Lead Clinical Documentation Specialist, CDS

Ascension Executive Recruitment

Lead Clinical Documentation Specialist addressing urgent CDI issues and driving documentation integrity in healthcare. Collaborate across departments to support strategic initiatives and compliance.

Posted 4/30/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The Lead Clinical Document Specialist (CDS) – Rapid Response serves as a high-level clinical documentation integrity expert, deployed to address urgent, complex, or high-impact issues across the CDI program.
This role supports strategic initiatives, facilitates rapid-cycle audits, and investigates documentation and coding anomalies in real-time.
The Rapid Response Lead works collaboratively across departments to drive accurate documentation, coding integrity, and risk adjustment capture, while supporting training, compliance, and data-driven decision-making.
Serve as the primary resource for urgent CDI issues (e.g., payer denials, audits, DRG validation).
Address immediate system needs (e.g., high denial rates, quality issues, new coding rules).
Mentor front-line CDSs on complex cases, query framing, and escalation.
Analyze documentation and coding data for trends and improvement.
Lead and ensure compliance of strategic CDI initiatives across markets/systems.
Evaluate strategic results and recommend implementation pathways.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration: Required Credential(s): Clinical Documentation Prof. credentialed from the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
Education: High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience OR 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.
2 years of leadership or management experience preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Paid time off (PTO)
Various health insurance options & wellness plans
Retirement benefits including employer match plans
Long-term & short-term disability
Employee assistance programs (EAP)
Parental leave & adoption assistance
Tuition reimbursement

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

clinical documentation integritydocumentation auditscoding anomalies investigationdata analysisrisk adjustment capturequery framingcompliance evaluationstrategic initiative implementation

Soft Skills

collaborationmentoringleadershiptrainingdecision-making

Certifications

Clinical Documentation Prof. credential