Patient care continues to move from the inpatient setting to outpatient. With this change, the challenge of securing comprehensive documentation that articulates the services rendered and the patient care provided now needs to extend across the care continuum.
Cognitive computing will transform the future of clinical care as we know it in three direct ways: making data accessible, making it approachable, and making it actionable.
Outsourcing some HIM functions is common at many organizations. The decision might initially be spurred by staffing shortages or budgetary concerns, but many outsourcing arrangements become long-term projects.
The new ICD-10-CM codes for FY 2018, effective October 1, 2017, represent significant changes in some of our documentation and coding practices. Review the changes to the FY 2018 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (the Guidelines), which must be embraced if our documentation, coding, and billing is to withstand compliance scrutiny from outside auditors and accountability agents.
Taking today’s challenges head on will demonstrate the HIM professional’s ability to adapt to a changing landscape and provide its organization with a reduction in operating costs and the provision of superior service.
Many HIM directors and coding managers say it takes all three to recruit high-quality, experienced medical record coders post-ICD-10. While coder shortages are nowhere near what they were in ICD-9, new challenges have emerged for HIM staffing.
A successful outpatient CDI program will be invaluable to an organization, but without a focus and plan the program can become overwhelmed and ineffective. HIM and CDI need to work closely together to identify the greatest areas of opportunity in the outpatient setting and ensure that goals are aligned throughout the continuum of care.
