Joining the ranks of physician and nursing shortages is a medical coder shortage of unprecedented heights. Hospitals need to quickly alleviate this problem or risk losing thousands of dollars in unbilled charges. Here’s a look at four actionable solutions to the coder shortage gap in hospitals. First, why is there a coder shortage? Sickness running rampant throughout an...

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates, 608,570 deaths will occur from cancer in the United States in 2021. About 45% are attributed to potentially preventable, pre-pandemic causes such as tobacco smoking, obesity, alcohol intake, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet. In the ACS report Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts & Figures,...

On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared, “… December 7, 1941 – a day that will live in infamy….” when the USA was suddenly attacked by Japan. Many died from the attack itself and the ensuing world war into which America was thrust. On March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic (an infectious disease that has spread, in this case,...

Introduction Heart disease, which includes coronary artery disease (CAD), is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. To reduce the incidence of mortality, approximately 1.2 – 2 million cardiac stents are implanted each year worldwide. A cardiac stent or stents are deployed (inserted) into one or more affected cardiac arteries most commonly via a minimally invasive...

I am the sole tumor registrar at a small Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited facility in the state of Vermont. I have been employed there for over five years. Because I am the only registrar, I am responsible for all the tasks that are involved in maintaining the tumor registry.  When I first started here, I worked 2.5 days at a hospital location and 2 days remotely...

In June 2020, the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) launched the Cancer Surgery Standards Program (CSSP) quality program to shift from standards based in facilities / equipment to outcomes-based standards. There is growing evidence-based research suggesting that adherence to specific operative reporting techniques leads to longer survival, better surgical outcomes and...

CAM? Isn’t she some female American country music singer/songwriter? No – a CAM is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage that has something to do with turning rotary motion into linear motion – at least that’s what the dictionary said. Besides, what would have female country music singer or a car engine part have to do with acupuncture? Well, they have...

According to a Pew Research Center analysis, retirement looms for 3.5 million retirees over the next year, including the most recent labor force data.1 Many organizations face this worrisome predicament, yet many health information management departments struggle with being proactive in their planning efforts. This week's blog post asked three healthcare industry leaders...

Several important updates and additions were made to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting for fiscal year 2022. Although key changes will be highlighted in this article, be sure to review the new and revised guidance in its entirety to ensure proper diagnosis coding and reporting. General Guideline Updates Guideline I.B.2, Level of Detail in Coding...

The purpose and intent of palliative care is often misunderstood. In 1990 the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized palliative care as a distinct medical specialty dedicated to relieving the suffering and improving the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses, chronic disease, or serious injury. Despite its twenty-plus year history, many healthcare...