Managing the changeover to ICD-10 may be so completely overwhelming for some HIM directors and managers that just getting started is the most difficult part.
It will take time for coders to become comfortable translating terminology used in physician documentation to root operation terminology used in ICD-10-PCS, according to Lolita M. Jones, RHIA, CCS, independent consultant in Fort Washington, MD, who spoke during HCPro’s November 18, 2010, audio conference, “ICD-10-PCS Surgery Coding: Understand and Apply Five Medical Surgical Root Operations.” But Jones thinks coders will get there eventually.
Even though it is still two and a half years away, it’s not too early to begin preparation for the October 1, 2013, transition from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS. There’s much to do in concert with HIM professionals to develop the knowledge base and documentation infrastructure essential to accurate ICD-10-CM/PCS code capture and reporting.
