1 | Page Rev.9.29.2015 General Surgery INSTEAD OF PLEASE CONSIDER Low or No Severity Diagnosis—NO High Severity Diagnosis---YES ICD 10 Themes: e.g. Acute on Chronic Systolic Heart Failure Acuity/Severity/Type/Staging Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic Mild, Moderate, Severe Systolic, Diastolic, Combined Stage I, II, III, IV e.g. Malignant neoplasm of lower lobe right bronchus Anatomy/Site Specificity Location of tumor Bone/Joint/Muscle involved e.g. Decubitus Ulcer, Stage 3, Right Buttocks, Present on Admission Laterality Right/Left/Bilateral/Overlapping (see Neoplasm re overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites) e.g. Hypertensive heart disease with chronic systolic heart failure Manifestations – LINK IT! Associated or Related Conditions ‘With’/‘Secondary’ to/’Due to’ ‘Evidence of’ and causative organism Use ‘no organism isolated’, instead of ‘negative culture’ e.g. Likely Sepsis secondary to UTI; Evidence of Bacterial Pneumonia (‘Evidence of’ in outpt setting can be captured as a diagnosis) Etiology – ‘DUE TO’ WhAt? ‘LIKELY’ suspects….Who dun it? Possible, Probable, Suspected (Inpt Only) Evidence of, As Evidenced by (Outpt Setting and Inpt Setting) e.g. Drug Poisoning/Adverse Effect Episode of Care/Incidence of Encounter (Trauma/Fractures/Medication.Chemical Event(Drug Poisoning)) Initial/Subsequent/Sequela Intestinal or Peritoneal Adhesions With Obstruction/Without Obstruction Intestinal Obstruction Type/Etiology: Paralytic ileus, Intussusceptions, Volvulus, Gallstone ileus impaction, Adhesions (other). Cholecystitis with or without Cholelithiasis Acuity: Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic Anatomical Site: Gallbladder/Bile Duct/Gallbladder & Bile Duct With Obstruction/Without Obstruction
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
General Surgery
INSTEAD OF PLEASE CONSIDER
Low or No Severity Diagnosis—NO
High Severity Diagnosis---YES
ICD 10 Themes: e.g. Acute on Chronic Systolic Heart Failure
Acuity/Severity/Type/Staging
Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic
Mild, Moderate, Severe
Systolic, Diastolic, Combined
Stage I, II, III, IV
e.g. Malignant neoplasm of lower lobe right bronchus
Anatomy/Site Specificity
Location of tumor
Bone/Joint/Muscle involved
e.g. Decubitus Ulcer, Stage 3, Right Buttocks, Present on Admission
Laterality
Right/Left/Bilateral/Overlapping (see Neoplasm re overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites)
e.g. Hypertensive heart disease with chronic systolic heart failure
Manifestations – LINK IT!
Associated or Related Conditions
‘With’/‘Secondary’ to/’Due to’
‘Evidence of’ and causative organism
Use ‘no organism isolated’, instead of ‘negative culture’
e.g. Likely Sepsis secondary to UTI; Evidence of Bacterial Pneumonia (‘Evidence of’ in outpt setting can be captured as a diagnosis)
Etiology – ‘DUE TO’ WhAt?
‘LIKELY’ suspects….Who dun it?
Possible, Probable, Suspected (Inpt Only)
Evidence of, As Evidenced by (Outpt Setting and Inpt Setting)
e.g. Drug Poisoning/Adverse Effect Episode of Care/Incidence of Encounter (Trauma/Fractures/Medication.Chemical Event(Drug Poisoning))
Initial/Subsequent/Sequela
Intestinal or Peritoneal Adhesions With Obstruction/Without Obstruction
Cholecystitis with or without Cholelithiasis Acuity: Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic
Anatomical Site: Gallbladder/Bile Duct/Gallbladder & Bile Duct
With Obstruction/Without Obstruction
2 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
Diverticulitis Anatomical Site: Small, Large or Both Intestines, e.g. sigmoid colon
With or Without Bleeding
With or Without Hemorrhage
With or Without Perforation/Abscess
Appendicitis Acuity: Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic/Recurrent
With or Without Rupture
If rupture: With Localized or Generalized Peritonitis
With or Without Perforation
With or Without (Peritoneal) Abscess
Traumatic Pneumothorax/Hemothorax Type: Traumatic, Traumatic Hemothorax, Traumatic Hemopneumothorax, Other (Specify)
With or Without Open wound into Thorax; Open; Closed
Encounter: Initial/Subsequent/Sequela
Neoplasm of Breast Type: Malignant (Primary; Secondary/Metastatic); Benign; In-Situ; Uncertain Behavior (include cell type)
(Uncertain behavior is a specific pathologic diagnosis indicating behavior that cannot be predicted, as opposed to a diagnosis of unknown pathology)
Morphology: Adenocarcinoma; Sarcoma; Lymphoma etc
Note: A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified 'overlapping lesion', unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
Behavior: Primary or Secondary Site; Designate if Overlapping
For Secondary Site…document if primary site still exists
Neoplasm of Colon Type: Malignant; Benign; In-Situ; Metastatic; Distant Metastatic Staging; With invasion or adherence to (other organs/submucosa/muscularis propria/muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues); Uncertain Behavior (include cell type)
3 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
(Uncertain behavior is a specific pathologic diagnosis indicating behavior that cannot be predicted, as opposed to a diagnosis of unknown pathology)
Morphology: Adenocarcinoma; Sarcoma; Lymphoma; With or Without BRCA Gene Mutation, etc
Note: A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified 'overlapping lesion', unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
Behavior: Primary or Secondary Site; Designate if Overlapping For Secondary Site…document if primary site still exists
Location: Specific Part of Body - Name of specific bone and specific site on bone
Laterality
LEO C. FAUR
(acronym to remember elements of fracture documentation)
Zupko and Associates
Episode of Care/Encounter:
Initial (receiving active treatment);
Subsequent (encounters AFTER the patient has
received active treatment of the condition and is
receiving routine care):
o Routine Healing or Delayed Healing
o Non-Union or Mal-union:
If non union: State if delayed Tx,
(it’s Initial Encounter, otherwise
it’s ‘Subsequent’)
Sequela (Use for complications or conditions
that arise as a direct result of a condition…no
time limit….i.e. Neuropathy of lower leg, ankle
and foot due to previous crush injury)
Open or Closed
Classifications: Open use Gustilo Classification: Type I, II, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC (used for soft tissue classification); Salter; Physeal etc
Fracture Pattern/Type/Orientation, i.e.:
Greenstick Comminuted Torus
Spiral Segmental
Transverse Avulsed
Oblique Torus
Alignment: Displaced or Nondisplaced
Underlying Bone Diseases: i.e. Fragility (Pathologic), Stress, Traumatic in healthy etc
Results: Routine or Delayed Healing; Non union or Malunion
Complications of Surgery Affected Body System
Specific Condition
Timeframe: Intra operatively or Post operatively
(Punctures or lacerations that are unavoidable or inherent to the procedure are not complications. When NOT a complication…include the medical decision making and characterize the event as ‘intentional’, ‘unavoidable’, or ‘inherent’ to the
Link Complication to Diagnosis: ‘due to’/’secondary to’ etc… There is no timeframe/deadline for a Postoperative Complication (current condition due to previous
5 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
procedure) surgery or procedure)
NOT Complications Document: Inherent, Expected, Intended
Avoid ‘Accidental/Complication/Unavoidable/Slip/ Iatrogenic/Unintended’ etc when it is not a complication. Avoid using ‘Post operative’ when not a complication; if used, include that it was ‘intended, expected, inherent’ etc.
Additional Terms that suggest non-accidental: to facilitate; necessary; required; intentional; integral; routinely expected
Procedure Coding System (PCS) – New with ICD 10
Pre-operative/Post Operative Diagnosis State difference b/w pre and post dx, as applicable
Link ‘findings’ with post operative diagnosis
Procedure Performed Be Explicit, including unplanned
Post op drains/tubes – Specify type of drain/tube
Be specific re ‘intent’ of surgery i.e. Excision/Biopsy etc
Types of Anesthesia/Estimated Blood Loss (EBL)/Transfusions
-Site infused (Central/Peripheral) - Type & Volume of Fluid (Fresh/Frozen/Autologous)
Procedure – Coder needs ALL elements addressed in order to be able to assign a code…..physician can use their own language for coder to translate, yet all information needs to be available. Coders must have a clear understanding of the ‘intent’ of the procedure..it will help the coder properly assign the appropriate code.
-Intent of the Procedure - Excision (partial removal i.e. biopsy)/Resection (total removal)/Drain fluid/Inspect i.e. endoscopy etc. -Approach—Specify technique used to reach the site i.e. open, percutaneous, use of scopes etc -Prose for steps and technique, not the name of procedure -Laterality of incision/Relative Location -Anatomical site – Be specific re site/Body Cavity (instead of quadrants)/How much of body part removed (all, partial, or measurements) - Devices Used Intraoperatively – material or appliance that remains in the body after the procedure is completed. i.e. Biological or synthetic material (i.e. joint prosthesis, intrauterine device; Therapeutic material (i.e. radioactive implant); Mechanical or electronic appliances ( i.e. orthopedic pin, pacemaker) etc. -Intraoperative Grafting – source and destination site -Modality of Guidance
6 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
-Specimens – specify if sent to pathology are intended to diagnose and help treatment decisions following the procedure.
-Medications applied at Surgical Site
-Closure – type/area -Complications
Procedure Documentation:
Lymph Node Removal Differentiate between removal of: -One or more (portion) lymph nodes Versus -Removal of an entire chain of lymph nodes
Lysis of Adhesions (The body part value coded, is the body part being freed, not the tissue being manipulated or cut to free the body part.)
Anatomical Site of each organ or body part RELEASED/FREED, i.e. -Greater Omentum -Lesser Omentum -Mesentery
Etiology: i.e. previous surgery; chronic infection/inflammation; preventing access to surgical site
(Adhesions that exist without being organized or without causing any symptoms or without increasing the difficulty of performing the operative procedure will not be coded separately.)
Amount: Extensive; Numerous etc
Timeframe: i.e. Extensive lysis; Tedious lysis; long time to lyse
Excisional Debridement
‘Non-excisional’ Debridement - Minor removal of loose fragments with scissors or using a sharp instrument to scrape away tissue (typically involves mechanical removal of tissue with brushing, scrubbing, washing etc). Debridement is usually only to level of subcutaneous tissue.
Excisional Debridement - Involves cutting outside or beyond the wound margin. A scalpel is used to remove devitalized tissue.
I & D, Debridement, Sharp Debridement If it is actually an ‘excisional debridement’ designate the procedure as such, instead of stating I & D.
‘EXCISIONAL’ Debridement – Documentation to include:
‘Technique’ used (e.g., excisional, excised,
7 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
cutting etc)
‘Instrument’ used (e.g. scalpel, curette)
Nature of ‘tissue’ removed (e.g. necrotic, devitalized tissue, nonviable tissue)
The ‘appearance’ and ‘size’ of the wound (e.g. down to flesh, bleeding tissue, 7cm x 10 cm etc)
‘Depth’ of debridement (e.g. skin, subcutaneous, fascia, muscle, bone, etc.)
Secondary Conditions:
Incidental to Pregnant State vs. Impacting Pregnancy
State “Does not affect or complicate the pregnancy” if incidental, otherwise will code as ‘impacting the pregnancy’
e.g. Pregnant patient with burn of hand, “Burn of hand does not affect or complicate the pregnancy”
Anemia Acuity: Acute/Chronic
(Acute Blood Loss Anemia does not reflect a complication of surgery, unless surgeon states it’s a complication and there is a cause and effect relationship; May state ‘expected’/’inherent’; Documentation of ‘Post-op Anemia’ is not enough, instead ‘Post Operative Anemia due to Acute Blood Loss’)
Etiology: Blood Loss; Iron Deficiency; Chemotherapy; Neoplastic; Aplastic, etc
Nutritional Anemia Type: i.e. if nutritional due to iron deficiency: Sideropenic iron deficiency anemia; Iron deficiency due to inadequate dietary iron intake
Vitamin B12 type i.e. Due to intrinsic factor deficiency; Vitamin B12 malabsorption
Folate Deficiency type: i.e. Due to diet; Drug induced
Other Nutritional Types: i.e. Protein deficiency
Anemia in Chronic Disease Link to Chronic Disease i.e. -Anemia due to chronic kidney disease -Anemia due to colon cancer
Neutropenia Type: Agranulocytosis/Other Drug Induced/Congenital/Cyclic
Etiology: Cancer Chemotherapy/Infection etc.
If Drug-induced: - Specify Drug
8 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
- Purpose of drug’s use (e.g. chemotherapy) - Specify the malignancy (e.g. Cytoxan for primary
malignancy upper-inner quadrant of left breast
Associated Conditions (e.g. infection)
Adverse Effect (e.g. fever or mucositis)
Thrombocytopenia Classification: -Idiopathic -Primary -Secondary -Congenital or Hereditary -Heparin Induced
Physician must describe underlying cause and what individual component has been treated
- e.g. Platelets for thrombocytopenia - PRBC transfusion for acute blood loss anemia
Etiology - Malignancy (Specify Malignancy) - Drug induced (Specify specific drug) - ‘Pancytopenia due to antineoplastic
chemotherapy’ or - ‘Pancytopenia secondary to Cisplatin and
disease’ , Or - ‘Pancytopenia due to HIV disease.’
Urinary Tract Infection Acuity: Acute or Chronic
e.g. ‘Chronic Cystitis with hematuria’; ‘Acute Urethritis due to E.Coli’; ‘Acute on Chronic Pyelonephritis due to foley catheter with Candida’
Specific Site: Bladder (Cystitis)/Urethra (Urethritis)/Kidney (Pyelonephritis)
Manifestations: Hematuria etc.
Causative Organism i.e. E Coli or Candida
IF related to a device i.e. foley catheter, state ‘due to’ or ‘secondary to’
9 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
Sepsis Type: Sepsis/Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock
(fyi: negative or inconclusive blood cultures do not preclude a diagnosis of sepsis in patients with clinical evidence of the condition)
Causative Organism (if known)
(fyi: Bacteremia is a non specific diagnosis and indicates the presence of bacteria in the blood, but does not indicate the bacteria are pathological or has any resulting systemic illness needing treatment.)
Underlying Systemic Infection (the source of infection) i.e. Sepsis due to UTI
(fyi: Urosepsis is non descriptive term and is NOT synonymous with sepsis and there is no default for coders…please .use ‘Sepsis due to UTI’ instead) (fyi: Sepsis Syndrome is a non specific term..avoid using it)
Any Associated Organ Dysfunction i.e. Acute Renal Failure; Acute Respiratory Failure; Encephalopathy
SIRS Infectious or Non-infectious (If ‘non-infectious’ specify what ‘due to’, i.e. ‘SIRS due to Burn’)
Always document the Etiology!! With severe Sepsis or Without Sepsis
With or Without Organ Dysfunction
(Does NOT code to Sepsis, unless stated ‘with sepsis’)
Defaults to the underlying infectious process i.e. Pneumonia
Dehydration Manifestations: With Hyponatremia or Hypernatremia
Etiology: Decreased Intake i.e. stomatitis; Increased output i.e. diarrhea; Increased Insensible losses i.e. fever
CAUTION: CAP-Community Acquired PNA- defaults to a ‘simple pna’ with low severity; if documented, please also include if it is Viral or Bacterial (and other items listed from list on right, as applicable) to capture the true severity.
Common Secondary Conditions: Acute Respiratory Failure; Exacerbation of COPD, etc.
Clinically significant diagnostic results from Lab and Radiology in the medical record. i.e. if elevated white count; infiltrate on CXR
History of Tobacco Use, Present or Past
10 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
COPD Acute Exacerbation or Decompensated
(Chronic RF is very common in pt with severe COPD) CAUTION: ‘Respiratory Distress’ and ‘Respiratory Insufficiency’ are vague and symptomatic of underlying condition – is the intended diagnosis Respiratory Failure OR what is other underlying condition?
If with acute lower respiratory infection, as applicable (also include causative organism, if known)
IF Oxygen Dependent
Common Secondary Conditions: Acute, Chronic, Acute on Chronic Respiratory Failure; Pneumonia, etc.
History of Tobacco Use, Present or Past
Respiratory Failure Acuity: Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic
(Chronic RF is very common in pt with severe COPD) CAUTION: ‘Respiratory Distress’ and ‘Respiratory Insufficiency’ are vague and symptomatic of underlying condition – is the intended diagnosis Respiratory Failure OR what is other underlying condition?
Manifestation: With Hypoxia or With Hypercapnia, or both
Etiology: if known (i.e. due to COPD Exacerbation; Pneumonia; Surgery, Trauma, etc)
Asthma Severity: Mild/Moderate/ Severe
Type: Intermittent or Persistent
With or Without Exacerbation
With or Without Status Asthmaticus
Pulmonary Embolism Severity: Acute/Chronic (still present) vs. Healed (Old)
Type: Saddle/Septic
Manifestations: With or Without Acute Cor Pulmonale
Pleural Effusion Type: Malignant (Specify site and morphology of tumor if possible); Influenzal; Tuberculosis; In heart failure
Diabetes Type: Type 1 or Type 2 ; Drug or Chemical Induced; or Gestational
Terms i.e. ‘uncontrolled’ or ‘inadequately controlled’ code to ‘hyperglycemia’…even if recent ‘hypoglycemia’…..specifically use Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia instead. Or if used, stipulate if not hyperglycemic.
Control Status (Insulin):
With: Hypoglycemia/Hyperglycemia
Insulin Use
Associated Diagnosis/Conditions: i.e. ulcers
Manifestations or Secondary related problems
11 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
(document LINK to Diabetes): i.e. neuropathy; nephropathy; retinopathy; ketoacidosis
Heart Failure Severity: Acute/Chronic/Acute on Chronic
Type: Systolic/Diastolic/Combined Systolic and Diastolic/Congestive
Etiology, if known, i.e. due to ischemic or primary cardiomyopathy
Associated Conditions: i.e. Hypertension/Pericarditis
Alcohol Dependence with or without Alcohol Withdrawal
Frequency of Usage: Use/Abuse/Dependence/In Remission
Type of Dependence: Uncomplicated; In Remission, Current Intoxication
CAUTION: ‘Unspecified Depression’ codes to MAJOR Depressive Disorder….is it actually a LESS severe disorder i.e. Adjustment Disorder; Anxiety Depression..please be specific
Etiology: Dementia; Head Injury; Multiple Sclerosis; Stroke; Pregnancy;
Reason for Underdosing i.e. financial hardship or Age related dementia
Episode of Care: Initial/Subsequent/Sequela
Tobacco Use Use/Dependence/Contact with Second Hand Exposure (Acute or Chronic)
Current/No longer Use Tobacco/Never
Type of Tobacco Product: Cigarette/Chewing Tobacco/Nicotine
If Dependence: Uncomplicated/In remission/With withdrawal/With other Nicotine induced disorder
14 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION TIPS
Radiology Tests Ordered
‘Better info given →Better outcome on Report’
Reason for Exam –Be Specific as to what looking for - Anatomical Site Specificity/Where specifically the
problem is…i.e. ‘tender over T9’ instead of ‘back pain’
- Indication for Xray, i.e. Lt Pleuritic Chest Pain; Orthopnea; SOB at rest
- Why doing exam/What are you looking for? i.e. re Cancer…’Looking for Metastasis
- AVOID: R/O, Pre –Op, Vague terms i.e. cough, dizzy. Instead state, fever, shakes, chills so Radiologist can help you capture Pneumonia if present.
- Example of Reason for Exam: ‘Pt fell of ladder, pain medial aspect Lt ankle x 3 days’ instead of ‘ankle pain’; OR, ‘Pt with fever, chills, productive cough green sputum x 2 days’ instead of, ‘cough’.
Chronic Conditions/Secondary Diagnosis Capture the Severity!!!
Avoid stating ‘History of’ ……Instead document what you are doing for Chronic Conditions now! Examples of documentation showing link between the additional disease and this admission’s evaluation, treatment, or monitoring:
Hypertensive Heart Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), stage 3 (Strict I & O, Monitor BP)
Indicate “Present on Admission” (POA) status, as applicable
A diagnosis without documentation of being present on admission could be inadvertently considered a hospital-acquired condition (HAC). Example: Pneumonia not definitively diagnosed until hospital day two but suspected, probable, or likely on admission should be noted as such. This allows coders to most accurately report the condition as being POA as opposed to hospital-acquired.
15 | P a g e R e v . 9 . 2 9 . 2 0 1 5
AVOID Signs and Symptoms as Diagnosis Definitive diagnoses are preferred in the inpatient setting and support a higher evaluation and management (E/M) fee. In the inpatient setting, coders can capture ‘probable’, ‘likely’, ‘suspected’, or presumed diagnoses when patients present with the signs and symptoms of the diagnoses being ruled out…. as long as those diagnoses are restated in the discharge summary and have not been ruled out during the stay.
Discharge Summary Wrap it all up!!
For all ‘Rule Out’ situations: Rule it in!/ Rule it Out!/or state ‘Resolved’
Avoid Conflicting with previous documentation substantiated in the record……Caution: If primary physician subsequent dictation conflicts with previous ‘consult’ note, the primary physician’s diagnosis is taken.
INCLUDE: Reason for hospitalization: Chief Complaint; including description of the initial diagnostic evaluation Significant Findings: -Admitting Diagnosis - reason for hospitalization -Discharge Diagnosis - significant findings/diagnoses -As well as those conditions resolved during hospitalization -List all possible and probable diagnoses as well -Hospital Course (procedures performed and findings/surgical findings/test results/treatment rendered/consults) -Discharge Disposition – pt condition at discharge -Education -Follow up needed -Diet -Medications – discharge meds; changes; discontinued meds -Discharge Instructions (instructions to patient and family, including follow up)