Assaults vs Abuse

[kyannekis]

If a patient presents to the ED because of an assault by unknown person when I look up assault it sends you to maltreatment which is for abuse. Would you use this group of "T" codes or code fractures with the "Y code for the fight/brawl?

 

[mitchellde]

You look under assault in the the index to external causes. You were looking in index to diseases.

 

[kyannekis]

Assaults

Thank you. So we would only use the "T" assault codes when it is abuse correct.

Karen

 

[mitchellde]

Yes that is correct. For assault you code the injury(s) first then the external cause code for the assault. Such as assault with baseball bat, Y08.02xA