Beyond Altered Mental Status: Encephalopathy and Delirium - Clinical Foundations and Documentation Essentials

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Beyond Altered Mental Status: Encephalopathy and Delirium - Clinical Foundations and Documentation Essentials

Confusion isn’t a diagnosis, and in CDI, the difference matters. In this Clinical Insight Series session, learners explore how to apply clinical reasoning to interpret mental status changes, distinguish delirium from encephalopathy, and identify when documentation does or does not support a specific diagnosis. With practical scenarios and real-world applications, CDI professionals build confidence in capturing the full story behind acute brain dysfunction.

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Clarity that builds confidence.

Meet your Educators

Courses developed by subject matter experts in CDI

Kelly Sutton

MHL, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS

Nicole Rodriguez

MSN, BSN, RN, CCDS

Debbie Breton

BSN, RN, CCDS

Focused Learning. Real CDI Results.

Targeted, high‑impact education on diagnoses, processes, and best practices

Actionable CDI
and clinical insights

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CEUs

This program has been approved by the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) for one (1) continuing education unit(s) towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist certification, offered as a service of ACDIS. Granting of approved CEUs from ACDIS does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.

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We are a leading academy providing specialized training in revenue cycle management to empower healthcare professionals with practical, industry-focused education.

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Kelly Sutton

MHL, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS

With over 30 years of diverse experience in healthcare, Kelly Sutton brings a strong clinical foundation and a proven leadership track record to every role she undertakes. Her career began in direct patient care, including Home Health, Hospice, and 13 years in Emergency Medicine. Over time, she transitioned into leadership roles in Employee Occupational Health and Workers’ Compensation, Stroke Program Coordination, and Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI).

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s in Health Leadership, which have supported her evolution into strategic and educational roles within CDI. Her CDI journey began in 2015 at a 170+ bed facility in Sebring, Florida. In 2019, she was promoted to Divisional CDI Educator, where she led onboarding and education for over 40 CDI professionals and multiple physician groups across 11 facilities. By 2021, she advanced to the role of CDI System Educator and Implementation Specialist, supporting standardized education and software implementation across more than 45 facilities. In 2024, Kelly joined HCPro/ACDIS as a CDI Education Specialist and Instructor.

In this role, she delivered CDI Boot Camps, facilitated customized PROPEL sessions, and contributed as a subject matter expert, author, and speaker. As of June 2025, she is the Director, Education Services with Hivero, where she leads the development and management of Hivero Learning and the Expert Network.

Kelly has also contributed to the broader CDI community through her service on the ACDIS Advisory Board (2021–2024) and as a member of the 2023–2024 ACDIS Leadership Council.

Nicole Rodriguez

MSN, RN, CCDS

Nicole is an Academy Education Specialist with The Academy and brings a deep passion for Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) and a strong foundation in nursing leadership. With over 15 years of clinical nursing experience across diverse specialties including ER/Trauma, Labor and Delivery, Interventional Radiology, Vascular Access, Infusion, and Wound Care she has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of patient care that informs her work in CDI education and strategy.

Nicole’s journey in CDI has included roles as a CDI Educator, team lead for a multi-hospital organization, and national CDI educator and instructor for HCPro/ACDIS. She has reviewed inpatient, outpatient, second-level, and mortality cases, and thrives on translating complex clinical concepts into meaningful education that empowers CDI professionals to elevate documentation quality and patient outcomes.

Nicole holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and is a Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS). Nicole has also participated in the ACDIS Physician Advisor Committee. Beyond her professional life, she is a proud wife and mom of five, and finds joy and balance on their family farm, where she cares for animals and spends quality time with loved ones.

Nicole is always eager to connect with fellow CDI professionals, educators, and healthcare leaders who share a commitment to excellence, innovation, and lifelong learning.

Debbie Breton

BSN, RN, CCDS

Debbie is an ACDIS Approved Educator and Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) leader with more than 13 years of clinical nursing experience. Her background includes coronary critical care, home health, hospice, and hospital-based case management. That clinical foundation continues to shape her CDI work, grounding her approach in strong clinical reasoning and a commitment to documentation that accurately reflects the patient’s condition and the complexity of care delivered.

Debbie transitioned into CDI in 2017 within a multi-hospital organization and advanced into leadership in 2019, where she supported teams across multiple inpatient facilities. Her leadership centered on strengthening documentation consistency, fostering collaborative provider engagement, and developing structured growth pathways that enabled CDI professionals to build confidence and deepen their expertise. In 2021, she assumed a leadership role at a 600+ bed flagship hospital, where she advanced documentation practices across a large, high-volume, multidisciplinary environment while maintaining a clear focus on team development and cross-disciplinary alignment.

Most recently, Debbie served as a CDI Educator within a multi-state health system. She developed and delivered structured onboarding and advanced education programs and designed and implemented a formal CDI mentorship framework to support professional development and sustainable team growth. Her educational approach emphasizes clarity, critical thinking, and practical application, equipping teams to navigate complex documentation scenarios with confidence and integrity.

Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and maintains certification as a Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) through ACDIS. She currently serves on the Furthering Education Committee (2024–present). She also recently served on the ACDIS Leadership Council (2023–2025). She values shared learning, professional growth, and creating environments where CDI professionals feel supported, capable, and connected.

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