Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The Service Area Director, Clinical Documentation Integrity, is responsible for directing the activities of the CDI department and ensuring the quality of clinical documentation across multiple hospitals. This high-impact leadership role involves collaboration with healthcare providers and hospital executives to enhance documentation practices and improve health outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Lead CDI operations across multiple hospital systems (PA, MA, NY)
- Manage ~15+ FTEs, including direct and indirect reports
- Drive performance through KPIs, analytics, and reporting
- Partner with hospital leadership (CMO, CFO, physicians) to improve documentation quality
- Lead client-facing discussions, presentations, and escalations
- Develop and execute CDI education initiatives for providers and staff
- Oversee staffing, workflows, compliance, and program outcomes
- Operations, business, financial, and human resource needs of the CDI department
- Plan daily operations of the department in conjunction with the AVP of CDI and participate in development of objectives to meet KPI's
- Direct and maintains adequate staffing and workflow to meet CDI needs
- Monitor various reports and productivity to ensure that production standards and objectives are met in areas of responsibility
- Lead the CDI program as demonstrated by assuming accountability for the ongoing success of the Clinical Documentation Program. Monitors CDI program and communicates with appropriate facility leadership regarding CDI key performance indicators (KPIs), and identifies and implements process changes to maintain and improve KPIs
- Engage and consult with Physician Advisor and/or CMO to resolve provider issues regarding answering clarifications and participation in the clinical documentation improvement process
- Serves as a resource to Physicians / Case Managers and other key professional staff in matters relating to clinical documentation improvement & ICD-10
- Works with medical records, quality, finance, and physician groups to develop systems to facilitate complete documentation for data reporting purposes
- Develops and monitors strategic operating goals, objectives and budget; and reports operational performance, justification and/or corrective action
- Develops and manages direct reports; and oversees the development and management of indirect reports
- Builds and maintains productive inter/intra departmental and vendor work relationships to optimize operations
- Oversees compliance with government and agency regulations Performs related duties, as required
- Provide ongoing Clinical Documentation Improvement education for providers & new staff and new initiatives or identified areas of knowledge deficit. Track and trend program compliance to determine areas of focus for educational opportunities
- This position will require frequent interaction with hospital leadership, clinical teams, Quality, Care Coordination, and other departments across multiple facilities and multiple client accounts
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, manage cross-functional teams, and drive strategic initiatives
- Design and implement education programs which provide education for CDI staff
- Develop and conduct ongoing CDI education for new staff
- Participate in ongoing education of staff
- Communicate information effectively
- Monthly reporting of CDI program progress/operations to hospital leadership
- Responding to questions, concerns and requests promptly
- Serving as a resource regarding policies/procedures/practices
- Identify areas of improvement/education through data collection, analysis, and reports. Participate on committees and conduct studies as necessary to demonstrate improvement in clinical documentation processes
- Interview, hire, provide leadership, counseling, training for employees in areas of responsibility
- Ensure new employees are oriented and trained in all job functions
- Perform counseling both verbal and written for employees requiring additional assistance as evidenced by communication in the personnel file
- Provide consultation to providers and other clinical professionals, and leads implementation of changes that result in improvements in the patient care team's ability to provide appropriate and timely treatment, communication regarding the patient's condition, patient's response to treatment, severity of illness, risk of mortality and treatment complexity
Skills
- RN, MD/D FMG
- CCDS or CDIP
- 4+ years CDI experience (acute inpatient)
- 2+ years leadership experience (team + program oversight)
- Advanced analytics and reporting experience (Excel, dashboards)
- Able to travel 30-40% to support multiple hospitals & client sites
- CCS certification
- Director-level CDI experience
- Experience in multi-client / multi-hospital environments
- Solid analytics & KPI ownership experience
- All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy
Benefits
- A comprehensive benefits package
- Incentive and recognition programs
- Equity stock purchase
- 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements)
- Flexibility to work remotely from anywhere within the U.S.
- W2 option
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