Case Study: Carle Foundation Hospital achieves 20% higher coding productivity and improved accuracy with Optum360 Enterprise CAC

Carle Foundation Hospital increases coding efficiency and accuracy with Optum Enterprise CAC

Carle Foundation Hospital, a 393-bed regional care hospital in Urbana, Illinois, faced major concerns about maintaining coding productivity and accuracy during the ICD‑10 transition. To address requirements for enterprise natural language processing, dual coding and seamless EMR integration, Carle selected Optum360 and its Optum Enterprise Computer‑Assisted Coding (CAC) platform, powered by the Optum LifeCode NLP engine.

Optum360 implemented Enterprise CAC along with physician and coder training, dual coding and ongoing performance monitoring; this resulted in inpatient coder productivity rising to 10% above ICD‑9 benchmarks within three months and 20% by six months, allowed Carle to reallocate two inpatient FTEs despite increased inpatient activity, and improved coding accuracy from about 93% to 95% within the transition period. Optum360’s continued coaching and monthly performance monitoring helped sustain these gains.

Carle Foundation Hospital

Tricia Truscott

Director