Final answer:
Coding in healthcare refers to the process of translating medical documentation into codes for reimbursement purposes. ICD codes are widely utilized in various sectors of healthcare, such as by clinicians, medical coders, and billers. These codes are commonly found on medical bills or charts and death certificates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition of coding in a healthcare context is translating documentation into numerical/alphanumerical codes that are used to obtain reimbursement from insurance carriers. In the medical field, a common set of codes used is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. These codes are essential for various aspects of healthcare administration.
For example, clinicians use ICD codes to order laboratory tests and prescribe treatments for specific conditions, such as a viral infection. Medical laboratories rely on these codes to identify necessary tests for confirming diagnoses, and the healthcare management system verifies that all treatments and lab work are appropriate for the condition based on these codes. Furthermore, medical coders assign ICD codes for procedures performed, and medical billers use these codes to process insurance claims for reimbursement.
Vital-records keepers and epidemiologists also use ICD codes; the former to record cause of death on death certificates and the latter to calculate morbidity and mortality statistics. Therefore, two locations where you would likely find an ICD code are on a patient's medical bill or chart at a healthcare facility, and on a death certificate at a vital records office.