CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 14

Special Report: 2010 ACDIS Conference, Chicago available for download

July 8, 2010
ACDIS Guidance

All told there were more than 500 CDI professionals in attendance at the 2010 ACDIS National Conference in Chicago last month. In addition, there were nearly two dozen exhibitors and more than 20 educational sessions in three dedicated tracks to choose from, including clinical chart review,...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 14

News: CMS releases ICD-10 implementation article

July 8, 2010
News

CMS released MLN Matters Special Edition Article #SE1019 to provide updated information about the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification and...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 14

Tip: Understand clinical indicators of CHF before querying physicians

July 8, 2010
Clinical & Coding, Physician Queries

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one example of a condition for which coders and CDI specialists should understand clinical indicators before querying physicians, says Lynne Spryszak, RN, CCDS, CPC-A, a CDI educator at HCPro, Inc., in Marblehead, MA.

Be on the lookout for these...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 14

Tip: Differentiate between bacteremia, septicemia coding

July 8, 2010
Clinical & Coding

Over the years all authoritative coding sources referred to sepsis and septicemia as the same condition. Finally, in 2008, these coding references stated that sepsis and septicemia are two different conditions:

  • Sepsis is a body response to dead tissue mediated by the release of
    • ...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 14

Q&A: Know what to target when tracking top DRGs

July 8, 2010
Ask ACDIS

Q: Can you recommend specifically what MS-DRGs are best to review and track or what CCs we should track?

A: I would review all admissions and all payers—this shows that your...Read More »
CDI Blog - Volume 4, Issue 13

Note from the Associate Editorial Director: Clear, concise, precise use of language

March 7, 2011
ACDIS Guidance, Education

by Melissa Varnavas

“If you’ve ever read a document that contained convoluted language or gibberish jargon, read on,” a press release from The Center for Plain Language stated. I received that release more than a...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 13

News: ICD-9-CM code updates available

June 24, 2010
News, Clinical & Coding

The new, revised, and deleted ICD-9-CM codes, effective October 1, 2010, are now out. You can find them in a zip file on the CMS website, here: https://www.cms.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 4, Issue 13

Q&A: Documentation in the discharge summary

June 24, 2010
Ask ACDIS

Q:I have a question about the discharge summary. When a physician documents a firm diagnosis (not probable or suspected) the day before discharge can it be coded as confirmed, or does it need to be documented on the last day/in the discharge...Read More »

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