HCPro, JustCoding Inpatient - 2019 Issue 8 (February)
Improving documentation and mortality reviews for better data, scores
February 19th, 2019
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Article Overview
This article is about clinical documentation improvement (CDI) and mortality review workflows used to strengthen the accuracy of hospital records, quality metrics, and publicly reported performance data. It discusses common mortality scoring approaches, how retrospective reviews fit into the coding and billing cycle, and how CDI teams can collaborate with coding, quality, HIM, physicians, and informatics staff to identify documentation gaps and support more reliable reporting. The piece is intended for CDI professionals, coding staff, quality teams, and others involved in hospital performance measurement.
Why This Topic Matters
Mortality data can influence quality rankings, public perception, and financial outcomes, so documentation accuracy has direct operational and reputational impact. The article helps readers understand why mortality review processes matter and how they support more complete records and more reliable scores.
Article Sections
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Mortality score methodology
This section introduces commonly used mortality scoring approaches and the factors that influence how they are calculated. It also explains how different methodologies relate to documentation and review workflows.
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Mortality reviews and publicly reported data
This section focuses on public reporting, external data comparisons, and how mortality-related information is viewed by patients and organizations. It also describes the role of CDI in reviewing data accuracy and supporting collaboration across departments.
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Implementing a successful mortality review process
This section outlines broad operational considerations for building or improving a mortality review program. It covers timing, teamwork, auditing, education, and coordination with related departments and systems.
What You Will Learn
- How mortality review processes support documentation improvement
- What broad mortality scoring methodologies are discussed
- Why publicly reported mortality data matters to hospitals and physicians
- How CDI teams can collaborate with coding, quality, HIM, and informatics staff
- What kinds of workflow and audit considerations are involved in mortality review programs
Who Should Read This
- Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) professionals
- Medical coders
- HIM professionals
- Quality improvement teams
- Hospital administrators
- Physicians and clinical leaders
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