HIM Briefings

HIM directors can always do more to gear up for the super transition into ICD-10 next year. In fact, one way you can begin preparing is to pinpoint specific elements in ICD-9 that already exist in the record and will be documentation and coding musts once the new code set arrives.

Managing coders is challenging enough when you work with them face to face. Manage them when they are off-site, though, and you've got a whole new set of challenges. You may rarely have the chance to shake their hand, see them smile, or read their body language in meetings. Are they productive? Are they happy? If you can't reach them, do you know what's going on?

As an HIM director, you are responsible for the ­integrity of your patients' records-even when your hospital shuts down certain wings of the facility or closes its doors entirely.

We've been on quite a ride since the start of the ­Recovery Auditor (RA) demonstration project.

This article is based on the results of HCPro's annual MRB salary survey. Data in this article represent the responses of 292 HIM professionals from hospitals in the following categories:

In this column, we often discuss challenges with EHR systems. Sometimes these relate to technical problems, other times they are process related, and occasionally-as we'll be doing in this issue-we talk about the need for effective "people management."

As the healthcare industry moves toward adoption of EHRs, facilities need structured data entry capabilities to realize increased efficiency in completing medical records and maintaining documentation integrity.

Organizations with fast turnaround times for history & physicals (H&P) not only make physicians happy but also help improve quality and ROI.

Q. We are a claims repricer and maintain a secure claims department. When outside vendors, such as building maintenance people, enter the secure area, are they required to sign a logbook indicating what time and date they entered and exited the claims department?