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Clinical Documentation Improvement Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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How much do clinical documentation improvement jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for clinical documentation improvement in the United States is $108,414.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,500.00 and $146,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is clinical documentation improvement?

Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) refers to the process of ensuring that healthcare records accurately and thoroughly reflect a patient’s diagnoses, treatments, and overall care. The goal of CDI is to improve the quality of clinical documentation so that it clearly supports the services provided, enhances patient care, and ensures compliance with regulations and reimbursement requirements. CDI professionals often work with physicians, nurses, and medical coders to clarify clinical information in the medical record. Effective CDI helps reduce errors, supports accurate coding, and can positively impact hospital revenue and patient outcomes.

How does a clinical documentation improvement specialist typically collaborate with physicians and other healthcare team members?

A Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) specialist works closely with physicians, nurses, and coding professionals to ensure that patient records accurately reflect the care provided. They frequently review medical charts, query physicians for clarification on documentation, and provide education on best practices for thorough and compliant record-keeping. Effective communication and relationship-building skills are essential, as CDI specialists often serve as a bridge between clinical and coding teams. This collaborative environment helps improve patient care quality, supports accurate coding, and ensures proper reimbursement for healthcare services.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a clinical documentation improvement specialist?

To thrive as a Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Specialist, you need a background in healthcare or nursing, strong knowledge of medical terminology, coding, and clinical documentation standards, often supported by credentials such as RN, RHIA, RHIT, or CCDS/CCDS-O certification. Familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs), clinical coding systems (like ICD-10-CM/PCS), and CDI software tools is essential. Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and clear communication are vital soft skills for effectively collaborating with providers and ensuring documentation accuracy. These skills are crucial for improving the quality and completeness of clinical documentation, optimizing reimbursement, and supporting patient care outcomes.

What is the difference between Clinical Documentation Improvement vs Medical Records Technician?

AspectClinical Documentation ImprovementMedical Records Technician
CertificationsCCDS, CCDS-O, RHITRHIT, RHIA
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, health systemsMedical record departments, healthcare facilities
Primary FocusEnhancing clinical documentation accuracy and completenessOrganizing, coding, and maintaining medical records
Industry UsageWidely used in clinical documentation and coding improvementCommon in health information management

Clinical Documentation Improvement specialists focus on improving the accuracy and completeness of clinical records to support quality care and billing, while Medical Records Technicians organize and maintain patient records. Both roles are essential in healthcare but serve different functions within health information management.

How to get into clinical documentation improvement?

To enter clinical documentation improvement, candidates typically need a background in healthcare, such as nursing, health information management, or medical coding, along with strong knowledge of medical terminology and coding systems like ICD-10. Gaining certification, such as Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS), can enhance job prospects, and experience with electronic health records (EHR) systems is often required. Developing strong communication and analytical skills is also important for success in this field.

What does a clinical documentation improvement specialist do?

A clinical documentation improvement specialist reviews and analyzes patient medical records to ensure accurate and complete clinical documentation. They collaborate with healthcare providers to improve documentation quality, which supports proper coding, billing, and quality reporting. The role often requires knowledge of medical terminology, coding systems, and healthcare regulations, and may involve using electronic health record (EHR) systems.
More about Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs

What cities are hiring for Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs?

Cities with the most Clinical Documentation Improvement job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs?

The most popular types of Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs are:

What states have the most Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs?

States with the most job openings for Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs include:

Infographic showing various Clinical Documentation Improvement job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,414 per year, or $52.1 per hour.

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, TX • On-site

$79K - $93K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Baylor College of Medicine rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 24 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

190th of 623 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
Division: Patient Business Services
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Location: Houston, TX
Salary Range: $79,092 to $93,049
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Summary
The Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Specialist - Professional Billing supports accurate, compliant professional fee billing through focused review and improvement of provider documentation. This role partners closely with physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), professional coders, and revenue cycle stakeholders to ensure documentation fully supports CPT, HCPCS, ICD 10 CM codes, modifier usage, and medical necessity.
The CDI Specialist serves as a documentation and coding subject matter expert, emphasizing education, collaboration, and prevention of downstream denials or compliance risk, rather than claim production volume.
Job Duties
Professional Documentation Review
  • Reviews outpatient, clinic, procedural, and surgical professional documentation to identify gaps impacting coding accuracy and compliance.
  • Ensures documentation supports E/M level selection, procedure complexity, modifier use, and payer medical necessity requirements.
  • Identifies documentation trends that may result in down coding, denials, or audit exposure.

Provider Query & Education
  • Initiates compliant provider queries to clarify diagnoses, procedures, clinical intent, and E/M components.
  • Provides case based and trend based education to physicians and APPs focused on professional documentation best practices.
  • Serves as a trusted advisor to providers regarding documentation requirements for professional billing.

Coding & Revenue Cycle Collaboration
  • Collaborates with professional coders to ensure documentation supports accurate CPT, HCPCS, ICD 10 CM, and modifier assignment prior to claim submission.
  • Partners with revenue integrity, denials, and compliance teams to resolve documentation related issues.
  • Supports initiatives to improve first pass yield and reduce rework and payer recoupments.

Audit, Compliance & Quality Improvement
  • Supports internal and external audits by validating documentation support for billed professional services.
  • Tracks and trends documentation issues, provider response rates, and improvement opportunities.
  • Participates in continuous improvement initiatives related to documentation standards and professional billing workflows.
  • Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
  • High School diploma or GED.
  • Four years of relevant experience.
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC) through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC); or Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in professional fee CDI, professional coding, auditing, or revenue integrity.
  • Clinical background (RN, LPN, MA, or allied health).
  • Experience in a multi specialty or academic practice plan.
  • Familiarity with payer policies, NCCI edits, and modifier driven denials.
  • CDI Certification.

Work Authorization Requirement:
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.
Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.
Requisition ID: 25809

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