Editor’s Note: AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM released its second round of ICD-10 coding guidance in its First Quarter 2013 issue. HCPro CDI Education Director Cheryl Ericson, MS, RN, CCDS, CDIP, says the guidance contains information regarding diagnosis clarification,...Read More »
Q:I realize that if the body mass index (BMI) of a patient is documented by nurses and dieticians can be coded if the physician documents the clinical significance (i.e. morbid obesity). However, if the BMI is documented by a patient care tech or nursing ward secretary...Read More »
Current SIRS criteria are insufficient, confusing, and don't indicate whether a patient is truly sick, says Robert S. Gold, MD, founder and CEO of DCBA, Inc., in Atlanta.
Some patients—particularly those who are critically ill—may meet necessary criteria for SIRS and truly have...Read More »
A delay in ICD-10’s implementation has definitely caused angst, especially for coding staff, says Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, regional managing director of HIM, NCAL revenue cycle, at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. & Hospitals in Oakland, Calif. “I think...Read More »
Q: What are the pros/cons of coding ‘hepatic encephalopathy’ as a secondary condition? For example, here is a clinical scenario that happened at our facility: A patient is admitted for pneumonia and the history and physical (H&P) states the patient has a ‘history of...Read More »