Final answer:
A medical assistant should look for the main term in the diagnostic statement when searching for a diagnostic code in the alphabetic index of the ICD. These codes are used in medical laboratories and health-care management systems among other places.
Step-by-step explanation:
When looking up a diagnostic code in the alphabetic index, a medical assistant should first identify the main term in the diagnostic statement, which is typically the condition or symptom the patient is experiencing. The alphabetic index in the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) is organized primarily by these main terms, with subterms that further define the condition. After locating the main term, the assistant should then consult the alphabetic index to find the associated ICD code. Medical assistants, medical coders, and billers use these codes for various purposes, such as ordering laboratory tests, assigning codes to procedures, processing insurance claims, and recording vital statistics.
Two locations where one would likely find an ICD code include medical laboratories, where they identify necessary tests, and health-care management systems, where the codes are used to verify treatments and laboratory work.