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.
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.
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.
