A Rebel with a Cause: Jenna Prisciandaro on Nursing, Leadership, and CDI

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When you more than double your CDI staff AND turn around a culture of skeptical physicians, you’ve made an impact. That kind of transformation takes a leader who blends curiosity, initiative, and fearlessness. 

That describes my guest today, who has always been fearless about trying new things. Jenna Prisciandaro is the Manager of Quality Documentation and Inpatient Coding for Fort Myers, Florida based Lee Health. She’s relatively new on the CDI scene, at least to me, but has already made a big impact on her organization.  

Listen in as we discuss all of this, and Billy Strings: 

• Her incredible (and at first, reluctant) healthcare origin story from teacher to nurse, a fateful ride with her grandmother, and what it says about Jenna the person and her leadership style 

• Wearing two hats as Manager of Quality Documentation (CDI) and Inpatient Coding—her biggest challenge managing two departments historically at odds, while balancing quality outcomes, productivity, and revenue demands 

• Organizational/department KPIs, and the challenges of a caseload that includes huge numbers of snowbirds to the Fort Meyers area. 

• Rapid rise into the leadership ranks, and her role in the rapid growth of a CDI department that went from 12 to 31 staff. 

• Winning over skeptical providers, including one who welcomed her as the “unnecessary hair I have to pluck.” Turning things around with a dedicated provider education team, patience, and CME offerings. 

• Current initiatives and future roadmap 

• Jenna’s love of live music which includes following bands around the country, and a great OTR Spotify playlist selection