Discover why a steering committee is a vital piece in your approach towards clinical documentation improvement.
What is a steering committee?
A steering committee is a group of people who meet regularly to oversee and support a project. As clinical documentation improvement (CDI) is a journey, not a one-time event, a steering committee is an essential component of a successful program.
In a CDI steering committee, members represent different interests and can assist the program by:
Your steering committee is your opportunity to bring people together from within your organisation who will positively advocate for CDI and drive change from within.
Who should be on your steering committee?
CDI steering committees are usually convened by a clinical documentation specialist (CDS), who is integral to implementing and developing your CDI program.
The committee can be made up of professionals from a variety of backgrounds. When you are forming your CDI steering committee, aim to choose people who can bring value to the program in a range of ways. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Executive team members
An Executive team member(s) on your steering committee will demonstrate that your CDI program has executive buy-in. If you are not able to have your Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO) on your steering committee, invite another senior member, such as your Director of Medical Services (DMS) or Director of Nursing (DON).
Inviting a member from your finance team is also recommended to report on and monitor the financial outcomes of your CDI program.
Clinician(s)
Clinicians have experience in working with different stakeholders, both internally and externally, but it is their internal perspective that is most valuable. Invite clinicians (e.g. physicians, surgeons, anaesthetists) who like to be involved in new initiatives and are influential in the hospital. Think of people who your colleagues look up to or have contributed to the success of other programs. These people can help you get program buy-in from others who may be resistant. For public hospitals, the inclusion of a Junior Medical Officer (JMO) can also be valuable to provide perspective from a junior/clinical trainee perspective.
Clinical Managers
Clinical managers have experience with working within committees and have a passion for quality outcomes and improving patient safety. Examples of clinical managers who would be beneficial to have on your steering committee include nurse unit managers, quality managers and/or clinical nurse educators.
Health Information Manager(s)
Having a health information manager (HIM) on your steering committee is an absolute must. The ongoing relationship between the CDS and health information team is critical to your CDI program’s success. HIMs are experts in documentation standards and casemix management and play a vital role in the development of any CDI program.
Clinical coder
If you have the right workforce, inviting a clinical coder on your steering committee could be helpful.
If resource is an issue, clinical coders can get involved in your CDI program after the initial set up, as your program matures. Importantly, your coder can help to clarify coding issues that others may not have insight into and provide feedback on clinicians that have not bought-in or do not show signs of improving the quality of their documentation.
Allied health professionals
As well as key clinicians, allied health professionals – such as physiotherapists or dietitians – can provide a valuable perspective. Allied health professionals can make a significant contribution to your CDI program from a safety and quality perspective – and they can help provide insight into documentation queries about accurate DRGs.
Don’t forget the patient advocate
A patient advocate is someone who sits on hospitals committees to make sure the patient's voice is being heard. Having a patient advocate on your steering committee can bring a true balance and demonstrate that you are committed to safety and quality, not just revenue.
If your patient advocate is involved in other meetings, they can share your CDI program’s goals and progress with others, too.
Choosing to have a patient advocate on your steering committee demonstrates that your hospital is committed to quality, communication, and safe patient care.
The final word
The goal of setting up a CDI steering committee is to capture a broad enough range of skills and perspectives so that every meeting is meaningful and that your CDI program continues to mature, ultimately improving the quality of communication and patient care.
Need help setting up your CDI steering committee or starting your CDI program? Contact us to learn more.
We invite you to share your ideas, experiences, and achievements in CDI by submitting content to the CDIA Community! Contact community@cdia.com.au to learn more.