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.
