2026 Goals for CDI and Physician Advisor Collaboration 

As the calendar turns to 2026, Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) remains a critical lever for hospitals and health systems seeking to balance compliance, financial integrity, and high-quality patient care. At Brundage Group, our resolution is clear: to deliver accurate, compliant, and actionable documentation that drives measurable outcomes while supporting clinicians and teams across the organization. 

Balancing Accuracy with Ethics 

Ethical CDI is the foundation of effective documentation. This means issuing queries not only when documentation increases reimbursement but also when may result in lower reimbursement. By maintaining this balance, hospitals safeguard both compliance and integrity, ensuring that documentation accurately reflects hospital resources and patient acuity rather than revenue alone. 

Leveraging Expert Physician Advisor Support 

2026 brings greater complexity in payer requirements and utilization management. External Physician Advisor support has never been more critical. Partnering with an experienced team provides hospitals with national expertise, real-time coverage, and consistent guidance, strengthening internal CDI, and Utilization Management (UM) teams while protecting revenue. 

Harnessing Technology Without Sacrificing Accuracy 

Automation and real-time workflows help streamline CDI, but technology cannot replace clinical judgment. Our approach combines innovative technology with expert review, ensuring queries are appropriate, documentation is compliant, coding is precise and aligned to support accurate DRG assignments, and workflow efficiency is optimized. 

Looking Ahead 

This year, hospitals that prioritize an ethical, accurate, and comprehensive CDI approach will be best positioned to navigate complex reimbursement challenges, reduce denials, and support clinicians effectively. Brundage Group is committed to partnering with organizations to deliver CDI solutions that are compliant, actionable, and that integrated seamlessly with existing revenue cycle workflows, driving measurable impact in 2026 and beyond.