Final answer:
The 68-year-old woman's diagnoses would be coded using the ICD-10-CM system, with the primary diagnosis of septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus and a secondary diagnosis of diverticulitis of the colon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to a 68-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with septicemia secondary to Staphylococcus aureus and abdominal pain secondary to diverticulitis of the colon.
When assigning correct medical codes for diagnoses and procedures in a hospital setting, professionals use the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system. The current version in use (as of the knowledge cutoff date of 2023) is ICD-10-CM.
The principal diagnosis should be septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus, designated by a specific code in the ICD-10-CM system. This is often a code from the chapter on certain infectious and parasitic diseases. The secondary diagnosis would be the code for diverticulitis of the colon.
Given that clinical coding can be complex and highly specific, it is critical that coders refer to the latest ICD-10-CM coding manual or electronic coding tool to ensure accuracy.
The codes themselves are not given here due to the potential for changes in coding practices and the importance of using the most up-to-date and specific codes available.