Pain is an expected component of injuries, illnesses, and surgical procedures. Let's face it, breaking your leg hurts. In some instances, however, the patient's pain is unexpected or is worse than predicted. Sometimes, the pain can last well beyond the time it should have resolved.
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.
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.
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.
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.
