Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: Should I use E codes for accidents?

Illinois Subscriber  
Answer: Although E codes (E800-E999) do not generate revenue, report them with the appropriate CPT and ICD-9 codes. E codes help public-health officials plan prevention programs, and indicate, with diagnosis codes, a classification system for injuries.
 
Dont expect the hospital emergency room to document the injury event. Emergency-room physicians may say that the injury was caused on a playground, but not whether it was due to a fall from height or onto a hard surface, whether the playground was in a school, a home, or a public park, and whether anyone else was involved or present. E codes can denote all of these things.
 
Based on E codes, the Indian Health Services identified a road in North Carolina where motor vehicle-pedestrian collisions occurred. The roadway was fixed, and the problem was solved.
 
It takes less than three minutes to assign E codes to each record. Since 64 percent of children and teen-ager deaths are due to injuries, its worth taking that time to use your coding expertise to try to prevent future injuries.
 
E codes help prevent similar injuries and also provide the basis for preventive counseling. Its up to the pediatrician to fully document the injury and to advocate E codes, which make it possible to track these injuries.