CASE STUDY

Four Service Lines, One Accountable Partner: Building the Foundation Before Epic Goes Live

Client success story · Cross-sell expansion

One partner. Four service lines.

A health system rebuilt its documentation, coding, HIM and technology foundation while running an Epic and Workday transformation at the same time.

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An Upper Midwest health system CDI Coding & Audit HIM Health IT
49%CDI query opportunity rate
$91,432Potential CDI financial impact
90%Coding agreement rate
+16Net CC/MCC codes identified

Why it matters: most health systems put foundational work on hold when a major implementation lands. This one did not. It fixed documentation, coding, patient identity and security while standing up Epic and Workday, using one accountable partner instead of four.

The challenge

The system was preparing for enterprise change: Epic and Workday implementations plus a transition off Cerner.

At the same time, leaders needed to strengthen documentation integrity, coding quality, information governance, cybersecurity, infrastructure and execution capacity, all without losing momentum in daily operations.

The partnership

e4health brought together specialized leaders and delivery teams across four service lines. Each engagement addressed a defined need.

Collectively they created an integrated strategy: improve performance today while preparing the organization for tomorrow's technology ecosystem.

e4healthOne accountable partner
CDIClinical documentation
Coding & AuditCoding quality & DRGs
HIMHealth information
Health ITTechnology & security
The opportunity: connect operational improvement with enterprise transformation through one accountable partner.

The integrated solution

Four coordinated service lines, one transformation agenda.

CDI

Clinical documentation
  • Comprehensive CDI audit across query opportunity, compliance, provider response and documentation capture.
  • Targeted recommendations for education, query governance, and CDI and Coding reconciliation.
  • An actionable performance baseline to guide ongoing audit cadence.

Coding & Coding Audit

Mid-revenue cycle
  • Inpatient coding quality audit across diagnoses, procedures, DRGs, POA indicators and discharge disposition.
  • High-risk DRG identification and focused coder education, plus coding support to sustain daily operations.
  • A roadmap for repeat audits and trend monitoring toward a 95% accuracy target.

HIM

Health information
  • Interim HIM Director driving efficiencies across Health IT and mid-revenue cycle operations.
  • MPI assessment and eMPI remediation to support the transition from Cerner to Epic.
  • Digitization of ambulatory paper records so complete patient information lives in Epic or the archive.

Health IT

Technology & security
  • Virtual CISO leadership to strengthen governance and security during the Epic and Workday go-lives.
  • Networking resources to advance the infrastructure required to sustain new systems.
  • Project and program management across ERP and Epic initiatives, coordinating risks and dependencies.

Measured mid-revenue cycle impact

CDI audit

75records reviewed
37query opportunities
21capture opportunities
$91,432potential impact

95% timely initial reviews, 91% timely follow-up reviews, and no avoidable retrospective queries.

Inpatient coding audit

900code lines
40encounters
90%agreement rate
+16net CC/MCC codes

Focused opportunities in DRG accuracy, POA assignment, secondary diagnosis capture and coder education.

Why the cross-service model worked

  • Shared accountability. One partner connected documentation, coding, information management, security and program execution.
  • No stand-alone projects. e4health aligned people, processes, data and technology around a common agenda.
  • Findings that travel. Audit results fed coder education and query governance instead of sitting in a report.
  • Ready for Epic. Clean patient identity and digitized records meant the new platform started with trustworthy data.

The result

A stronger operational foundation, clearer performance priorities, and coordinated support through one of the organization's most consequential periods of change.

Facing a major implementation with foundational work still open?

e4health delivers CDI, coding and audit, HIM and Health IT through one accountable partner, so improvement and transformation move together instead of competing.

Topics: CDI · Coding & Audit · HIM · Health IT · Epic Transition · eMPI