There are several initiatives that are promoting the expansion of CDI (Clinical Documentation Improvement) into the outpatient settings. One of the key initiatives is the shift towards value-based care and alternative payment models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) and bundled payments. These models incentivize healthcare providers to improve the quality of care and reduce costs, which requires accurate and complete documentation of patient conditions and treatments. CDI can play a critical role in ensuring that outpatient documentation is accurate, complete, and supports the care provided.
Another initiative is the increasing focus on population health management, which involves managing the health of a defined patient population across the continuum of care, including in outpatient settings. CDI can help support population health management efforts by ensuring that documentation accurately reflects the health status of the patient population, which can be used to identify and address gaps in care and improve outcomes.
Finally, the widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) has made it easier to capture and analyze patient data in outpatient settings, providing opportunities for CDI to leverage technology to improve documentation and enhance the quality of care.