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HIM Connection

Keep up to date with weekly advice on issues such as coding and reimbursement, medical record documentation, Joint Commission IM standards, and more.

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HIM Connection

Issue 49, December 6, 2005

• Limit incidentals with a clear policy, practical steps

  When it comes to HIPAA, there’s a lot of confusion about incidental disclosures, says Linda...

Issue 48, December 6, 2005

• Know the JCAHO's ongoing records review requirements

  The requirement to conduct ongoing records review (ORR) is still part of the Management of...

• Know the JCAHO's ongoing records review requirements

  The requirement to conduct ongoing records review (ORR) is still part of the Management of...

Issue 47, December 6, 2005

• Quiz: Emergency department coding

  How well do you know your emergency department (ED) coding rules and regulations? Take this...

• Quiz: Emergency department coding

  How well do you know your emergency department (ED) coding rules and regulations? Take this...

• Quiz: Emergency department coding

  How well do you know your emergency department (ED) coding rules and regulations? Take this...

Issue 46, December 6, 2005

• HL7 updates DSTU to include conformance criteria

  Even though the Health Level Seven (HL7) draft standard for trial use (DSTU) won't be officially...

Issue 45, December 6, 2005

• Eliminate illegibility with individual doc stamps

  If your doctors have legibility problems and your transition to electronic solutions is a few years...

Issue 38, September 26, 2005

• Non-OPPS outpatient code editor changes

  CMS updated the nonoutpatient prospective payment system code editor (non-OPPS OCE) version 21.0 to...

Issue 34, August 23, 2005

• Survey your physicians

  Regularly surveying your medical staff can help you find out what they think about your HIM...

Issue 33, August 16, 2005

• Comply with the IM.4.10 standard

  The standard under the JCAHO's information-based decision-making section addresses the need to have...

Issue 32, August 8, 2005

• Improve your wound care documentation

  Proper documentation and ease of coding always go hand-in-hand, and outpatient wound care is no...

Issue 31, August 2, 2005

• Interface v. integrate: Do you know the difference?

  As you research EHRs and investigate software and how to convert to paperless systems, you’re...

Issue 25, June 22, 2005

• Code injections and infusions accurately

  A working knowledge of injections and infusions will help staff determine what codes to charge for...

Issue 24, May 31, 2005

• Understand different types of data storage

  Data storage comprises a major part of electronic health record preparation. Understanding the pros...

• Reduce record retrieval with accessible advance directives

  Advance directives provide critical information about a patient's treatment wishes at times when...

Issue 23, May 24, 2005

• Conquer complex ICD-9 coding: Diabetes mellitus

  After more than a quarter-century of training coders, Deborah Grider, CMA, CPC, CPC-H, CCS-P, CCP...

Issue 22, May 17, 2005

• Follow strict guidelines for condition code 44

  Last September, CMS issued transmittal 299 which describes how a hospital may change a...

Issue 20, May 10, 2005

• Consider volunteers for filing overflow

  For those facilities using paper documents, managing the filing of those papers can be a challenge...

Issue 19, May 3, 2005

• Understand postservice float, DNFB, to increase productivity

  Your processes for filing claims can have a big impact on the efficiency of the HIM and patient...

Issue 18, April 26, 2005

• Report initial findings and identify problem records

  If you are responsible for reviewing records and gathering data, you should submit reports that...

Issue 16, April 19, 2005

• Revisit the revised diabetes code definitions

  Revisit the revised diabetes code definitions

Issue 15, April 12, 2005

• Brailer: EHR a 'groundswell,' but there's still work to do

  Vendors have reported increased sales of EHRs during the past year, according to David Brailer, MD...

Issue 14, April 5, 2005

• Review EHR readiness with five steps

  Review EHR readiness with five steps

Issue 13, March 29, 2005

• Master modifier -25 use

  Modifier -25 (significant, separately identifiable E/M service) accounted for $1.7 billion of E/M...

Issue 12, December 19, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Evaluate software vendors on key software capabilities

  Whether you’re evaluating the security features of new software or a program your...

Issue 11, March 15, 2005

• Audit, analyze claims with nine steps

  Performing a claims audit will help you identify and analyze the reasons for denials and present...

Issue 10, March 7, 2005

• Answer these questions to determine your transcription strategy

  Answer these questions to determine your transcription strategy

Issue 9, March 7, 2005

• Consider alternatives when transcription takes over

  Consider alternatives when transcription takes over

Issue 8, February 22, 2005

• Understand the spine to code back procedures correctly

  Two problems that frequently surface when coding spinal procedures are inadequate physician...

Issue 7, February 17, 2005

• Understand and comply with IM.6.30

  Understand and comply with IM.6.30

Issue 6, February 8, 2005

• Code casts and straps properly

  Code casts and straps properly

Issue 4, February 8, 2005

• Enhance coder performance

  Enhance coder performance

Issue 3, January 25, 2005

• Enhance coder performance

  Coding has been a top focus for the past two decades since prospective payment was imposed upon...

• Inpatient psych PPS final rule: Blended payment until 2007

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finally published the long-awaited final...

Issue 2, January 11, 2005

• Improve documentation with 15 tips for timely record completion

  The JCAHO takes timely documentation seriously and it is critically important to patient care, both...

• Protect your computer system from outside threats

  Protect your computer system from outside threats

• Consider alternatives when transcription takes over

  Consider alternatives when transcription takes over