One of the greatest differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10 is 10’s greater specificity.  This will allow the dual function supplying billing codes and patient analytic reporting used for evidence based health reporting. ICD-10 codes provide the ability to understand patient outcomes using evidence based reporting from the codes assigned.  Patient outcomes  are more easily assessed with ICD-10 as has been learned through the Canadian transition. Read on to learn more about the benefits to patients from ICD-10.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics in their July 2012 Data Brief; fifty-five percent of physician practices nationwide have adopted an EMR. And twenty-nine percent of solo practitioners made the leap from paper charts to electronic ones. The majority of the adopters reported their system had resulted in enhanced overall patient care, the overarching goal of EMRs today.

With all that is transpired over the last 5 years with regulatory requirements, audits and incentives, reimbursement model changes and ICD-10 further away, but still on the visible horizon, the documentation of healthcare encounters has become a complex maze of uncertainty. EHRs were thought to eliminate transcription, and yet we find the details of each unique patient are not completely nor ideally captured by just click boxes and generic templates. So with the mountain of requirements and changes that are either here or on the way, how do organizations remain successful in this turmoil of rapid change while reorganizing themselves for this future?

Throughout my tenured career spanning both ambulatory and acute transcription services, I have enjoyed helping people.  Today, ambulatory and acute HIM professionals are struggling with the ability to convert structured data to meet Meaningful Use guidelines. Meaningful Use seems simple in theory, but getting from point A to point B can be quite challenging for those responsible for this shift.  In this post, I will share some thoughts on how transcription is the perfect partner to your EHR/EMR in achieving Meaningful Use.

When Deepak Chopra said “All great changes are preceded by chaos”, it was not in response to the upcoming transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, but it does resonate when we reflect on the learning experience of many Canadian coders when they made the same transition 10 years ago.  One comment, which could be added to Deepak Chopra’s statement, is that “frequently chaos follows the change as well!”  

With much of the focus on EHR adoption and Meaningful Use, it is a good idea to step back and take another look at the basics; the key success factors that greatly enhance an EHR’s usability.  While EHRs bring many benefits, one of their primary functions is to enhance the ability of clinicians to deliver the best possible care to all patients.  To achieve this, it consistently requires having access to patients historical chart information, as well as any notes from their current encounter.  Reviewing past visit information enables clinicians to ask the most relevant questions and helps make more informed decisions during the patient visit.

My observation suggests that U.S. healthcare organizations should be thankful for the one-year delay in ICD-10 implementation. However, that thanks will be short lived if full advantage of the extra time is not taken. Diabetes coding is just one example of an item to place in your ICD-10 preparedness cart.

Dear Sonya, 

“Our practice administrator tells me that paper charts are costing us a lot more than meets the eye. Did your practice figure out a way to identify the real cost of paper records?” 

- Drowning in Paper

Physician practices are challenging, dynamic and undergoing rapid change. I know because prior to joining Accentus as Enterprise Workflow Consultant, I was the practice administrator for a 29-physician, 7-location, and 350+ employee orthopedic practice. Yes it was busy. Yes it was dynamic. Yes it was challenging. 

Dear Doris,

"Beyond the costs associated with recruiting and actual training, I’m worried that time spent bringing staff up to speed also will result in lost opportunities. Can you share how you dealt with staff attrition?"

– ICD-10 Indifferent