Final answer:
The role of the medical coder in translating patient visit information into numeric and alphanumeric ICD codes is indeed true. ICD codes are found in medical laboratories for test identification and in health-care management systems for treatment verification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the role of the medical coder is to translate the relevant information from a patient's visit into numeric and alphanumeric codes is true. Medical coders utilize International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to accurately reflect the diagnosis, procedures, and services provided during a patient's healthcare encounter. These codes become a part of the patient's medical record and are essential for various reasons.
Two locations where you would likely find an ICD code include medical laboratories and health-care management systems. In medical laboratories, ICD codes are used to specify which tests need to be performed based on the suspected diagnosis. Health-care management systems use these codes to ensure that the treatments and laboratory work carried out correspond appropriately to the diagnosis.
Additionally, these codes are important for medical billers who process claims for insurance reimbursement, vital-records keepers who record causes of death, and epidemiologists who calculate morbidity and mortality statistics based on these codes.