For the Real Heroes of I-10

on July 14th, 2011   by Kim Felix

So far, much of the writing about ICD-10 centers on high level, executive advice. It highlights the strategic plans and organizational assessments that hospitals should be embracing.

Well, this blog is going to focus on the real people who will make ICD-10 a success: you and your coding team. Our goal is to help every coding team move along the path to becoming a “10”.

In Calling All Coders, we will lay the foundation for coder education. Through a series of detailed blogs, we’ll deliver free, easy, online resources and how-to advice to fill your ICD-10 educational toolbox. Starting with coding guidelines and convention, structure changes and the importance of laterality, you’ll learn the finer details of I-10. And really begin to understand the differences between the two coding structures.

The good news is there are also similarities. These consistencies help coders bridge the gap of knowledge and get started on their journey; and are a small blessing for you and your team. They include:

• Still have brackets (synonyms, alternative wording)
• Still have “includes” and “excludes”
• Still have parentheses (nonessential modifiers)
• Still have “other specified”, “not otherwise specified”, and “not elsewhere classified”
• “And” still means “and/or”
• “See” or “see also” still used as a cross reference tool

In our next blog, we’ll start illustrating some of the specific differences by diagnosis and procedure. Get ready to fill your toolbox with IOD!