To correctly assign codes for any surgical procedure, coders need to have an operative (OP) report. But simply having the OP report isn't enough. Coders also must be able to read the report and pick out the important information.
A physician can debride a wound to remove dead, damaged, or infected tissue so the remaining healthy tissue can better heal. Coders need to look for specific information in the documentation of wound debridement.
If your hospital doesn't plan to take advantage of government financial incentives for those who become "meaningful users" of EHRs, it is in the minority. According to HHS, 85% of hospitals plan to demonstrate meaningful use and earn incentives by 2015.
Improving the hospital experience for patients, improving the quality of care, and reducing costs were the goals when case managers at Martin's Point Healthcare in Portland, Maine, stopped working independently and started working as teams.
For many patients, home health services can mean the difference between a successful recovery and a hospital readmission, but patients who need services go without because of confusion over eligibility requirements.
Physician advisors provide a critical link between case management and physicians; it's a position that requires deft communication skills, regulatory know-how, and a stiff backbone.
