Principal Diagnosis Assignment Practice Scenarios

Instructor

Patricia Maccariella-Hafey, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, CIRCC 

Description

In this course, participants will embark on a comprehensive journey to master the art of selecting the correct principal diagnosis in medical coding. Through 25 carefully crafted documentation scenarios, students will hone their skills in determining the primary medical condition for a patient's hospital stay. Prior completion of prerequisite courses is essential to ensure a strong foundation. Delving into the intricacies of principal diagnosis selection, this course emphasizes the importance of clinical documentation in supporting physician diagnoses and the dynamic nature of this process. 

**Note: Pre-requisites to completing this course is to first complete the following courses:

• Principal Diagnosis Assignment
• Principal Diagnosis Selection: Symptom Code vs Diagnosis Code as Principal Diagnosis
• Principal Diagnosis Selection When Two Diagnoses Qualify
• Principal Diagnoses Selection: Acute vs Chronic or Underlying Conditions

Included Lessons:

• Introduction
• Assignment

Key Takeaways

• Expertise in Principal Diagnosis Selection: Students will develop a deep understanding of how to identify and select the primary medical condition for a patient's hospital stay, a crucial skill in medical coding.
• Clinical Documentation Evaluation: Participants will learn to critically assess clinical documentation to determine its support for physician diagnoses, ensuring accuracy and compliance with coding guidelines.
• Prerequisite Mastery: Completion of prerequisite courses will equip coders with essential knowledge and a strong foundation for making informed decisions in assigning principal diagnoses.
• Adherence to Coding Guidelines: Coders will gain proficiency in adhering to chapter-specific guidelines that dictate the sequencing of diagnoses, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
• Recognition of Case Variability: Students will appreciate that each patient's medical record is unique, and the principal diagnosis may evolve as the record is reviewed, emphasizing the importance of context and thorough analysis.
• Clinical Validity Assessment: Coders will understand the significance of clinical indicators in supporting diagnoses, and they'll be prepared to handle cases lacking clinical documentation through an escalation process if needed.
• Critical Thinking Skills: The course fosters the development of critical thinking skills, empowering coders to apply their knowledge to diverse scenarios and make informed decisions in the complex field of medical coding.

Benefits of Taking this Course

• Enhanced Coding Proficiency
• Improved Accuracy in Code Assignment
• Greater Confidence in Principal Diagnosis Selection
• Professional Growth

FAQs

About our Medical Coding Courses

HIAlearn, powered by Health Information Associates (HIA)—a leader in medical coding and auditing for more than three decades—offers a comprehensive online education platform for medical coders. With a catalog of over 200 medical coding courses accepted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and a selection approved by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), HIAlearn caters to both beginners and experienced medical coders seeking to enhance their skills. The platform provides an array of training plans tailored to meet individual learning needs, from mastering challenging coding procedures to understanding broad conceptual frameworks within the coding world. Courses are available across various coding types including CPT, E/M, ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and are designed to cater to different coder levels and coding specialties such as inpatient, outpatient, profee, and CDI. Additionally, HIAlearn offers a Coding Updates bundle to ensure coders are up-to-date with the annual changes in ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and IPPS. Beyond individual learning, HIAlearn supports organizations with group discounts, promoting enhanced coding accuracy, efficiency, and compliance across teams.