Health Information Management

Tip: Don't forget to monitor coding productivity standards

APCs Weekly Monitor, June 26, 2009

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Weekly Monitor!

Establishing coding productivity standards is a necessary and challenging aspect of managing an efficient HIM department. Implementing standards is important, but HIM directors and managers sometimes fail to implement them.
 
When monitoring outpatient coding productivity standards, directors and managers should routinely ask the following questions to ensure accurate and fair expectations:
  • Do outpatient coders also code inpatient services?
  • Which type(s) of outpatient records do coders report?
  • What are coders’ noncoding responsibilities?
  • For which omissions do outpatient coders check?
  • Which ED services do coders report?
  • What is each individual coder’s skill level?
 
This tip was adapted from the article “Set the bar with outpatient coding productivity standards” from the July issue of Briefings on APCs. Learn which factors most affect coding productivity by joining HCPro at 1 p.m. August 11 for the live audio conference Benchmark Coder Productivity to Improve Efficiency and Justify FTEs.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Weekly Monitor!

Most Popular

Related Articles