Too often an abnormality is an incidental finding, or a lab error and the clinical circumstances, do not support a diagnosis based on that number. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure can be one of these situations.Read More »
Nutritional issues are not uncommon in children and may have a significant impact on a child’s health. Poor nutrition can negatively affect growth, immune system function, emotions, and long term cognitive development. Poor nutrition can also increase a...Read More »
Facilities have always faced problems related to documentation for cardiorenal syndrome. One major problem with the diagnosis is that CDI specialists may query for clarification of cardiorenal syndrome, but physicians and the CDI staff may not clearly understand how each side defines the term.Read More »
The AHA published its first issue of Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS along with its final edition of Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM. In this Coding Clinic, The AHA editorial board reiterates (on p. 11), that it has no...Read More »
A new position paper written by the ACDIS Advisory Board (see the Position Paper section of the website) seeks to clearly define the CDI specialist’s role and establish professional standards for implementing new programs, redefining an existing department, or hiring new staff members.
As of this writing, it appears that ICD-10 will be delayed at least another year. Note my use of “at least” because the actual language in the bill does not include a new enforcement date, but says “no earlier” than 2015.
The bill, H.R. 4302 – Protecting Access to Medicare (...Read More »
Q: I am a relatively new CDI specialist in a relatively new CDI program. We learned that we should be examining the health record with an eye toward “what bought the bed.” When we raise this concept to our coders, however, they disagreed with the premise, telling us that such a...Read More »