Question

While in the hospital, an external, single read, EKG was performed on the patient. The root operation term used for this ICD-10-PCS code is:

A) Monitoring: determining the level of a physiological or physical function repetitively over a period of time
B) Assistance: taking over a portion of a physiological function by extracorporeal means
C) Measurement: determining the level of a physiological or physical function at a point in time
D) Performance: completely taking over a physiological function by extracorporeal means

Answer 1

The root operation for the ICD-10-PCS code for a single read EKG performed in a hospital is 'Measurement,' as it determines the level of heart's electrical function at a specific point in time.

Step-by-step explanation:

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a surface recording of the electrical activity of the heart which can be used for the diagnosis of irregular heart function. When a single reading of an ECG is taken in a hospital setting, the root operation for the ICD-10-PCS code is Measurement: determining the level of a physiological or physical function at a point in time.

In this case, the ECG is capturing the electrical impulses of the cardiac muscle at a specific moment, rather than monitoring these impulses over a period of time, which would instead fall under the root operation 'Monitoring.' As such, the correct answer for the root operation term used for this ICD-10-PCS code is C) Measurement.