Question

Physicians who use picklists in their EHRs to document an ICD-10-CM code instead of a narrative description of the diagnosis are:

a) Following best practice
b) Doing so in error
c) Following EHR guidelines
d) Accurate

Answer 1

Physicians using picklists to document ICD-10-CM codes in EHRs are following guidelines to streamline healthcare processes. ICD codes are found in medical laboratories and on death certificates.

Step-by-step explanation:

Physicians who use picklists in their Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to document an ICD-10-CM code, instead of a narrative description of the diagnosis, are generally following EHR guidelines. Using ICD codes in EHRs streamlines the process for identifying and tracking patient diagnoses for various administrative and clinical purposes. For instance, when a patient is treated for a viral infection, clinicians use ICD codes for ordering laboratory tests and prescribing treatments. These codes facilitate communication between healthcare providers, medical coders, billers, and insurance companies. Additionally, vital-records keepers and epidemiologists rely on ICD codes for maintaining records and conducting statistical analyses.

Two locations where you are likely to find an ICD code include medical laboratories, where tests are conducted to confirm a diagnosis, and on death certificates, where they are used to record the cause of death.