By Judy Monestime bio ICD-10 CM's Chapter 6 Diseases of the Nervous System (G00-G99) includes diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as epilepsy, migraine, and other headache syndromes. Many codes include a combination of conditions, such as persistent migraine aura with cerebral infarction, intractable (G43.61-). The following conditions have been … [Read more...] about Multiple coding now required for nervous system diseases
HIPAA and records hiding somewhere in the hospital
Question: One of our physicians took patient charts to the hospital. Two of those charts were lost. They contained personal information such as Social Security numbers as well as the clinical notes. What information should I send to the patients? (Submitted by a New York manager – name withheld by request.) Answer: Respond first with common sense, advises health … [Read more...] about HIPAA and records hiding somewhere in the hospital
Embracing change
Editor's picks: CMS changes will bridge old and new models of chronic care management Children's health care spending increases, focus changes Telemedicine: staying current amid ongoing changes … [Read more...] about Embracing change
Fear in termination: the sympathetic plaintiff
By Steve M. Cohen bio I recently saw a story about an employee who was terminated by her (small-business) employer. This employee had numerous experiences of personal tragedy in her family. In the previous year, she had lost one of her parents, another relative passed away, and then her son developed kidney failure. She found out that she was a viable donor and … [Read more...] about Fear in termination: the sympathetic plaintiff
Patient self-scheduling offers advantages for busy medical practices
Demand for greater convenience will change the way patients schedule appointments in the near future. Approximately two-in-three patients (64 percent) are expected to book medical appointments online by the end of 2019, according to research conducted by Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company. "Just as consumers use online … [Read more...] about Patient self-scheduling offers advantages for busy medical practices
Team leader
Editor's picks: Involving staff in marketing generates good ideas and sense of teamwork Role-playing turns front and back office staff into one team Virginia manager uses contests to help turn staff into a team … [Read more...] about Team leader
Accountability is a two-way street for medical office managers
By Steve M. Cohen bio One pitfall that's tough to avoid is human nature. Call it psychology or individual weakness, it almost always comes down to traps that you should avoid. One of the easiest things to stumble over involves seemingly straightforward missteps that can have an office manager labeled "hypocritical." Seldom is this more on display than in areas … [Read more...] about Accountability is a two-way street for medical office managers
How to respond when a staffer is suspected of drug or alcohol abuse
When the manager suspects a staffer of drug or alcohol abuse, a lot of factors come into play. Yes, a medical office can require drug testing and terminate the staffer. But the manager needs to be aware of all the issues that can enter into that picture, says attorney Jeffrey M. Schlossberg of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek in Uniondale, NY. Approach the staffer in the wrong way … [Read more...] about How to respond when a staffer is suspected of drug or alcohol abuse
Why you should avoid hiring your clone
Hiring a new employee is a tedious task that every medical office manager faces. But what if, two months after hiring a new employee, you realize that you have simply hired yourself? At first this may not sound like a terrible decision but, by taking a step back and looking at what hiring yourself really means, you'll notice that every employee at the organization has the … [Read more...] about Why you should avoid hiring your clone
Coding tips for respiratory diseases
By Judy Monestime bio ICD-10-CM Chapter 10, "Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00–J99)," identifies codes for a wide variety of pulmonary conditions, ranging from acute upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, influenza, asthma, as well as diseases of the lower respiratory tract including chronic lung diseases and diseases acquired from exposure to external substances. … [Read more...] about Coding tips for respiratory diseases