If you look closely at your car’s side mirror, you’ll find a spot that reads, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Well, the October 1, 2014 date for the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 should come with the same warning.
We can continue to debate the merits of the switch, but indications are the deadline will not be delayed again. That’s why it’s so important to begin your staff’s ICD-10 training ASAP.
The following are three ICD-10 training methods that can be quickly implemented to make the ICD-10 transition a smooth one for your practice.
Review and Quiz
This method isn’t particularly groundbreaking, but there’s no doubt this age-old method of learning is effective. A study from the Journal of Technology Education shows that people who take announced tests retain far more information on the subject matter in the long-term than those who don’t take any sort of exam.
There’s a plethora of sections and subsections in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. Have your staff study a certain section during a two-week period and create a quiz to take at the end of the two weeks. The coding guidelines for Neoplasms could be the focus of one period for instance.
Keep the quizzes relatively short and pressure-free – some people don’t test well under pressure. The tests are meant to help your staff retain knowledge and allow you to gauge their ICD-10 readiness, not make them experts in a two-week period.
Attend Webinars
Webinars are great due to the depth of information received at the convenience of the webinar attendee. Webinars usually involve slides similar to a PowerPoint, except there is also a speaker elaborating on the slides for the attendee. Thorough explanations are important for a complex subject like ICD-10.
Simply conducting a Google search for “ICD-10 Training Webinar” provides a wide array of resources, some of them free. Try to find live webinars to take advantage of question and answer sessions. That way, your staff can ask experts about any pressing questions they have about ICD-10.
Gamify training
Gamification is one of the trendiest terms in education right now. Gamification simply means applying game mechanics to non-game situations to motivate behavioral change.
According to Gartner Inc., 70% of Forbes Global 2000 companies will have at least one gamified application by 2014. The thinking is that people become more engaged if their learning tasks are fun.
Sites like FindACode.com feature ICD-10 training games. But keep in mind; you can gamify the training experience yourself. For instance, use the review and test method but add a competitive component to it. The person who grades the highest on the quizzes gets an extra vacation day or something similar.
ICD-10 training should be one of the primary focuses of your practice. It will help you avoid a whole host of errors and frustrations that accompany the transition for many physicians.
EHRs can help eliminate all kinds of errors as well if you choose the right one. Check out our EHR Buying Guide.
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