ICD 10 Coding Training for Physicians
Medical coding is essential to keep updated and accurate patient records. This is helpful for healthcare providers and insurance companies alike.
For this, the majority of hospitals rely on the WHO’s International Classification for Diseases (ICD) system.
This is a coding system that allows and classifies every diagnosis, symptom, and treatment procedure with a specific code. This is an upgraded version of the ICD 9 code sets which were used earlier.
By undergoing training in ICD coding, physicians can expand their career scope and seek entry into the administrative end of a healthcare facility easily.
What is ICD 10 Coding?
There are around 3 to 7 characters in the ICD-CM code set. Usually, the first 3 characters are used to create main code categories, such as for injuries and diseases.
Later on, the code can be expanded to correspond more accurately with the specific diagnoses details.
What is ICD 10 Coding
The coding structure used by ICD 10 is made of:
- Diagnostic category – The first to third characters in the ICD 10 code set define specific categories. The first character of the code is always an alphabet while the second character is a numeral. The third character in the code can be either alphabetic or numeric. The third character is always followed by a decimal. These categories help to distinguish majors, different diagnoses, such as nervous system problems or orthopedic issues.
- Anatomical Site, Etiology, Severity – The fourth to the sixth character in ICD 10 coding provide details of diagnosis. This can involve an anatomic site, cause, and other clinical details which are essential for diagnosis. For instance, these codes can disclose any action that happened during the time of sustaining the injury.
- Extension – The seventh character in the ICD 10 coding system is unique. It is usually allotted for pregnancy and childbirth. This code provided information about the fetus, or injuries, poisoning and other incidences. This is helpful in cases where follow-up visits are required.
Highlights of ICD 10 Code
Let’s check some of the highlighting features of the ICD 10 coding system:
- ICD 10 is an extensively detailed diagnostic coding system. It has about 69,000 codes allotted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used in more than 100 countries across the globe.
- The greater details preserved by the ICD 10 coding system help to improve patient care, reporting, analytics and tracking public health problems more efficiently.
- The majority of administrative and clinical processes in the healthcare industry depend on the ICD 10 coding system.
- Every professional who is certified by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) needs to pass the ICD 10 CM proficiency exam.
What are the steps to acquire ICD 10 Coding Training for Physicians?
To maintain your AAPC certification, you will need to get a passing score on the ICD 10 CM Proficiency Assessment exam. Besides, if you have AHIMA certification, then you will need to earn ICD 10 CM certification through continued education.
The credential type decides the number of CEUs you receive from this training. You can earn CEUs either through employer-sponsored or through independent training programs.
If you are looking to undergo the most efficient ICD 10 coding training for physicians, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1 – Find the right ICD 10 coding training program
The AAPC, AHIMA and several other organizations offer training for the ICD 10 CM Proficiency Assessment exam.
The AAPC training module includes all ICD-10 guidelines and lets you practice coding exercises for additional proficiency.
The four main stages of ICD 10 coding training for physicians within the AHIMA online classes are:
- Readiness, Awareness, Assessments and Foundation training program
- ICD-10-CM Coding Course Collection – This involves 22 one-hour courses on specific ICD-CM chapters.
- ICD-10-PCS Coding Course Collection – This involves a complete overview and 10 courses on specific root operation, grouping and procedures.
- ICD 10-CM and ICD 10-PCS Practice Exercises – Offers several four-hour training modules for coding experience with extensive case scenarios for inpatient and outpatient coders.
Step 2 – Register for the ICD-10 Proficiency Assessment exam
The next step is to sign up for the ICD-10 Proficiency Assessment exam.
This exam gauges your understanding of the ICD-10-CM structure and format, the categories, groupings of codes, coding concepts and official guidelines.
You can choose to take a timed exam or a self-paced test for this certification.
Step 3 – Enroll in Advanced Training
There are several advanced ICD-10 training courses available for physicians. These advanced courses are designed for those who wish to develop their coding knowledge extensively.
For this you can enroll in any of the below AAPC-backed courses:
- Advanced A&P for ICD-10 – This course covers physiology and anatomy relating to chronic conditions. This helps to find the correct table for building an ICD-10-PCS code.
- ICD-10-CM for HCC – This interactive online course helps you to learn the reasons for changes depending on quantity-based payments. This course also teaches how chronic conditions can increase healthcare expenses.
- Advanced Code Set Testing – This course teaches clinical concepts used in common health conditions and assigns codes for the same.
Conclusion
ICD 10 coding training for physicians is extremely beneficial. This is an excellent way to enhance your knowledge, skill-set, and proficiency in the healthcare industry.
Those healthcare practitioners who wish to enter the administrative end of hospitals should seek ICD 10 coding training for physicians.
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Reference links:
https://icd.who.int/training/icd10training/
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