Author: Rihanek, Theresa

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: June 2014

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has received considerable attention by the media recently, especially bringing attention to the prevalence of TBI in sports-related activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “A TBI is a bump, blow or jolt to the head o....

Author: Mahoney, Robert J.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2005

A major frustration among coding professionals, particularly in the inpatient setting, is the difficulty in translating physician documentation into diagnostic related group (DRG) data. Some hospitals have attempted to improve their coding effectiveness by establishing time-consuming physician....

Author: Mahoney, Robert J.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: March 2005

Last issue’s article presented some ways that DRG criteria redefine well-established clinical entities such as respiratory failure and sepsis. This article will discuss two other incompatibilities between DRG criteria and clinical practice: the clinical distinctions required by the DRG s....

Author: Huff, Garry L.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2003

Diabetes mellitus represents a group of disorders that are characterized by hyperglycemia. The clinical and ICD-9-CM classification of diabetes mellitus have evolved as understanding of insulin physiology has expanded. This article will explain diabetes mellitus and its ICD-9-CM classification....

Author: Cook, Jane; D'Amato, Cheryl; Garrett, Gail S.; Ruhnau-Gee, Becky; Hyde, Linda A.; Novak, Natalie

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: June 2009

Present on admission indicators, hospital-acquired conditions, serious reportable events, and “wrong” surgical events are each hot topics. However, they also can be a hot topic together, because a number of these reporting requirements are interrelated. HIM professionals must under....

Author: Cooper, Steve

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: July 2004

Recent legislation included in both the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA) and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 has affected the content and implementation processes for Medicare coverage determinations. This column reviews differenc....

Author: Vlahos, Nikos F.; Zeisset, Ann M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2003

Coding professionals routinely code abdominal or pelvic adhesions. Recent advances in treatment and a newly approved ICD-9-CM procedure code, however, bring the topic to the forefront. Is your knowledge current?

This article will explain what pelvic adhesions are, the surgical techn....

Author: Ward, Maria

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2017

Coding respiratory cases can sometimes lead to coding professionals getting bogged down in the circle of sequencing instructions, inclusions, and exclusions. This article will help readers gain a better understanding of the differences in the diagnoses that all come with a majority of the....

Author: Albaum-Feinstein, Andrea L.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: June 2000

Editor's note: This is the second part in a two-part series on diagnostic coding for mental healthcare.

Documentation differences between DSM-IV and ICD-9-CM continue to challenge coders in mental health settings. Efforts to minimize these differences are evident in curren....

Author: Warren, Judith J.; Bakken, Suzanne

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: July 2002

HIM professionals can learn a lot from the nursing profession’s development of classification systems, terminology models, and quality indicators. Compared to other healthcare classification systems such as ICD-9-CM or CPT-IV, the nursing systems have not been widely used for reimbursemen....