Wiki Acute/chronic keywords

[velmaperales-Diaz]

Keywords such as "probable", "suspected", "likely", "rule out", etc. indicate uncertainty.

So how about acute and chronic? Are there any keywords to watch out for whenever "acute" or "chronic" are absent? One example would be "develops", such as in the statement "The patient subsequently develops respiratory failure." The coder should know that the respiratory failure is acute since it had just developed.

If there's a website I can go to for keywords of all types of common coding terms then that'll be great as well! If not, help would be really appreciative! Thanks!

 

[CodingKing]

They need to specify if its acute or chronic, you cant just assume. There is no simple way in my understanding. ICD-10 guidelines may have you code to the default unspecified or sometimes the default is chronic or acute, you just need to follow what the index or ICD-10 guidelines tell you to do.

 

[JEYCPC]

Go back to the physicians and request clarification. If you ask often enough, they will hopefully start including it.