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Guiding Health Information Management professionals through the continuously changing field of medical records and toward a stronger process for fifteen years!

To view the entire newsletter issue, click the “View Entire Issue” link below

October 2008 (Volume 23, Issue 10)	view entire issue

Education, credentials determine salaries
It should come as no surprise: Education and credentials can significantly increase earning potential. The 2008 MRB Salary Survey confirms this.

Stress coding quality, understanding disease processes in light of the 2009 IPPS final rule
CMS released its IPPS final rule July 31 for fiscal year (FY) 2009, and HIM directors can expect a greater focus on quality. CMS added 13 new quality measures, expanded the hospital-acquired condition (HAC) list, and cracked down on present-on-admission (POA) indicator U that denotes insufficient documentation.

Ensure your place at the EHR decision-making table
There are leaders and there are followers. And during the labor-intensive process of an EHR implementation, this couldn’t be more true.

Develop a plan for system downtime, slowness, and glitches
“The system is down” are four words no HIM director ever wants to hear.

Ensure that coders review the new ICD-9-CM coding guidelines effective October 1
Instructions: Effective October 1, coders must refer to the newest set of ICD-9-CM coding guidelines that outline several important changes. Test staff knowledge with the following scenarios. Download the guidelines, which provide a more detailed rationale for the answers to these questions, at www.cdc.gov/nchs/datawh/ftpserv/ftpICD9/ftpICD9.htm.

Know requirements for sedation and anesthesia
The standards discussed in this article have been around for a long time; however, they continue to be a cause of concern for HIM directors. The problems usually occur when documentation in the medical record is not complete, not timely, and, in some cases, nonexistent.

Address coder shortage with an apprentice program
Recruiting and retaining qualified coders is a never-ending challenge for HIM directors.

Diabetes classification integral to hospital quality measurement, correct code capture
Every year, the government updates the ICD-9-CM codes we use to report illnesses.

Other recently-published articles from Medical Records Briefing:

Electronic health IT advances create opportunities, challenges for HIM directors and staff members

Requirements for patient discharge and transfer

Put a stop to stamped signatures once and for all

AHIMA’s final query practice brief reflects growing CDI efforts

How to code common winter ailments

Knock, knock! Who’s there? It’s ICD-10, and you’d better be ready

HIPAA: Transcription, breaches, and PHI for research

Ask what leadership means, and use self-assessment to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses

Understand the details of personal health records to serve as a valuable patient resource

Flag identity theft as federal rule takes effect

Polish your profile by clarifying heart failure, pneumonia, and pressure ulcers

Diabetes classification integral to hospital quality measurement, correct code capture

Address coder shortage with an apprentice program

Know requirements for sedation and anesthesia

Ensure that coders review the new ICD-9-CM coding guidelines effective October 1

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