Clinical Documentation Improvement Jobs for OPT Students
Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with health information management, nursing, or coding backgrounds. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions under CIP codes tied to health informatics. Employers in hospital systems and revenue cycle management firms regularly sponsor H-1B visas for CDI specialists.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Please review the following instructions prior to submitting your job application:
Provide all of your employment history, education, and licenses/certifications/registrations. You will be unable to modify your application after you have submitted it.
You must meet all of the job requirements at the time of submitting the application.
You can only apply one time to a job requisition.
Once you start the application process you cannot save your work. Please ensure you have all required attachment(s) available to complete your application before you begin the process.
* Applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment. Once recruitment has closed, applications will no longer be accepted.
After you apply, we will review your qualifications and contact you if your application is among the most highly qualified. Due to the large volume of applications, we are unable to individually respond to all applicants. You may check the status of your application via your Candidate Profile.
Thank you,
Human Resources
LOCATION
Location/s:
Jackson Medical Mall
JOB TITLE
Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
JOB SUMMARY
Supports and reviews the inpatient medical record in order to facilitate improvement in overall quality, completeness, clinical severity, and accuracy of inpatient clinical documentation for DRG based or APR based payor population for specific departments or areas. Obtains and promotes appropriate clinical documentation through extensive interaction with physicians and other members of the healthcare team.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Education and Experience Required:
Three (3) years of clinical nursing experience in Acute Care, Utilization Review, Case Management, and/or Quality Management.
Certifications, Licenses, or Registration required:
Valid RN license, CCDS (Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Three (3) years of related hospital-based clinical documentation experience
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-based clinical guidelines across diverse conditions and age groups, as well as resource and utilization management, cost, and quality issues. Skilled in the use of personal computers and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) and other related software applications. Able to manage multiple priorities under time constraints, analyze problems, and make sound decisions. Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal abilities to collaborate effectively across departments and business units, fostering a team-oriented environment. Healthcare revenue cycle experience is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Highly skilled authority regarding accuracy of reviewing inpatient charts within 24-48 hours of admission to ensure accuracy and completeness and identifies documentation opportunities that reflect severity of illness, acuity, and resource consumption. Assigns a working DRG based on principal diagnosis and procedure. Identifies comorbidities and complications. Accurately identifies present on admission diagnoses. Identifies quality issues and reports to the responsible party. Has advanced decision-making capabilities with a high developed degree of accuracy.
- Reviews and enters information in both epic and 3m 360 as required. Has advanced abilities in using these software systems.
- Highly skilled authority regarding accuracy of reviewing inpatient charts every 24-48 hours as a follow up. Identifies documentation that reflects the severity, acuity, quality issues and resource consumption and updates his/her findings in 3m 360 software. Accomplished in quality and production.
- Skillfully communicates with physicians and other patient care providers, both verbally and written in a clear and concise way, regarding documentation opportunities for improvement. Assists in development and presentation of educational materials regarding documentation for both cdi staff and/or providers and other members of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrates competent and effective assessment skills to identify clinical indicators for diagnoses. Integrates new or current techniques (of procedures or surgery, cdi issues, opportunities for documentation improvement) to obtain information as it relates to the planning, implementing, and evaluating of patient care documentation.
- Serves as subject matter expert and actively participates in the cdi department as a problem solver. Trends issues with denials for team education. Expertise in query development, guidelines, and standards.
- Serves as a cdi department liaison for providers and administrative meetings.
- Serves as a database manager for cdi tracking tools, including DRG validation and reconciliation for accurate and timely reporting of cdi generated reimbursement, case index and production improvement. Gathers and analyzes information pertinent to documentation findings and outcomes.
- Serves on internal institutional committees as requested by management.
- Must maintain a current ACDIS certification status. Participates in cdi-related continuing education activities to maintain certifications and licensures.
- Ability to formulate a more complex query in order to obtain clarifications of conflicting, ambiguous, or non-specific documentation, by verbal or written compliant queries. Ability to determine when it is appropriate to escalate an issue to senior team member, provider, or administrator.
- Has a highly developed understanding of what constitutes a risk management and/or quality program reporting (patient safety indicators-psi/hospital-acquired conditions-hac or mortality) cases. Aids other team members in identification and proper classification of complication codes, patient safety indicators/hospital-acquired conditions by acting as an intermediary between him/coding staff and medical staff.
- Expert understanding of what constitutes a risk management and/or quality program (PSI/HAC) case, and discusses with management, as appropriate.
- Works independently but collaborates appropriately with cdi management and him/coding management to review individual problematic cases and/or educational needs, as needed.
- Conducts independent research to promote knowledge of clinical topics, coding guidelines, regulatory policies and trends, and healthcare economics.
- The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
Requires no exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, no handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, occasional working hours beyond regularly scheduled hours, occasional travelling to offsite locations, frequent activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, constant work produced is subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, occasional bending, occasional lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds, occasional lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds, no lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds, no lifting/carrying up to 75 pounds, no lifting/carrying up to 100 pounds, no lifting/carrying 100 pounds or more, occasional climbing, no crawling, occasional crouching/stooping, occasional driving, no kneeling, occasional pushing/pulling, frequent reaching, frequent sitting, frequent standing, occasional twisting, and frequent walking (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more).
TIME TYPE
Full time
FLSA DESIGNATION/JOB EXEMPT
No
PAY CLASS
Hourly
FTE %
100
WORK SHIFT
Day
BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY
Grant Funded:
No
JOB POSTING DATE
03/18/2026
JOB CLOSING DATE
(open until filled if no date specified)
INTRODUCTION
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Please review the following instructions prior to submitting your job application:
Provide all of your employment history, education, and licenses/certifications/registrations. You will be unable to modify your application after you have submitted it.
You must meet all of the job requirements at the time of submitting the application.
You can only apply one time to a job requisition.
Once you start the application process you cannot save your work. Please ensure you have all required attachment(s) available to complete your application before you begin the process.
* Applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment. Once recruitment has closed, applications will no longer be accepted.
After you apply, we will review your qualifications and contact you if your application is among the most highly qualified. Due to the large volume of applications, we are unable to individually respond to all applicants. You may check the status of your application via your Candidate Profile.
Thank you,
Human Resources
LOCATION
Location/s:
Jackson Medical Mall
JOB TITLE
Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
JOB SUMMARY
Supports and reviews the inpatient medical record in order to facilitate improvement in overall quality, completeness, clinical severity, and accuracy of inpatient clinical documentation for DRG based or APR based payor population for specific departments or areas. Obtains and promotes appropriate clinical documentation through extensive interaction with physicians and other members of the healthcare team.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Education and Experience Required:
Three (3) years of clinical nursing experience in Acute Care, Utilization Review, Case Management, and/or Quality Management.
Certifications, Licenses, or Registration required:
Valid RN license, CCDS (Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Three (3) years of related hospital-based clinical documentation experience
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-based clinical guidelines across diverse conditions and age groups, as well as resource and utilization management, cost, and quality issues. Skilled in the use of personal computers and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) and other related software applications. Able to manage multiple priorities under time constraints, analyze problems, and make sound decisions. Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal abilities to collaborate effectively across departments and business units, fostering a team-oriented environment. Healthcare revenue cycle experience is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Highly skilled authority regarding accuracy of reviewing inpatient charts within 24-48 hours of admission to ensure accuracy and completeness and identifies documentation opportunities that reflect severity of illness, acuity, and resource consumption. Assigns a working DRG based on principal diagnosis and procedure. Identifies comorbidities and complications. Accurately identifies present on admission diagnoses. Identifies quality issues and reports to the responsible party. Has advanced decision-making capabilities with a high developed degree of accuracy.
- Reviews and enters information in both epic and 3m 360 as required. Has advanced abilities in using these software systems.
- Highly skilled authority regarding accuracy of reviewing inpatient charts every 24-48 hours as a follow up. Identifies documentation that reflects the severity, acuity, quality issues and resource consumption and updates his/her findings in 3m 360 software. Accomplished in quality and production.
- Skillfully communicates with physicians and other patient care providers, both verbally and written in a clear and concise way, regarding documentation opportunities for improvement. Assists in development and presentation of educational materials regarding documentation for both cdi staff and/or providers and other members of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrates competent and effective assessment skills to identify clinical indicators for diagnoses. Integrates new or current techniques (of procedures or surgery, cdi issues, opportunities for documentation improvement) to obtain information as it relates to the planning, implementing, and evaluating of patient care documentation.
- Serves as subject matter expert and actively participates in the cdi department as a problem solver. Trends issues with denials for team education. Expertise in query development, guidelines, and standards.
- Serves as a cdi department liaison for providers and administrative meetings.
- Serves as a database manager for cdi tracking tools, including DRG validation and reconciliation for accurate and timely reporting of cdi generated reimbursement, case index and production improvement. Gathers and analyzes information pertinent to documentation findings and outcomes.
- Serves on internal institutional committees as requested by management.
- Must maintain a current ACDIS certification status. Participates in cdi-related continuing education activities to maintain certifications and licensures.
- Ability to formulate a more complex query in order to obtain clarifications of conflicting, ambiguous, or non-specific documentation, by verbal or written compliant queries. Ability to determine when it is appropriate to escalate an issue to senior team member, provider, or administrator.
- Has a highly developed understanding of what constitutes a risk management and/or quality program reporting (patient safety indicators-psi/hospital-acquired conditions-hac or mortality) cases. Aids other team members in identification and proper classification of complication codes, patient safety indicators/hospital-acquired conditions by acting as an intermediary between him/coding staff and medical staff.
- Expert understanding of what constitutes a risk management and/or quality program (PSI/HAC) case, and discusses with management, as appropriate.
- Works independently but collaborates appropriately with cdi management and him/coding management to review individual problematic cases and/or educational needs, as needed.
- Conducts independent research to promote knowledge of clinical topics, coding guidelines, regulatory policies and trends, and healthcare economics.
- The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
Requires no exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, no handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, occasional working hours beyond regularly scheduled hours, occasional travelling to offsite locations, frequent activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, constant work produced is subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, occasional bending, occasional lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds, occasional lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds, no lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds, no lifting/carrying up to 75 pounds, no lifting/carrying up to 100 pounds, no lifting/carrying 100 pounds or more, occasional climbing, no crawling, occasional crouching/stooping, occasional driving, no kneeling, occasional pushing/pulling, frequent reaching, frequent sitting, frequent standing, occasional twisting, and frequent walking (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more).
TIME TYPE
Full time
FLSA DESIGNATION/JOB EXEMPT
No
PAY CLASS
Hourly
FTE %
100
WORK SHIFT
Day
BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY
Grant Funded:
No
JOB POSTING DATE
03/18/2026
JOB CLOSING DATE
(open until filled if no date specified)
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Clinical Documentation Improvement
Target hospital systems and large health networks
Large academic medical centers and integrated health systems like Kaiser Permanente and HCA Healthcare have established immigration programs. They hire CDI specialists regularly and are far more likely to have the HR infrastructure to sponsor work visas than smaller clinics.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Health informatics, health information management, and clinical informatics degrees typically qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before applying, since this extension nearly triples your authorized work period.
Highlight clinical coding credentials in your application
AHIMA credentials like RHIA, RHIT, or CCS signal specialized competency to employers. CDI-specific certifications from ACDIS also strengthen your profile. Credentialed candidates face less employer hesitation around sponsorship because the specialized skill set justifies the investment.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Many CDI roles require onboarding compliance checks and credentialing that take weeks. Starting your search three to four months before OPT authorization begins gives employers enough runway to process paperwork without feeling pressured by your timeline.
Focus your search on revenue cycle and health IT firms
Companies like Ciox Health, Optum, and Nuance Communications hire CDI specialists at scale and have consistent H-1B sponsorship histories. Revenue cycle outsourcing firms often sponsor because qualified CDI candidates with clinical backgrounds are genuinely hard to find.
Be direct about your OPT status and remaining authorized period
CDI hiring managers often lack immigration experience. Briefly explaining that OPT provides immediate work authorization, and that a STEM extension may apply, removes ambiguity early. Employers who understand the timeline are significantly more likely to move forward.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Documentation Improvement jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
They can, depending on your degree. CDI roles are not inherently STEM-designated, but if your degree is in health informatics, health information management, or clinical informatics, your CIP code may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Confirm with your DSO before applying, since this varies by program and institution.
Can I work as a CDI specialist on OPT without prior clinical experience?
Some employers accept candidates with strong health information management or coding coursework, but most CDI roles expect at least a foundational understanding of ICD-10-CM/PCS coding and clinical documentation standards. Entry-level CDI positions at larger health systems are more structured for new graduates than roles at smaller facilities, which typically expect hands-on experience.
How do I find CDI employers who are open to OPT sponsorship?
Browse CDI roles on Migrate Mate, which filters for employers actively open to sponsoring F-1 OPT students. Large hospital systems, revenue cycle management firms, and health IT companies are the most consistent sponsors. Searching by employer type rather than job title alone helps you avoid wasting time on roles where sponsorship is not realistic.
What work authorization documents do I need to start a CDI job on OPT?
You need your EAD card showing valid work authorization dates, your valid F-1 visa, your I-20 with your DSO's OPT authorization signature, and your passport. Some hospital employers also require I-9 completion before your first day, so have all documents ready before your start date. Do not begin work before your EAD start date.
Is Clinical Documentation Improvement a realistic path to H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, for candidates with the right credentials. CDI specialists with RHIA, RHIT, or CDIP certifications are in genuine demand, and large health systems have dedicated immigration counsel. The specialty occupation argument for CDI typically rests on the requirement for a degree in health information management or a directly related clinical field, which makes H-1B petitions defensible.
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