Wiki A, D, S 7th digit codes?

[dmcopel@hotmail.com]

Please help....

I have a patient who was seen initially in ER for an injury. My Doctor saw this patient for the 1st time 3 days later for a follow up on the same injury. Would I use an A because it is the 1st time my doctor saw it or D since she was initially seen and treated in the ER?

Thank you.

 

[mitchellde]

Read the updated guidelines. They state that assignment of the 7th character is based on whether the patient is receiving active treatment not on whether your provider is seeing the patient for the first time.
Diagnosis codes were were created to capture the patients diagnosis and not the providers encounter. So for your encounter for follow up after being treated in the ER it will be subsequent.

 

[CodingKing]

Knowing the patient was in the ER is not enough information to determine if the next visits is A or D. Many times in the ER its stabilize and refer back to PCP or another specialist for active treatment. When that is the case its still A since its active treatment. If its routine follow up just to see how things are healing then it could be a D.