As a practice administrator, you’re in charge of the day-to-day operations of your medical practice, but you also need to prepare everyone for big, long-term changes.
Chances are ICD-10 implementation is going to be one of the biggest unknowns you’ll face this year.
If you don’t feel prepared for October 1st, you’re not alone. So what’s the simplest and best way to move yourself, your providers, and staff past ICD-10 procrastination?
Tip #1: Help your Physicians Learn their Most Common ICD-10 Codes
* Gather your top 20 ICD-9 codes and convert them to ICD-10.
* Identify the new documentation descriptors your doctors will need for these top 20 ICD-10 codes. Write them down.
* Conduct simple chart reviews. See if your current documentation meets the greater specificity of ICD-10. “If it doesn’t, write them a note. ‘We were really close on this one, doctor if you had just added…’”
“There is no more powerful ICD-10 training for your providers than to look at the codes they use and to illustrate using the charts they’ve actually created.”
Tip #2: Conduct an Impact Assessment
Identify all the areas of your practice that ICD-10 will impact (including people, technology, and money). “It sounds difficult, but it’s not – just grab a pen and notebook.”
Tip #3: Train, Train, Train — and Test, Test, Test
It’s all about ICD-10 training and preparation before October.
