A clear understanding of the definition of principal diagnosis and the factors that play into principal diagnosis selection is extremely important, although oftentimes confusing. The definition of principal diagnosis is the diagnosis that is established after study to be the chief reason...Read More »
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 »