flynn043

I know, I know. It's been a long time since I've blogged - I once again defer to my blog entitled "It's Coding Season" for my excuse! Like many I am back at work today after a long weekend - the kind of weekend that makes you forget about reality and work and you're embedded in a euphoric state of holidaydom with family and friends. But this morning it was back to the dreaded reality that I really have a lot to do. Darn it. Like many Monday mornings, I grabbed a cup of coffee and padded into the office where stacks of virtual work awaited me. I was instantly grateful that I took the time last week before the holiday to clean off my desk and get the real stacks of paper off my credenza. But that ended once the computer was on, email was open, and my to do list was blaring at me. And so I sat here at my desk for a bit, not really knowing where to start, all the while knowing I needed to do something - no matter how seemingly small - to whittle down that t...

Wow, I've been busy - see "It's Coding Season" for details! Maybe this link will tide you over until I can come back up for air. This is a link to my HI Careers blog about the realities of coding from home. "FAQ: Can I work from home as a coder?" Catch you later, Kristi

By high school, we all had learned about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which states that if basic human needs are met, people are motivated to achieve more. And if those needs aren’t met, people can’t be expected to aim higher. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but lately I’ve witnessed a trend that seems to be upholding Maslow’s theory. The base of the Maslow hierarchy is the physiologic needs we all require to sustain life with safety following close behind. And when these two base needs are threatened, people don’t have the confidence they need to move into the self-actualization phase. In case you need a refresher, here is Maslow’s hierarchy starting with the most basic needs: · Physiological – breathing, food, water, sleep, homeostasis, excretion · Safety – security of body, employment, resources, morality, family, health, and property · Love/Belonging – friendship, family, intimacy · Esteem – self-esteem, confidence, respect of othe...

One of my favorite cartoons as a child was the Smurfs. And although I have strong opinions on my perceived unoriginality of remakes and the making of TV shows into movies, I admit, I was oddly excited when I saw a photo of Hank Azaria donning a Gargamel costume for next year’s Smurfs movie. I then read that the Smurfs have been around for more than 50 years. I’m not good at math, but I’m good enough to realize that means Smurfs were around long before I first started watching Saturday morning cartoons. So I did what I always do when faced with a potential trivia question. I googled Smurfs. I was surprised to find out that the Belgian creator, Peyo, was faced with two job prospects after his schooling: one in dentistry and one as an illustrator. He applied for the job at the dentist first, only to find out the job had been filled 15 minutes earlier. And to think, had Peyo gotten started earlier that morning, I would have led a Smurfless life. Devastating. Peyo be...

I'm sometimes asked if there's a busy time of year for coders or if it's pretty much status quo. As a matter of fact, there is a busy time of year for coders and this is it! Every year, we gear up for all the upcoming year's coding changes. That means letting coders know which codes have been deleted, expanded, and added and letting coders, physicians, administrators, and revenue cycle personnel know how code-based reimbursement will be affected in the coming year. This may seem rather straightforward, but since we work with more than one code set with different implementation dates, fourth quarter of each year can be pretty crazy! ICD-9-CM Codes The ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes are updated annually with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) fiscal year (FY), which begins October 1. These codes are used to report diagnoses for all health care settings and procedures for hospital inpatients. Right now, you will find coders acquiring thei...

Need a Coder Coach fix between blog postings? I frequently post links to articles on Facebook and Twitter. On Facebook, search for the group "The Coder Coach" and on Twitter, look for @codercoach.

If you haven't heard yet, the coding system is changing on October 1, 2013 from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. I have told a lot of new coders and coding students that this gives them a more level playing field when it comes to getting hired on as a coder. But 2013 is still 3 years away. If you are graduating soon and will be looking for a coding position, what does ICD-10 really mean to you? Should you start training on ICD-10 now so that you are well-positioned for the coding switch? Why ICD-10 is a Good Thing for Wanna-be Coders I always start with the prerequisite disclaimer when I talk about coders: I am a coder, so I can poke a little fun at our idiosyncrasies. Many coders don't like change. And that's part of what makes them so successful as coders - the ability to work in a routine environment coding patient record after patient record. So to coders who really dislike change, ICD-10 is like an atomic bomb. I've heard some say they will retire or f...