Wiki in the provider's notes, what does "[condition] versus] [condition]" mean?

[The Angel Of the South]

This is one of the things I have not learned yet. Occasionally the provider will write "versus" in the notes, notwithstanding that that may not be a confirmed diagnosis to code anyway. For instance, I just saw "Possible Conjunctivitis versus contact dermatitis" in the notes I'm looking at. I don't understand what versus means here.

 

[amyjph]

It's kind of like a differential diagnosis. It means it could be X or it could be X, they have not definitively diagnosed it yet. The word possible also is a clue.
You could also read it as "either/or".

 

[lgardner]

when a provider doesn't have enough information to be able to confirm a dx, they might document the symptoms with a statement [condition] vs [condition].
these are considered differential dx, conditions that the provider is considering or looking to rule out.

in outpatient coding, you cannot code a differential or 'possible/probable' dx, BUT, if the provider documents the dx they are considering, they can help support medical necessity for the encounter.