The Optometric Minute

ICD-10: Embrace a Tool that Elevates Patient Care

Scott A. Jens, OD, FAAO, CEO of Revolution EHR, encourages colleagues to embrace ICD-10 as a tool for being more accurate in documenting patient conditions. This new nomenclature system goes beyond the coding and billing process of ICD-9 to allow for highly detailed notations of your diagnoses. This enables a more effective process for treatment plans. Dr. Jens emphasizes that doctor and staff must work together in this more accurate coding system in order to realize increased efficiency and effect better patient outcomes.

UPDATE ON ICD-10 TIMETABLE

At press time, the U.S. Congress voted to delay implementation of ICD-10 by one year, to October 2015. “It is important to note that ODs now can utilize ICD-10 codes for documentation,” advises Dr. Jens. “This is not a permanent delay, as payers already have begun the process to become compliant, and we need to continue the process of informing ourselves about ICD-10.”

ACTION POINTS

EMBRACE ICD-10. Elevate patient care with more detailed diagnostic descriptions.
BE HANDS ON. Doctor notes must be more detailed–and staff must participate, as well.
UTILIZE ELECTRONIC CAPABILITIES. Use electronic lookup and translations from ICD-9.

Scott A. Jens, OD, FAAO, is co-owner of Isthmus Eye Care, with offices in Middleton and Madison, Wis. In addition, Dr. Jens is the CEO of RevolutionEHR, a provider of online-based electronic health records. He can be reached at: sjens@revolutionehr.com.

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