Measuring success: Creating outpatient CDI tracking tools

March 26th, 2019

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by HCPro. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article discusses outpatient clinical documentation improvement (CDI) tracking tools and the practical considerations involved in creating them. It covers how programs choose what to measure, build homegrown tracking workflows, gather supporting data from other departments, monitor results over time, and use reports to support leadership communication, physician education, and process improvement. The piece is geared toward outpatient CDI professionals, CDI leaders, and related revenue cycle staff who need to understand the scope of outpatient CDI measurement and reporting.

Why This Topic Matters

Outpatient CDI programs often need a clear way to demonstrate value, monitor productivity, and identify opportunities for education and workflow improvement. Understanding how tracking tools are structured helps organizations assess whether an outpatient CDI initiative is working and what data is needed to support ongoing investment.

Article Sections

  1. Choosing metrics to track

    This section explains the early planning stage for outpatient CDI measurement and the factors that influence what a program chooses to monitor. It discusses baseline data gathering and the role of related departments in supporting measurement.

  2. Developing a tool

    This section covers the process of building a tracking tool and adapting it to local program needs. It includes discussion of common tool formats, collaboration with other teams, and revising the tool after initial use.

  3. Monitoring and pulling reports

    This section describes how programs organize ongoing data collection and reporting. It addresses the operational challenges of compiling information, validating results, and reducing manual errors.

  4. Leveraging results

    This section focuses on how CDI teams use tracked results for broader program support. It includes leadership reporting, education planning, and process refinement based on collected data.

What You Will Learn

  • How outpatient CDI programs decide what performance information to monitor
  • How homegrown tracking tools are structured and refined
  • How reporting supports leadership communication and education efforts
  • How outpatient CDI teams use data to improve workflow and document program impact

Who Should Read This

  • Outpatient CDI professionals
  • CDI managers and directors
  • Revenue cycle and coding leaders
  • Ambulatory quality and analytics staff

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