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Monday, January 03, 2011

ICD-10 and Final Rule Information


·     Why now?
·     ICD 9 is running out of codes fast
·     Lack of comparability of data with global health reporting for disease tracking and research
·     ICD 9 lacks sufficient flexibility to describe new diseases, new technologies and new treatments
·     ICD 9 does not support development of new DRGs with adequate specificity for new technologies or treatments
·     What are the benefits?
·     Improvements in specificity
·     Expandability for new advances in medicine and medical technology
·     Expandable for future coding needs
·     Supports laterality
·     Supports improved coding for primary care, external causes of injury, mental disorders and other areas
·     Supports comparability of data with other countries
·     What is CMS’s compliance approach
·     Big Bang (same true for HIPAA EDI 5010)
·     BUT CMS will not immediately adopt ICD 10 for actual basis of DRG assignment and severity adjustment until a few years later
·     Why Big Bang is better?
·     To avoid issues with “dual use” that would result in overlapping use of ICD 9 and ICD 10 by payers and providers that would be out of synch
·     To reduce burden on coders to maintain two systems of coding
·     To eliminate costs of maintaining production systems support two coding systems
·     To reduce costs of maintaining multiple edit systems
·     To prevent confusion over which coding system to use in filing claims or report data externally
·     Why Not Immediately Using for DRG Payment?
·     To avoid rework of MS-DRGs so soon after initial adoption
·     To build experience with ICD 10 coding usage to assess DRG classifications and severity adjustment impact on reimbursement
  
ICD 10 IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

·     Is this not just another version change for ICD? Why is this different?
·     Order of magnitude – far more than managing the usual code expirations and additions – whole new medical nomenclature type
·     No historical frame of reference for use of the medical code set values built up unlike with a normal version change
·     Significance of impact on clinical content, clinical coding, decision support and business logic within HIT applications to maintain par level function
·     Comparability of data disrupted without some means of supporting mapping
·     What must be inventoried?
·     Only Revenue Cycle?
·     Or all the systems that use coding data for diagnosis and procedures?
·     Given that CMS proposes a “big bang”, what all needs to be updated?
·     Obvious Stuff
·     Coding Systems
·     Patient Accounting Systems
·     Scrubbers
·     Groupers/Encoders
·     Contract Management Systems
·     Somewhat Obvious Stuff
·     Eligibility Management Systems with Medical Necessity components
·     Compliance editing within coding, claims management, scrubber and charge master systems
·     Estimated reimbursement modeling
·     Revenue Cycle reporting systems
·     Less Obvious Stuff
·     Acuity modeling systems/database
·     External regulatory reporting specifications (e.g. state discharge/public health reporting)
·     Visit coding tools
·     Clinical decision support systems and content
·     Clinical documentation systems – forms and templates
·     Quality Management data collection, abstraction and reporting systems and specifications
·     Stuff You May Not Think Of
·     Surgical Pick Lists
·     Specialty Scheduling Systems (Resourcing driven by Condition or Procedure requirements)
·     Patient Education Materials
·     Discharge Planning tools
·     Nurse Staff Scheduling Systems
·     ICU Morbidity and Mortality Modeling
·     Order Sets, Care Plans, Care Protocols
·     Etc, etc and so forth

Key Areas of Assessment
 
·     Search functions and validation routines
·     “Hardwiring”
·     Policies for effective date
·     Data Capture/Data Entry Edits and Formats
·     Any embedded referential integrity edits on code set values
·     Field lengths as entered or stored
·     Display of code descriptions
·     Need or Use of Mapping Between ICD 9 and ICD 10
·     Conversion of databases
·     Conversion of code set maps
·     Continuity of information
·     Dual Use
·     Preserve logic functioning around compliance date
·     Retain ability to use ICD 9 for older activity that predates compliance date
·     Documentation Forms
·     Any form presentation or selection driven by application logic
·     Predefined Reference Content/START
·     May be more a consideration for Bedrock
·     Decision Support Rules
·     Any embedded Discern Expert or Advisor rules – again may be addressed by Innovations
·     Workflow/Business Processing Rules
·     Application logic flows or user conversational flows driven by ICD 9 CM or PCS
·     Compliance Edits
·     Applied during processing beyond point of data capture
·     Printed or Outputted Materials or Notices
·     Patient Education Materials/Discharge Instructions
·     Reference Links
·     Reporting or Analytics
·     Use of diagnosis or procedure codes for selection, filtering, presentation or sorting
·     Interfaces/Third Party Embedded Solutions
·     To third party products used for support of application logic or function
·     In the transaction layout – especially for external regulatory reporting or for application to application interfacing
·     Within third party products
·     Modeling
·     Acuity/Staffing
·     Risk modeling
·     Preferences
·     Catch all for any other application behaviors

Output from Assessment - Core Guiding Principles for the vendors

·     Enable common use of a default nomenclature type
·     Enable common support for effective date policy
·     Enable use of mappings where appropriate to use case especially to assist in search
·     Eliminate any hardwiring tied to ICD 9
·     Provide ICD 10 enabled content
·     Do not attempt to convert but either enable general equivalency or allow selection of a more appropriate and specific code
·     Do not convert any stored activity or analytic data
·     Enable use of mappings as appropriate on abstracted data especially for analytics
  
Core Project Checklist Used to Evaluate Each Application

·     First Phase for any given IP team – Address basic behaviors and uses 
·     Search component – support a default vocabulary type (no hardwiring for ICD 9)
·     Search component – support effective date policy
·     Validation routines – support a default vocabulary type
·     Validation routines – support effective date policy
·     Displays of code set values – assure field length of 7 supported
·     Analytics/reporting – support use of diagnosis or procedure code concept – not hardwired reference to ICD 9
·     Second Phase for any IP team and for specific domain issues– Address more complex issues 
·     Enable a search assistant that uses forward map
·     ICD 10 enabled reference lists, pick lists, order sentences, documentation fragments and other displays of reference lists
·     Use effective date policy
·     Address any business logic hardwiring
·     Update use of mapping  for SNOMED to ICD 9 to SNOMED to ICD 10 (limited use currently – mainly to support problem list to diagnosis code selection)
·     Discretionary
·     Move to a common nomenclature routine
·      Adopt SNOMED to ICD 10 mapping to facilitate end use
·     Use of ICD 9 to ICD 10 mappings for any extracts for analytics 

Resources
 
·     ICD-10-CM (Diagnoses)
·     ICD-10-PCS (Procedures)
·     GEMS
·     The CMS website has the GEMs and User’s Guides
·     ICD-10 General Information
·     ICD-10 Educational Resources
·     ICD-10 CMS Sponsored Calls
·     ICD-10 Final Rule
·     CDC
·     General ICD-10 information
·     ICD-10-CM files, information and general equivalence mappings between ICD-10-CM and ICD-9-CM
·     AHIMA
·     Readiness checklist

A Flowchart for Choosing Your Religion

A Flowchart for Choosing Your Religion

Looking for a JOB - How to Be the Next Hire

Making You the Most Viable Next Hire
Being flexible, creative and adaptable in today’s economy is the cornerstone to survival. The job search is no different and, with unemployment rising, requires just as much vigilance. One way you can keep your options open and make yourself even more marketable is by considering Consulting in addition to your quest for full-time employment. Often perceived as an “either-or” scenario, Consulting offers you just as many benefits as it does your “would be” employer:

Track record of Fixing Problems?
Career wise, people typically fall into one of two categories: those who thrive on problem solving and the prospect of a new challenge –or- someone who is exceptionally good at steering the ship once it is on course. If the thought of fixing something that is broken appeals to you (versus has you thinking about reaching for the Tylenol), then Consulting might be an avenue to explore.

A More Flexible Interview
Quite often, what a company needs is someone to tackle a specific problem, not a new full-time employee. Identifying this in the interview and being able to present yourself as the solution to their problem (at a lower cost), can ultimately create a job tailor made for you and your skill set. No one can compete against that.

Dating Before Marriage
A consulting engagement can give you the opportunity to see if this company is a nice place to visit or a great place to live. The only thing worse than a prolonged job search, is ending up in a position that results in you being unemployed again in 6-12 months. Consulting lets you do more due diligence than you could ever accomplish in an interview.

“Consulting” on Your Resume
To many recruiters, seeing “consulting” as your current role without any clients/engagements is just a way to dress up being out of work. But, with a list of key accomplishments at those engagements, you show that you are in demand, have more control over your search and are broadening your experience. The latter is extremely important if you are looking to transition industries.

Change Agent
For companies looking to make some sort of change internally (and you should like this if you have a track record of fixing problems), consulting is a more preferred approach versus hiring a permanent employee. It is much easier to come in as a consultant, effect the course correction and then hand it off to the internal leadership.

Money
Besides the obvious benefit of having income during your search, it also gives you breathing room to be more objective in selecting your next job.

It’s Easier to Find a Job When You Already Have One
So much of what makes this true is that fact that when you are employed, you tend to be a bit more objective because you have a “bird in hand.” Consulting (in addition to easing that financial strain, which helps here) can provide the self-assurance that comes along with being employed, which can get whittled away while unemployed.

Presenting yourself as a viable consultant or full time employee isn’t mutually exclusive. Rather, they are simply two sides to the same coin. For the companies where you interview, this will only make you more viable and versatile in your eyes. For you, there is nothing to lose. The worst thing that happens here is you generate some income to inevitable financial strain of your job search. On the other hand, you might just find through this process that you discover your next career move.

Bağdat Caddesi

Gel de parmaklara hakim ol, yapma bir Caddebostan, Bağdat Caddesi nostaljisi şimdi!...diğer bir deyişle 'Karşı taraf' . Cok uzun seneler yazları gittiğim, son yıllarda ise her Türkiye'ye gittiğimde kaldığım Istanbul'un bir başka eşşiz köşesi.
1960'lı 70'li yıllarda köşkleriyle, bahçelerinden salkım salkım sarkan ortancalarıyla, billur gibi denizliyle, 'sayfiye' yeri olmasıyla meşhur Erenköy, Suadiye, Caddebostan.

Dükkanların az, ağaçların çok olduğu, bunca yıl geçmesine rağmen hala güzelliğini koruyan Bağdat Caddesi. On, onbir yaşımdan itibaren yazlarım geçti oralarda. Sokaklarda oynanırdı o zamanlar, öyle pek araba filan geçmezdi. Doyasıya bisiklete binilir, el birakarak gitmek büyük marifet sayılır Erenköy, Saskınbakkal, Göztepe bisikletle rahat rahat gidilir dönülürdü. Deniz için bazı sokakların denize vardıkları noktalarda bulunan kayıkhanelerden saatlik ücretle kayık kiralanır, kadın erkek kürek çekmeyi bilir, kayıktan denize girilirdi. Bazı gençler dalıp iskele ayaklarından midye toplar bazıları ise sığ kumda zıpkınla vatos avlarlardı. Sokaklardan dondurmacılar geçerdi o zamanlar. Simdiki gibi binbir çeşit ne gezer 'Dondurma, Kaymaaak' diye bağıran dondurmacının küçücük arabasında sadece kaymaklı ve limonlu dondurma olur, bazen ise çeşit olsun diye vişneli bulunurdu.

Caddebostan Plajı'nın yanı sıra bir de üyelikle girilebilen klüpler vardı. Marmara Yelken Klubü başta olmak üzere, Balıkadamlar, Caddebostan Yat Klübü ve İstanbul Yelken. Eğer bunlardan birine üyeyseniz veya üye bir arkadaşınız varsa bazı sporları yapma veya izleme olanağınız olur, voleybol, ping pong oynar, kıyıdan yelkenlilerin yarışlarını izlerdiniz. Denizin ortasında ise köfteciler vardı. Bunlardan aklımda kalanı ise mayomuzun kenarına sıkıştırdığımız parayla yüzdüğümüz, veya kayıkla yanaştığımız 'Fıştak'tı. Dönerken yüzülüyorsa demirlemiş kayıklara tutuna tutuna, dinlene dinlene yüzülürdü.

Akşamüstüne doğru herkesi bir 'piyasa' heyecanı alırdı. Saçlar yıkanır, bildiğımız ütüyle ütülenerek düzeltilir, ve (Bağdat) Cadde'ye binbir tur atmaya çıkılırdı. Bir aşağı, bir yukarı. Parkur ise genellikle Santral Durağı'ndan Saşkınbakkala kadardı. O zaman 'cafe' adeti bir elin parmaklarını geçmez, 'Borsa'da yer bulabilmek için hızlı davranmak gerekir, 'Divan' ise gençlere çok pahalı geldiğinden ancak hafif 'yaşı geçmiş'lerin duraklama mekanı olurdu. Hali varaba sahiakti oldukça yerinde olan birkaç genç ise bir aşağı bir yukarı arabayla giderek Mustang veya Corvette'leriyle gelene geçene hava atarlardı.

Geceleri ise açık hava sinemalarının keyfine doyulmazdı. Caddebostan'daki Ozan Sineması'nda genellikle Türk filmleri oynar, çıkınca biraz aşağıda, Caddebostan Maksim Gazino'sunun (MIGROS)yakınındaki büfe'de 'zümküfül' yenirdi (Bir çeşit sosisli sandoviç ) Yabancı filmlerin mekanı ise Budak Sineması'ydı (Şimdiki CKM). Yastıgını kapıp tahta iskemlelere yerleştirdikten sonra, çekirdeğini çıtlatarak izlenirdi filmler. Bazen bu sinemalarda Cem Karaca gibi o zamanın ünlü sesleri konserler verir, bazıları ağaç tepelerinden konser izlerdi.

Sonra sonra o köşkler birer birer yıkılmaya, yerlerin uzun uzun binalar dikilmeye, Cadde'deki evlerin yerlerini dükkanlar almaya, arabalar çoğalmaya, faytonlar yok olmaya, tekerlekli dondurmacıların yerini Algida'cılar almaya başladı. Ama ne mutlu ki tüm büyümeler, kalabalıklaşmalar rağmen 'Cadde'yi bozmayı başaramadı! O hala 'Cadde', İstanbul'un ,Türkiye'nin en güzide caddesi hala boydan boya yürümekten zevk aldığım, bir yerde oturup geleni geçeni izlemenin keyfini her yıl bir iki hafta yaşayabildiğim bir yer.

Galata' ya dogru...

Galata' ya dogru...

The best way to improve health care requires physicians and other stakeholders

My honest approach for how to improve the care is to support a methodology such as being self-serving. I would like to start a program to introduce a software-based point-of-care tool for obtaining patient feedback. This real time information can be used with clients to positively impact the patient experience, nurse engagement, physician (soft skills) competence and overall quality. In my perspective the criteria for fulfilling the demand for finding the best way to improve healthcare is that it need be simple to implement, impactful and cost effective. The most impact to healthcare improvement will come from process improvement and healthcare provider recruitment AND retention. The by-products will be reduced cost of care and improved patient satisfaction. This applies to hospitals and private practices. Based on current studies and the economy, supplying adequate healthcare to the community is already tough and is going to get more challenging. Recruiting sufficient healthcare coverage will boost revenue and provide some improvement to patient satisfaction (wait time and access). However, failure to retain the medical staff will significantly hurt the outcome. With high demand and low supply, it will be well worth the time and money to present "we have the greenest pastures here". The method mentioned above may be called such as point-of-care through successful implementations that may turn in to popular key parts of process improvement. You need to have some feedback from the patients and the physicians in order to measure the processes that should be or are currently being improved. In order to achieve this you have to create the acronym HOSPITAL to help those in Healthcare recall the numbers of different types of inefficiencies in any medical facility. Those who have been exposed to Six Sigma and Lean have an appreciation for improvement opportunities and generally view things through differently trained eyes that can see within all those facilities. Publishing the results of the similar programs online may offer a transparent access to the consumers to monitor these inefficiencies. Welcoming any feedback relative to this and encourage your staff to consider this method or similar training methods for their teams will be highly critical for the outcome. We have to understand that it is impossible to solve a problem that we are unaware of. By providing even the most basic tools at the lowest level possible, these problems have a way of surfacing. While everyone recognizes that healthcare systems and organizations need to improve, I think not enough time is spent on firstly identifying the key stakeholders, and secondly properly ENGAGING them. I strongly believe that not enough time is spent trying to engage physicians in this process. In my experience too many of these "improvement strategies" are top-down decisions by non-clinical managers who failed to conduct any research into what physicians might want or what stumbling blocks there are/were to get them to adopt the new technologies. EMR/EHR/CPOE are prime examples - all of these require a breakdown in the normal activity flow of providers, as it requires them to either find and log on to a terminal or carry a bulky instrument. Almost all clients and colleagues I have worked with resent and resist those methods. And look how few MDs are part of Healthcare consulting firm teams. IMHO, I believe more energy should be spent engaging rather than alienating MDs as a first step, then doing the same for patients in order to get buy in from the two key stakeholders as I see it. I've always found that engaging these stakeholders on projects from the beginning results in more buy-in and most importantly, better recommendations/outcomes (a better product).

ULTIMATE RESULTS

ULTIMATE RESULTS

Ilhan Arsel

Ilhan Arsel

BJK FOREVER

BJK FOREVER
Karga kartalların sırtına oturur ve boynunu ısırır. Kartal cevap vermez, kargayla savaşmaz; kargaya zaman veya enerji harcamaz, bunun yerine sadece kanatlarını açar ve göklerde yükselmeye başlar. Uçuş ne kadar yüksek olursa, karganın nefes alması o kadar zor olur ve sonunda karga oksijen eksikliği nedeniyle düşer. Kartaldan öğrenin ve kargalarla savaşmayın, sadece yükselmeye devam edin. Yolculuk için gelebilirler ama yakında düşecekler. Dikkat dağıtıcı şeylere yenik düşmenize izin vermeyin....yukarıdaki şeylere odaklanmaya devam edin ve yükselmeye devam edin!! Kartal ve Karga dersi