The path to pathologic fractures: How to get there from here in ICD-10-CM
HIM-HIPAA Insider, August 25, 2014
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM-HIPAA Insider!
To start, you don't just follow the Yellow Brick Road. That only works in Kansas.
In ICD-10-CM, you need to communicate with the medical staff about the specific elements that are important for pathologic fractures, because the coding is different than it used to be and it's so different from traumatic fractures.
A traumatic fracture is easy because orthopedic surgeons, ED physicians, and radiologists will invariably document sufficient pieces of that puzzle, leaving the episode of care as the only thing you have to worry about.
The part that's tough is that orthopedic surgeons, ED physicians, and radiologists invariably tell you little about the pathology or the circumstances of the event to help you identify when the fracture is, or could be, pathologic.
We need to understand a few issues to get started, so let's begin with some definitions. A fracture is a fracture. A broken bone, whether displaced or nondisplaced, whether all the way through or on only one side of the bone, whether caused by torque or repeated pressure or penetrating object, whether open or closed, it's a fracture.
Continue reading "The path to pathologic fractures: How to get there from here in ICD-10-CM" on the HCPro website. Subscribers to Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies have free access to this article in the August issue.
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM-HIPAA Insider!
Related Products
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- CMS puts hospital surveys on limited hold as surge continues
- Don't forget the three checks in medication administration
- Practice the six rights of medication administration
- Note similarities and differences between HCPCS, CPT® codes
- Q&A: Primary, principal, and secondary diagnoses
- The consequences of an incomplete medical record
- Nursing responsibilities for managing pain
- Skills of effective case managers
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- ICD-10-CM coma, stroke codes require more specific documentation
- E-mailed
-
- CMS puts hospital surveys on limited hold as surge continues
- Charge and bill Medicare all pre-operative diagnostic tests
- Know guidelines and subtle differences in code descriptions for laceration repairs
- How to create a safety protocol for emergency department psychiatric patients
- Get the facts on emergency department FAST exams
- Understand how to report services during the global period for minor surgeries
- Study: Male residents are twice as likely to interrupt
- Q&A: Report separately payable drugs under revenue code 0636
- Q&A: Mechanical room storage, risk assessments, patient rooms
- Capturing start and stop times for infusions
- Searched