CCDS-O certification is nearly complete!

ACDIS developed the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist-Outpatient (CCDS-O) to provide a trusted baseline of competency for CDI in the outpatient setting, which includes physician practices, hospital clinics, and the emergency department, among other settings. The certification is expected to launch in April 2019.
   
The goal of the CCDS-O program is to develop a mark of excellence for CDI professionals operating in outpatient settings, as well as provide employers with a baseline of competency for existing staff or potential hires. The certification program is also expected to spur the development of core competencies for outpatient CDI professionals and encourage the development and standardization of national best practices for outpatient CDI departments.

The exam is 140 questions covering five major content domains:

• Healthcare regulations, reimbursement, and documentation requirements related to the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting and provider coding and billing
• Diseases and disease processes, and application to the chart review
• Risk adjustment models and impact of documentation and coding
• CDI program concepts: Department metrics and provider education
• Quality, regulatory, and health initiatives