Whether you like it or not, your medical organization is going to have to make the switch from the International Classification of Diseases version 9 to ICD-10. Some healthcare providers may have grown complacent because they have seen the U.S. government declaring that the deadline for the switch would be a few years ago, only to see an extension until 2014.
The latest deadline is October 1, 2015, and we should work under the assumption that this will be the last extension from the government.
As a prudent leader in your healthcare group, you’re not likely going to want to delay any further in getting your team ready for the impending transition. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you move beyond ICD-9.
Develop a Transition Plan
How can you move beyond ICD-9 if you don’t first have a plan in place? Developing a set of milestones in your transition plan will ensure that you don’t let anything fall through the cracks.
You’ll want to discuss the details of the transition with your staff, as well as contact insurance entities and any other parties you must communicate with to make sure they will be ready to work with you using the new ICD-10 codes.
Practice and Keep Training & Testing!
The more you learn and the longer you practice, the better you will be able to make full use of ICD-10. It will be in your best interest to provide your team with robust training and plenty of time to practice as they move beyond ICD-9.
You have a number of options to get ready. Members of your staff can take part in self-paced online learning programs, for example, or attend seminars on how to get the most out of ICD-10. They can also use online webinars to get the information they need, as well as share valuable insights through peer-based education.
The members of your staff who are best prepared for ICD-10 can help other employees in group settings during staff meetings or one-on-one tutoring sessions.
It’s also a good idea to take advantage of online tools to help you get better accustomed to the new code. This is why you’ll definitely want to check out the online Medics ICD-10 Coding Converter.
Make Sure Your Software Provider Is Prepared for the Transition
Do not assume anything when it comes to healthcare software. Make a point of contacting your preferred software provider to verify that they are prepared for the transition.
Also, check what kind of learning tools the software provider will make available to you as you make the transition, and use these resources on a regular basis.
After you develop a solid transition plan to move beyond ICD-9 to ICD-10, it’s simply a matter of assessing your team’s skill and knowledge in terms of the international codes, and then arranging for an appropriate level of training and practice. What’s more, verifying that your software provider is also up to the task of switching to ICD-10 will give you the peace of mind you deserve as you get ready to use the new codes.
Key Takeaway
- The United States is lagging behind other nations in implementing the new International Classification of Diseases code from version 9 to ICD-10.
- You will want to create a good transition plan to guide your team in moving beyond ICD-9.
- Arrange for enough time and resources to let your team practice and train in ICD-10.
- It’s prudent to verify that your software provider will be able to meet the challenge of implementing ICD-10 in its electronic health record applications.
