Which of the following best describes the timing of physician queries in CDI practice?

• A. They are typically issued retrospectively
• B. They must be issued before care is provided
• C. They are never used
• D. They are issued only on weekends

Answer: (A)

In CDI, physician queries are typically issued after reviewing the chart, i.e., retrospectively. This timing allows the CDI specialist to identify documentation gaps or ambiguities that affect coding and severity of illness, and to ask the physician for clarification or confirmation based on the information already recorded. The goal is to ensure the documentation accurately supports the codes and reflects the patient’s clinical picture without delaying care. While some settings may use prospective queries to prompt documentation during care, the standard approach described here is retrospective. The other options don’t fit the common workflow: queries aren’t usually issued before care, they’re not never used, and weekend-only timing isn’t the norm.