CDI Essentials: Understanding the Fundamentals provides the detailed foundational training needed for an effective CDI function. Written by nationally-recognized documentation authorities, Dr. Richard Pinson, FACP, CCS, CDIP, and Cynthia Tang, RHIA, CCS, this online, on-demand course provides what you need to know to ensure complete and thorough documentation to support accurate and defensible coding and reimbursement.
CDI Essentials: Understanding the Fundamentals
Dr. Richard Pinson, FACP, CCS, CDIP and Cynthia Tang, RHIA, CCS
$99.00
CEUs: 1 1 AHIMA 1 AAPC
Included in eLearning Library. Price per person. Group rates available.Overview
Codes change yearly! We take seriously our obligation to provide you with accurate and up-to-date instruction. This course is updated for FY 2026.
CDI Essentials: Understanding the Fundamentals provides the detailed foundational training needed for an effective CDI function. Written by nationally-recognized documentation authorities, Dr. Richard Pinson, FACP, CCS, CDIP, and Cynthia Tang, RHIA, CCS, this online, on-demand course provides what you need to know to ensure complete and thorough documentation to support accurate and defensible coding and reimbursement.
CDI Essentials: Understanding the Fundamentals provides the learner with detailed guidance on:
- Defining the CDI function and team roles
- Coding DRG Fundamentals every CDI should know including DRGs, Med/Surg DRGs, APR-DRGs, MDCs, CC/MCCs, and Case Mix Index
- Coding Rules and Guidelines that are essential to the CDI function including principal and secondary diagnoses, unspecified codes, related conditions, POA, and identifying what “counts” in medical documentation
- Essential Strategies for CDI Success including accurate payments, SOI, compliance, coding process, and preventing denials
CDI Essentials: Understanding the Fundamentals
The CDI Function and Team Roles
- CDI Specialist
- Inpatient coder
- Provider
- Physician Advisor
- Leadership
Coding DRG Fundamentals
- What is coding
- Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs)
- Major Diagnostic Categories (MDCs)
- CC/MCCs
- Medical and Surgical DRGs
- Case Mix Index
- All Patient Refined DRGs (APR-DRGs)
Coding Rules and Guidelines
- Coding Rules and Guidelines Overview
- Principal Diagnosis Coding Guidelines
- Secondary Diagnosis Coding Guidelines
- Other Guidelines
- Unspecified Codes
- Related Conditions
- Present of Admission
- Medical Record Documentation: What Counts?
Essential Strategies for CDI Success
- Ensure Accurate Payment
- Reflect the Severity of Illness of the Patient Population
- Minimize Compliance Risks
- Reduce Coding Turnaround and queries to Physicians after Discharge
- Prevent Payer Auditor Denials
The level of effort to complete this course, start to finish, is equivalent to 1 CEU and should take you approximately 1-3 hours to complete. Remember: You have access to the course materials for the full 4-week enrollment period and we encourage you to re-review any materials that are helpful to you.
Certificate of Completion
Upon successful completion of the course work, student will be able to download a Libman Education Certificate of Completion. The Certificate of Completion will list the course as awarding 1 CEU.
AHIMA: 1 CEU
This course has been approved for continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Granting of Approved CEUs from AHIMA does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.
AAPC: 1 CEU
This course has the prior approval of AAPC for continuing education hours. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.
- WebinarPlus™ multimedia and interactive online training format promotes engagement with challenging materials while offering independent self-study.
- Downloadable and printable “Course Highlights” saves time! This active learning tool assists with mastery of the course content.
- Teaching methods including audio and video files, diagrams, and animations to accommodate different learning styles. Where appropriate, the Merck Manual Professional Version supplements course materials with in-depth descriptions of diagnoses and/or procedures.
- Knowledge checks and/or final assessment ensure mastery of material.
- Online Flexibility! Materials available via secure Learning Management System (LMS). Work at your own pace — save time and travel costs.
- Earn Libman Education Certificate of Completion and CEUs.
- To receive CEU credit, students must achieve a passing rate on the course assessment(s).
- Course is self-paced. For planning purposes, assume 1-3 hours required for each CEU.
- Unlimited course access during enrollment period. For courses offering greater than one CEU, enrollment period is 16 weeks. For courses offering one or fewer CEUs, enrollment period is 4 weeks. Courses purchased as a bundle or package may have a longer enrollment period.
- Extensions to the enrollment period are available.
- Price listed is per person/per course. Group rates available upon request.
Dr. Richard Pinson, MD, FACP, CCS
Dr. Richard Pinson is a physician, educator, administrator, and healthcare consultant. He practiced Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine in Tennessee for over 20 years having board certification in both. Dr. Pinson is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and former Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Vanderbilt, and has assisted hospitals as a physician consultant for the past ten years.
His personal understanding of the mindset of both doctors and managers allows him a unique vantage point from which to promote cooperation between physicians, hospital staff, and administrators toward achieving beneficial and practical changes.
Cynthia Tang, RHIA, CCS
Cynthia brings over 30 years of experience in health information management, coding and clinical documentation, and clinical resource management. For the past twenty years she has traveled to hospitals throughout the country to assess their processes for managing health information and clinical documentation and to provide her much-sought after expertise in redesigning operations to promote better patient care and hospital financial health.
Her focus is on workflow design and improving clinical documentation with a view to optimizing reimbursement, ensuring compliance, and improving quality and pay for performance measures.
Dr. Richard Pinson and Cynthia Tang were honored to receive the AHIMA Triumph Award in the Influencer Category for their work on the CDI Pocket Guide®.
“I’m pleasantly surprised at your response … really didn’t think I would receive anything at all, so, thank you! I believe that alone says a lot for Libman Education. I would recommend you to other coding professionals.” — Jennifer Jones, CPC
“Thank you! Your company provides outstanding service and we appreciate it!” — Jim Herren, RHIA, CCS, Parkland Health & Hospital System
“LOVEEE Libman! Very happy with the classes I’ve taken.” — Linda C.
“I love the courses at Libman Education.” — Joanne S., CCS
“Any of Libman Education’s courses are worth time and cost. Always walk away with a useable, clarity or reinforcement of subject matter.”
“I greatly appreciate this support and outstanding customer service!” — former student
“Thanks again – you really make this easy and I appreciate how accommodating and understanding you are to meet our needs.” — Winnona V., MHA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P
“Thank you for all your help. Your team has always been open and dependable for clear advice and guidance. … [Y]our group has always shown they care about the student.” – former student
Required Resources:
- ICD-10-CM Code Book – 2026 or students may elect to use electronic files
Recommended Resources:
- CDI Pocket Guide® by Pinson & Tang
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text Revision DSM-5-TR™
- Medical dictionary
- Anatomy and physiology reference
- Merck Manual
Train your entire team and Save Big! Discount automatically applied at checkout.
| How Many In Your Group? | Group Discount % |
|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Price |
| 2-4 | 5% Discount |
| 5-20 | 10% Discount |
| 21+ | Contact Us for Your Custom Price Quote |
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