HIM directors must renew efforts in the new year to ensure the effectiveness of EHR quality monitors. With increased attention on HIPAA 5010 requirements and instituting ICD-10, focusing on the quality of your medical records may sometimes take a backseat to other priorities. However, as inaccurate data tends to affect all areas of HIM-not to mention patient care-taking an active role in developing quality measures will ultimately save time and money in the long run and help ensure quality care for patients. Developing a plan for managing ­data integrity before issues occur will free up time for HIM staff to focus on other initiatives.
Just when you thought you had your RAC processes in place, more changes appear on the horizon.
Quiz: How well do you know your V codes?
Use this quiz to test coding staff members.
Coders must learn and adapt to several new conventions in ICD-10-CM. Consider the following.
First we had patient tracers, then system tracers, and now second-generation tracers! Wow!
On October 1, 2013, the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCSclassification systems will take effect, and should result in better data capture nationwide. The change means healthcare organizations urgently need to educate providers on the importance of improved patient care documentation.