Final answer:
Diagnostic codes like ICD are used to provide detailed information on a patient's condition. Medical billers and vital-records keepers are two entities that commonly use ICD codes. Additional tests such as CT scans and urine analysis are essential in diagnosing conditions informed by these codes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diagnostic codes, such as those from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), are crucial in the medical field. They provide detailed information about the patient's condition and the treatments that were administered during a visit. When a patient is treated for an ailment like a viral infection, for instance, the healthcare provider uses ICD codes to order the appropriate laboratory tests for the suspected virus and to guide the treatment protocol. These ICD codes are then utilized by medical laboratories to identify which tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Two common locations where one would likely find an ICD code are on medical billers' documents and on death certificates kept by vital-records officials. Medical coders also utilize ICD codes to assign accurate codes for procedures, which are crucial for processing insurance claims.
Considering a clinical scenario like Marisa's, additional tests such as a CT scan of the abdomen, bloodwork for white blood cell count, and a urine analysis with culture, are crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment planning. These tests help in ruling out conditions such as appendicitis and identifying possible infections.