:

12TH Annual Conference Charting the Course

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Our 12th annual conference will be held May 20-23, 2019, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. Registration is now open for the 2019 event. The early bird date before which you can save an additional $100 on registration is Friday, April 5, 2019.

To read the 2019 conference committee members' bios, please click here. To read this year’s session and track suggestions, click here.

The application period to speak at the conference is now closed and the committee has selected the final speakers for the 2019 event. Applicants have been notified of the committee's decision. The final agenda will be available very soon.

The annual ACDIS Conference features unparalleled networking, the ACDIS Achievement Awards, and six concurrent educational tracks with a diverse range of sessions, covering best practices for staff management, physician engagement, clinically focused chart reviews, and critical regulatory updates to improve every aspect of your CDI department.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

CDI specialists
CDI managers/directors
HIM directors
Case management directors/managers
Revenue cycle directors
Physician champions/advisors to CDI
Quality improvement professionals
Coding compliance specialists
DRG coordinators
Inpatient coders
Coding managers/supervisors
Chief medical officers
Denials and appeals managers

Agenda
Monday, May 20


5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall

Day 1 — Tuesday, May 21


7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening remarks and ACDIS update
Brian Murphy, ACDIS Director

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Keynote session:
“Running Toward Chaos”
Natalie Stavas, MD


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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Allen R. Frady, RN, BSN, CCS, CRC, CCDS, presents Navigating Documentation and Coding Regulations in Search of Clinical Accuracy.” Explore the more controversial and confusing aspects of regulations governing code assignment and CDI reviews as the speakers review common roadblocks to accurate reporting.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Elizabeth Petersen hosts “Panel Discussion: Women in Leadership.” During this presentation, the senior vice president of Simplify Compliance, ACDIS’ parent company, will lead an inspiring discussion of CDI thought leaders on effective management skills and career building.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Erin Head, MBA, RHIA, CHDA, CHTS-TR, presents “CDI and Quality: Sharing Knowledge and Working Together to Improve Patient Outcomes.” Concurrent reviews and timely abstraction of data are critical to improving patient outcomes. This presentation will discuss the integration of CDI professionals into quality department efforts to track Patient Safety Indicators (PSI), regulatory compliance, and quality data measures.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
James P. Fee, MD, CCS, CCDS, presents “Let’s Get Real: Does CDI Improve Patient Care?” This presentation will demonstrate the course of the CDI profession in tackling quality, risk adjustment, and utilization management. Through a mosaic of case study examples, attendees will learn how CDI contributes to improving the “Triple Aim” of advancing healthcare: improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction), improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita expense of patient care.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Vaughn M. Matacale, MD, presents “Clinical Validation: Do We or Don't We?” For attendees questioning if, why, or how clinical validation should be done, join this session to review published guidance and explore potential methods to organize and formalize a clinical validation process for your organization. Review clinical validation denial examples and learn the top five diagnoses to focus on and the clinical definitions to use.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Kimberly Charles, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CEMC, presents “Documenting Evaluation and Management Services.” During this presentation, participants will learn how to identify the overarching criteria for physician evaluation and management (E/M) services coding. Attendees will review guidelines for addressing the chief complaint, medical decision-making, and other items necessary for physicians to complete their own professional billing.


10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
James Kennedy, MD, CCDS, CDIP, presents “CDI-Pertinent Coding Clinic Updates.” Anyone invested in CDI must be familiar with ICD-10-CM/PCS coding conventions, particularly official advice from the American Hospital Association’s Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS. This lecture will outline coding fundamentals, advocate for coding compliance, and share recent advice that promotes the CDI professional's relationships with coding.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Staci L. Josten, RN, BSN, CCDS, and Tara Bell, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCM, present “Creating and Retaining the Best CDI Team.” During this session, participants will learn what makes a good leader and how to further develop an effective CDI team. Attendees will obtain practical tips on selecting the best CDI candidates, establishing a productive orientation, keeping CDI rock stars happy, and dealing with difficult staff.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Sam Antonios, MD, MMM, FACP, SFHM, CPE, CCDS, presents “CDI Impacts Quality: But How?” This session will provide the basic explanation for quality measurements in hospitals under the various Medicare programs. Follow a step-by-step approach to understand how documentation impacts quality measurement and what resources are available to understand this somewhat ambiguous relationship.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Lee Anne Landon, BSN, RN, CCMC, CCDS, and Mary Elizabeth (M.E.) VanGelder, MREd, BSN, RN, CCDS, present “How to Win Friends and Enhance Learning via a CDI Educator Role.” Attendees will gain an understanding of the need for a CDI educator within the organizational structure as a critical element of overall program growth and how to make the business case for such a position.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Amy Sanderson, MD, and Corinna McFarland, MBA, present “Looking Beyond Reimbursement and Severity: Setting Your Sights on Academic Research.” Have you ever thought about using research to uncover trends within your institution? Do you want to better understand how to apply those findings to educational and operational opportunities? These presenters will highlight research projects undertaken by every member of their institution’s CDI team. Come hear concrete steps on how to take your department in this exciting new direction.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Howard Rodenberg, MD, MPH, CCDS, presents “Research as the Future of CDI.” It's been said that the only constant is change, and the CDI world is no exception. In this session, attendees will learn how to use claims data research to demonstrate increased value to the institution. Following a brief discussion of research, four sample projects will be described: a model to verify a secondary diagnosis, a means to test for potential CCs, an evaluation of the impact of new clinical definitions, and an interdepartmental effort to decrease length of stay.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Barbi Kantner, RN, CCDS, and Lori LaFaver, RN, BSN, CCDS, present “Partnering With the Emergency Department.” This presentation will review lessons learned for concurrent CDI reviews of the emergency department, including ideas on promoting process engagement for both the coding team and resistant providers.


12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Lunch in the Exhibit Hall

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Charlene Compher, PhD, RD, LDN, FASPEN, and Richard D. Pinson, MD, FACP, CCS, present “GLIM: The New Malnutrition Clinical Criteria and Implications for the CDI Profession.” Come hear from one of the co-authors of the new global malnutrition criteria about the impetus behind the most recent consensus statement. Then listen as CDI expert Richard Pinson, MD, co-author of the CDI Pocket Guide, adds his CDI perspective and offers take-home tips for query efficiency.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Robin Ann Jones, RN, BSN, MHA/Ed, CCDS, and Kimberly Higgins, RN, BSN, CCDS, present “Work in Progress: Revitalizing a CDI Program.” Attendees will obtain foundational insight into how to spark enthusiasm and effect change to build a team focused on innovative CDI concepts and program growth.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Mary Elizabeth (M.E.) VanGelder, MREd, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Elisa H. Sninchak, RN, BSN, CCDS, CDIP, present “Value-Based Healthcare and the Role of the CDI Educator.” Participants will obtain the latest information related to value-based payment initiatives, how CDI efforts can improve these measures, and how to best educate physicians, CDI, and coding staff to ensure optimal results and compliance.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Brian Ice, RHIT, and Linda Danhires, BSN, CCDS, COC, present “Using Data to Drive Program Success.” Attendees will be able to understand how to prove the relevancy of CDI through data, chart reviews, physician-to-physician training, and physician champions. The presenters will walk through a sample action plan for identifying specific opportunities to improve documentation and how to assess the benefits, challenges, and key components of a CDI transformation initiative.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Deanne Wilk, CCDS, CCS, CMS, presents “CDI and the Effect on Population Health Through Social Determinants.” This presentation will discuss the role of CDI in population health, social determinants, and the organizational impact CDI can have on quality outcomes, patient satisfaction, and public reporting.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Cassi L. Birnbaum, MS, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA, presents “Enterprise Documentation and Coding Strategies to Improve in Population Health.” Learn how to redesign the coding and documentation enterprise to create a holistic approach for improving HCC risk adjustment coding, enterprise charge capture, quality, and medical necessity edits.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Lauren B. Shivers, MSHI, RN, CPC, presents “Where Do I Start? Beginning a Pediatric Mortality Review Process,” and Julian Everett, CDIP, presents “Neonatal Mortality Reviews.” These presentations will provide insight into the need for pediatric mortality review based on low severity and risk scores as well as how to develop a mortality review process and obtain support from administration and staff.


2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Networking Break

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS, presents “CDI for the Medical Subspecialties: What You, and They, Need to Know.” Attendees will gain an understanding of how medical subspecialists’ documentation affects an institution's revenue cycle and publicly reported quality data. This presentation will review the most common improvement opportunities and reveal techniques to encourage physicians to adapt to CDI program goals.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
William Haik, MD, FCCP, CDIP, and Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CDIP, CRC, present “Query Compliance: Addressing Changes in the 2019 ACDIS/AHIMA Physician Query Practice Guidance.” During this session attendees will hear from two industry experts who served on the committee creating the latest ACDIS/AHIMA physician query practice guidelines. Participants will learn what’s changed since 2016 and how to address compliance concerns related to the query process.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Jon Elion, MD, FACC, and Jerry Williamson, MD, MJ, CHC, LHRM, present “Ethical Practices and Compliance in CDI: Staying on the Right Side of the Healthcare False Claims Act.” Session participants will obtain a brief review of the ACDIS Code of Ethics and then delve into a deep examination of the principles that drive effective compliant programs, including a primer on the False Claims Act and the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Donald A. Butler, RN, BSN, presents “Frequent CCs and MCCs: Clinical Indicators, Cautions, and Benchmarking Opportunities.” Knowledge drawn from data analysis is a powerful tool to help CDI programs identify the most likely documentation improvement opportunities. However, in the increasingly complex environment of CDI practice, it is equally imperative to understand those areas that need to be approached with more caution. Participants will learn data-driven tactics to improve the foundation of their CDI programs.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Susan Lynne Fantin, MSA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, and Shawn M. MacPhee, MSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, present “Clinical Validation Across a Healthcare System.” In this session, the presenters will discuss how McLaren Health Care standardized clinical validation into a multidisciplinary team approach, including physicians, quality, coding, clinical documentation, and finance members. They will also detail the team’s methodology, outcomes, and challenges.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Sheilah J. Snyder, MD, FAAP, Lucinda Lo, MD, Daxa P. Clarke, MD, and Amy Sanderson, MD, conduct a panel discussion on “What Were They Thinking?!” These four physician leaders from four children’s hospitals will help attendees understand what other terms providers use and how CDI specialists can help providers start using the appropriate documentation.


4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
General session:
“Charting the Course”
Erica E. Remer, MD, FACEP, CCDS

In this general session, CDI professionals will be inspired to stop thinking of daily record reviews in isolation and shift their focus to consider the medical record in its totality—to tell the whole story of the patient’s encounter. Attendees will obtain tools to enable physicians to engage with CDI program efforts and to accomplish overarching goals supporting a more meaningful CDI mission.


Day 2 — Wednesday, May 22

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
ACDIS Achievement Awards presentation

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
General session:
“OIG Work Plan and Current Initiatives”
Truman Mayfield, CPA, CFE, and Scott Perry, CPA

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Rhoda Chism, BSN, RN, CCDS, and Laura White, MHA, present “Untangling the Sepsis Web: Surviving Sepsis in 2019.” During this presentation, attendees will learn about payer and regulatory governance related to sepsis clinical definitions and code assignment. Take home a blueprint to build or enhance a hospital sepsis pathway and effectively align the goals of CDI, coding, and quality outcomes.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Nicole F. Draper, RN, BN, MHA, presents “CDI Physician Engagement: The Alchemy of Transforming Documentation Lead to Gold.” Join colleagues in a role-playing exploration of common physician education pitfalls to uncover tools for interacting with physicians and providing succinct information about CDI program values.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Kathryn DeVault, MSL, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, presents “ICD-10-CM/PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting: Review and Application.” As clinical documentation specialists, a thorough knowledge of the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting is critical in documentation accuracy and accurate code assignment. This session will include review of both ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS guidelines, especially those most pertinent to clinical documentation specialists.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Stephanie L. Jensen, BSN, RN, and Melanie Reineke, CCS, CPC, present “Help Me Help You: CDI and Inpatient Concurrent Coding.” Nebraska Medicine's concurrent coding process has provided inpatient coding and CDI teams the ability to align individual strengths while collaborating on shared goals. The presenters will discuss how concurrent coding facilitates the opportunity for inpatient coders to develop the working DRG while patients are still admitted, allowing the CDI team to focus on clinical validation and accurate patient documentation through provider queries and education.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Ailsa S. Henley, RN, MHA, CCDS, CRCR, presents “Do You Speak CFO?” During this session, attendees will gain an understanding of how CDI fits into the revenue cycle as well as how to effectively interpret and communicate the metrics associated with a CDI program to administration leaders.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Marietta L. Morhardt, RN, BSN, CPN, CCM, and Pam McCall, BSN, CCM, CPN, present “The Pediatric Altered Brain.” This presentation will cover the various conditions, syndromes, symptomology, and potential sequelae that involve disorders in the pediatric brain, including anatomical differences, specifics of genetic diseases, encephalopathies, brain trauma, and developmental consequences. The presenters will highlight Coding Clinic and discuss how appropriate (or inappropriate) documentation of neurological issues affects SOI/ROM.


10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Richard D. Pinson, MD, FACP, CCS, presents “The Whys and Wherefores of ATN.” During this presentation, participants will learn about the elusive and commonly misinterpreted diagnosis of acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Come and review clinical scenarios and query examples to handle the evolution in ATN’s diagnostic criteria.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Erica E. Remer, MD, FACEP, CCDS, presents “CDI on the Fly: How to Round With Providers.” Come hear how face-to-face interactions with providers can reinvigorate CDI efforts by rounding with providers, querying, and educating on the fly.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Brett Hoggard, MD, presents “HACs and PSIs: What’s All the Confusion About?” Session attendees will gain a basic understanding of data capture for hospital-acquired conditions (HAC), infections, and PSIs. With the assistance of case examples, attendees will learn how provider documentation affects these measures.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Megan H. Cortazzo, MD, presents “End the CDI Silo: How Collaborative Programs Improve Revenue, Quality, and Physician Engagement.” CDI success hinges on developing strong and collaborative relationships within the hospital system. No matter where your organization’s CDI efforts are currently, this session will provide insight into key stakeholders, relationships, and processes that could enhance your existing program.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sommer Slavin, RN, MS, MBA, CCDS, presents “CDI as an Integral Part of the Revenue Cycle.” During this session, attendees will learn how utilization management plays a role in concurrent coding, how to develop service-level documentation guidelines, and how to promote interdepartmental collaboration.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Patricia Henry, RN, MSN, CCS, CCDS, and Maryellen McGowan, MS, RHIA, CPC, present “Performance Improvement in Finance: Pedaling Through the Revenue Cycle.” CDI specialists no longer work in silos. It takes an army to run a finance department, and a working understanding of the revenue cycle is essential. In this session, the speakers will explore how they partnered with quality and incorporated performance improvement projects into patient financial services as an outgrowth of CDI efforts.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Karen Bridgeman, MSN, RN, CCDS, presents “It's A Small World: Pediatric Malnutrition and Respiratory Failure.” This session will focus on the unique clinical indicators for malnutrition and respiratory failure in the pediatric and neonatal population. Participants will review compliant queries and develop strategies for physician engagement.


12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Lunch in the Exhibit Hall

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CDIP, CRC, presents “Psych Me Out.” Psychiatric and intellectual disabilities are often overlooked in the inpatient setting unless the patient is admitted for psychiatric care. CDI specialists in both the inpatient and outpatient settings need to obtain the appropriate documentation as these diagnoses affect DRG assignment and patient risk scores.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Jennifer L. Cooper, MHIIM, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, presents “Vendor Selection: A Practical Approach.” There are a lot of great vendors with services and products that can help your CDI program succeed. How do you choose the right one? Although the selection process should be well-vetted, it should not be hard. This session will provide the tools needed to be successful and confident in the vendor selection process.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Beth Wolf, MD, CPC, CCDS, and Joe Lintz, RN, BSN, CCDS present “Surgical Quality Databases: What to Do When Clinical Definitions Vary.” Ever wonder why surgeons disagree with your interpretation of clinical indicators? In this session, participants will review the thoracic, general, and vascular surgical quality initiative program definitions for common conditions and develop strategies to overcome documentation capture differences while remaining true to the clinical picture, representing severity and risk in abstracted as well as codified health data sets.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Karen D. Elmore, RN, BSN, CCDS, and Julie Weiss, RN, CCDS, CCS, CRC, present “Second-Level Chart Reviews: Advanced Models for Finding Chart Review Gems.” Come and learn how to add sparkle to your program by providing a second look at the records prior to billing. Learn ways to advance to the next level in record review with the addition of a pre-bill record review process. Bring the shine back to your program by binding the essential elements of the record: quality, validity, support, and continuity.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Shirlivia M. Parker, MHA, RHIA, CDIP, Kimberly Huff, BA, CPC-H, CCDS, and Christopher Zepeda, MHA, BS, CPC, present “I’m in Denial: CDI’s New Role in Denials Management.” Is your CDI team at a loss for how to start assisting with complex clinical validation denials? The presenters will share how Providence St. Joseph Health’s CDI program took on this challenge—from identifying the type of denial, to developing a process with revenue cycle, to identifying individuals key to the appeal process. This session will provide attendees with tactics to avoid denials, sample processes and templates, and tips to ensure the CDI program is on the path to payer partnership and proper denial management.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
James M. Taylor, MD, FAAFP, CRC, presents “Outpatient Documentation: HCC Strategies for CDI.” Attendees will learn strategies for physician buy-in, embedding CDI into the physician culture, and experiences of working CDI into both large (1,000 physician) and small (50 physician) group practices.


2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Networking Break

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
James S. Kennedy, CCDS, CDIP, presents “CDI Conundrums: Altered Mental Status.” Participants will hear how the underlying causes of altered mental status challenge CDI principles requiring subject matter expertise and finesse in advocating ICD-10-CM documentation and coding compliance. Learn the fundamental clinical and coding principles inherent to these terms and how CMS determined that G93.40, unspecified encephalopathy, no longer warranted an MCC.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Fran Jurcak, MSN, RN, CCDS, presents “Performance Review for CDI Professionals.” Using CDI program dashboard metrics is a great way to communicate outcomes. This session explores how implementing a standardized review process can validate the integrity of the program and assist in the performance review process for staff. Done correctly, it can create a positive environment and increase CDI specialists’ job satisfaction.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Mary Beth Bumbarger, RHIA, CCS, CHDA, presents “Mortality Measures Optimization: Getting to Know the Data.” Participants will learn how to determine if their hospital’s mortality rates are higher than the national averages; how mortality-related data are used for reporting and adjusted for case mix; and how to improve observed-to-expected mortality information through CDI efforts.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Johanne E. Brautigam, RN, BSN, CCDS, Sydni Johnson, RN, BSN, and LeeAnn Cheung-Conaway, RN, CCDS, present “Panel Discussion: Remote CDI,” discussing how to get the most from remote programs, working when the lights go out, engaging physicians despite working off-site, and more. Flexibility in schedules, coupled with education, monitoring, peer-to-peer audits, and clearly defined expectations, are key to remote program success. During this session, speakers will explore their experiences and offer attendees insight into implementing an effective remote process.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Debbie Worthington, RHIT, CCS, C-CDIS, presents “CDI and Audit Defense: An Insider’s Perspective.” As a CDI specialist, do you ever wonder about some of the ins and outs of coding that don’t seem to make sense? This class will discuss dispositions and how they affect payment, out-of-the-box thinking about principal and secondary diagnoses, and why clinical validation is important to documentation.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Judy Moreau, MBA, RN, and Andrea J. McLeod, RHIA, present “Implementing Outpatient CDI Across the Enterprise.” Attendees will walk away with examples from the Trinity Health CDI strategy and playbook as well as gain an understanding of how to use tools and technology to support outpatient CDI. Attendees will see how Trinity is measuring performance and tracking outpatient CDI metrics and learn about the challenges, barriers, and successes the health system experienced along the way.


4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
General session:
“Taking the CCDS/CCDS-O Exam”

Join CCDS Coordinator Penny Richards and panelists from the CCDS Certification Committee for a discussion regarding certification application procedures, eligibility, commonly asked questions regarding exam focus areas, and test-taking tips and strategies.


Day 3 — Thursday, May 23


7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Closing keynote:
“How to Be the Lion in Your Mirror”
Joe Tye

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

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Garry L. Huff, MD, CCS, and Christopher M. Huff, MD, FACC, present “4th Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction: New Terms, Updated Definitions, and Alternative Focus Areas for Query Efforts.” Join this father-and-son team of physician clinical coding expert and interventional cardiologist to examine the updated definition of acute myocardial infarction and its effect on documentation, coding, and physician queries.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Tamara A. Hicks, RN, BSN, MHA, CCS, CCDS, ACM-RN, and Melinda Matthews, RN, BSN, MHA, CCDS, CDIP, present “Managing CDI for a Multihospital System.” This session will explore how Wake Forest Baptist Health has integrated its CDI department throughout its six facilities. Attendees will learn how this team incorporated the strengths of each of the hospitals' CDI programs as they became part of the Wake Forest Baptist family, including data-driven audit tools and tiered job descriptions to ensure consistent performance throughout the network.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Kristen Geissler, MS, PT, CPHQ, MBA, presents “Managing the Maze of Public Quality Report Cards.” Leapfrog Safety Grades, CMS Five-Star Quality Ratings, U.S. News and World Report, the Truven Top 100—there's a labyrinth of public quality report cards that detail process and outcomes measure performance for hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, and other providers. This session will unlock the mystery behind the measures, data sources, and common themes that drive these report cards. Participants will also learn how to interpret the various report cards and explore how CDI programs can leverage their data for physician/administrative buy-in and program expansion.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Nicole Fox, MD, MPH, CPE, presents “Playing Above the Line: Is Your Program Everything It Can Be?” All areas touching documentation need to work together to be fully functional. If you’re ready to move the needle on your CDI program but require tangible, widely applicable methods to do so, this session is for you. Topics covered will include physician engagement (beyond the basics—keeping physicians interested in the program), expanding to point-of-entry CDI, outpatient CDI (managing E/M, HCC, etc.), and widening the CDI umbrella to encompass physician advisors, utilization, and the denials process.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Melissa Varnavas joins with members of the ACDIS Local Chapter Advisory Board for a panel discussion on “Challenges for Mentoring and Leadership Transitions.” All those currently serving, or thinking about serving, in local chapter leadership volunteer positions will benefit from this session, as panelists discuss how to best mentor new volunteers and create effective systems for transitioning local networking groups to the next generation.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Nicole Cuellar, RN, BSN, CCDS, presents “Defending Pediatric Denials in an Adult Denial World.” Insurance denials affect every institution and defending against them is likely a familiar subject. However, denial defense can become more complicated in pediatric populations, as auditors often use adult clinical criteria to establish when a diagnosis is invalid. Participants will learn how to craft a successful rebuttal for a pediatric denial when presented with adult-focused criteria and take-home standard ways to defend against denials.


10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. : Breakout sessions

Track 1: Clinical & Coding
Beth Wolf, MD, CPC, CCDS, presents “Metastatic Cancer: Progression, Complications, and CDI Opportunities.” In this presentation, attendees will learn the science of metastasis as well as its clinical impact on organs distant from the primary site. Participants will explore the most common types of cancer and their metastatic preferences, as well as how to “read between the lines” and help oncologists fully capture severity and risk.

Track 2: Management & Professional Development
Brian Y. Cui, RHIA, CDIP, and Judy Cassetty, BSN, RN, CCDS, present “Speak Up! Taking the Leap to Share Your CDI Knowledge.” Participants will learn key tools for effective communication and presentation creation and how to apply public speaking skills to daily CDI efforts such as verbal queries, one-on-one interactions, physician education, and peer-to-peer presentations. During this session, attendees will learn the power of creative content and various methods for sharing their knowledge.

Track 3: Quality & Regulatory
Krystal Haynes, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, and Holly Saratella, MHA, CDIP, CCS, present “Maneuvering Through the Quality World and Its Impact on Coding and CDI.” In this session, attendees will look at how coding and CDI operations affect various CMS scoring measures. They’ll also learn how UCHealth in Colorado tackled mortality risk modeling processes, incorporated concurrent PSI and HAC reviews, and leveraged well-known industry scorecard data to drive improvements across its network of hospitals, clinics, and providers.

Track 4: Innovation & Expansion
Mel Tully, MSN, CCDS, CDIP, and Amy S. Leopard, JD, MS, present “AI Technology and Clinical Documentation: CDI Compliance at the Crossroads.” As clinical documentation advances across practices and integrates with the EHR and enabling computer assisted physician documentation and AI technologies, new compliance risks arise. In this session, attendees will identify ways in which accelerated EHR and other technologies increase documentation complexity and leave with tools to manage compliance safeguards.

Track 5: Idea Laboratory
Barinder K. Gill, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, presents “Improving Documentation in the Intensive Care Burn Unit.” Physicians should be specific in documenting certain parameters of burn patients. The degree, extent, location, and type of burn are vital to accurate documentation and coding. Participants will gain coding and documentation tips for this unique CDI challenge.

Track 6: Outpatient & Pediatric
Brian Murphy and members of the ACDIS Advisory Board present “State of the Industry.” This closing panel discussion will evaluate the present state of the CDI industry, including its strengths and limitations, and offer insight and strategies for its necessary evolution. Participants will receive a valuable recap of some of the recent position papers and white papers developed by the board to help CDI specialists align with the rapid changes transforming healthcare.


- Adjourn -


ACDIS Day 1 Keynote
Tuesday, May 21 | 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.


Natalie Stavas, MD"Running Toward Chaos”
Natalie Stavas, MD

On April 15, 2013, Dr. Natalie Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston marathon. Just blocks away she heard explosions, and she ran towards them. Arriving at the scene she went to work administering CPR, applying tourniquets, and triaging the wounded.

What led her to make that fateful decision to run into a terrorist attack? An expert on chaos, Natalie Stavas attacks every obstacle with the same attitude: "You run towards that which you fear, that which challenges you, that which is oppositional." Running toward chaos actually makes chaos more manageable. Attendees of the 2019 ACDIS national conference will learn these lessons first-hand, and how to apply them to their careers and their personal lives.

Following these actions President Barack Obama, Katie Couric, and Anderson Cooper honored Natalie for her role as a first responder. Improper Bostonian magazine named Dr. Stavas one of "Boston's Best" and The Boston Globe awarded her with "2013 Bostonian of the Year”—an honor bestowed upon those that shape the biggest story of the year in a remarkable way.

After the bombings Dr. Stavas increased her efforts in preventing childhood violence and improving the health of urban communities. She is a mentor for Sole Train- a non-profit organization guiding inner-city youth on a path towards their full potential through running. She is also the medical advisor for the Appalachian Mountain Club, helping improve the health of children by getting them outside.

Dr. Stavas' work goes beyond borders- traveling to Haiti throughout the year, she provides medical care to children and helps strengthen the fragile medical infrastructure. A documentary featuring this work as a medical pioneer premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest film festival.

Dr. Stavas has written for multiple outlets including the Huffington Post, the Center for Disease Control, Self Magazine and the Medical Bag. She has been featured in Runners World, The New York Times, LA Times, The Boston Globe, The New Yorker, Time and People Magazine. Described as a healer, educator, and community leader she received the 2012 Change Maker award from The Boston Foundation.

Dr. Natalie Stavas is currently a physician at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Trained and educated at Harvard University, Natalie's area of experience is in childhood trauma, decreasing youth violence and researching how we can better protect and serve high-risk children.

She is pursuing fellowship training in Child Protection pediatrics and obtaining a Masters in Health Science and Public Policy at The University of Pennsylvania. She was recently named the wellbeing/work-life integration specialist for the Department of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Keep an eye out for her upcoming book, Sole to Soul, about the transformative power that running has on high-risk youth, a simple solution to the complicated problem of childhood poverty and violence.


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