Pediatric healthcare organizations face the ongoing process of maintaining accurate and successful documentation. The world of clinical documentation also faces new challenges with the conversion over to ICD-10. According to a recent study by ACDIS, 37 percent of respondents said that they were unaware if their organization had conducted an assessment of ICD-10 preparations. With time running out and the 2013 deadline approaching, it is crucial for healthcare providers to make efforts and begin preparing for the transition.
The enhanced amount of codes will have deep implications. Coders that have extensive experience and are accustomed to ICD-9 may fall short in productivity when transitioning to the new codes. Because the increased number of codes allows for more specificity, clinicians will need to provide greater detail in their documentation in order to help coders. Having a poor transition into ICD-10 could lead to difficult repercussions. These could include cash flow problems, increase in claims or denials, unintended changes in payment, and backlogs in billing and coding.
Gaining education for staff and putting into place a pediatric clinical documentation program can help organizations make the shift easier. With a proven record of success, DCBA helps children’s hospitals and pediatric healthcare organizations streamline documentation with time tested strategies. DCBA’s CDI program specifically designed for pediatric health care can increase case mix index, offer improved coder efficiency, and reduce noncompliance. Their solutions in pediatric clinical documentation have helped hundreds of companies across the U.S., let DCBA go to work for you and provide comprehensive strategies that gain real results.