Clinical Documentation Educator

• Works with program leadership to plan, develop, and implement clinical documentation education programs and onboarding for Clinical Documentation Specialists and patient care teams.
• Takes lead role in provider education opportunities, including resident and new provider orientation.
• Facilitates and develops regular individual and large group educational sessions for all Clinical Documentation Specialists and/or providers.
• Works closely with Health Information Management (HIM), Clinical Documentation Specialists, and the Quality Improvement Program (QuIP) to successfully identify, review and develop education patient safety indicators, hospital acquired conditions and other quality driven measures.
• Conducts second level CDI reviews of clinical documentation to ensure points of clarification have been recorded in the patient’s chart and captured accurately in coding.
• Super-user level responsibility for vendor and software applications utilized by CDI, QuIP, and HIM.
• Leads CDI orientation committee; meets regularly to review process for quarterly updates to the program that ensure continued high-quality engaged onboarding of new Clinical Documentation Specialists.
• Leads CDI onboarding program to ensure efficient and complete education and development of Clinical Documentation Specialists.
• Plays a key role with implementation of training for nursing staff, physicians and mid-level practitioners that addresses documentation issues and variances related to quality metrics and measures.
• Teaches and mentors other Clinical Department Specialists on clinical documentation improvement principles and concepts, serving as a resource person to key stakeholders across the organization
• Provides actionable quality driven feedback for leadership and CDI Specialists, that allows consistent accountability in regard to high performance and high engagement culture, by articulating expectations, monitoring performance and providing feedback consistency across areas of responsibility.
• Contact

• A Baccalaureate degree in Nursing or Master's degree in Nursing or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• License to practice nursing in Iowa
• A minimum of two (2) years of recent work experience as a Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist with at least five (5) years of med/surg clinical (or CDI) experience at an academic medical center.
• Advanced clinical expertise and extensive knowledge of complex disease processes with a broad clinical experience in an inpatient setting required.
• A broad knowledge of the disease process, normal/abnormal findings, and reasonable course of treatment, quality measures, and risk management issues is essential.
• Healthcare education experience with a strong understanding of the requirements for clinical coding and billing according to the rules of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of CDI related quality measures, including AHRQ measures and AHIMA query practice guidelines. knowledge of coding structures/national coding guidelines and related appropriate chart documentation
• Demonstrated competency in teaching/learning process, organizational skills and computer literacy required, including proficiency with computer software applications utilized within the CDI programs (i.e. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, 3M 360)
• Excellent professional demeanor and communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with physicians, nursing staff, and interdisciplinary team members as demonstrated through written and verbal communication, including presentation and training skills
• Excellent organizational, time management and problem-solving skills
• Currently holds Clinical Documentation certification OR obtains certification within one (1) year, i.e.:

• Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS), or
• Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)
• Electronic Medical Records experience (EPIC preferred).
• Experience with performance improvement methodologies
• Experience with data mining and/or data analytics

• Demonstrated knowledge of healthcare outcomes and performance improvement initiatives/techniques.
• Experience with hospital quality/safety metrics.
• Holds a quality related certification
• Holds coding certification (CCS, RHIT) or additional outpatient CDI certification (CCDS-O)

• Applicants must upload a current resume and a cover letter that clearly addresses how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
• Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check.
• Professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
• This position is not eligible for University of Iowa sponsorship for employment authorization.
• For questions, contact Heidi Bodensteiner at

• Classification Title: Qual & Op Improv Engineer
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: Hybrid within Iowa

• Pay Level: 5A

• Organization: Healthcare
• Contact Name: Heidi Bodensteiner
• Contact Email: heidi-bodensteiner@uiowa.edu

University of Iowa