Heart Failure
Hi All,
A team of people at our hospital are actively working on Care Process Models for several significant diagnosis, Heart Failure being a current focus. They are using the ACC/AHA classification (Stage/Class) to guide care and are encouraging our physicians to adopt this terminology.
Our physician advisor is concerned that we may end up coding Heart Failure in cases where it may not be appropriate because these guidelines are referring to 'risk' of HF. He is specifically concerned about whether a patient with Stage B HF should be coded as having CHF when they are asymptomatic but do have some ventricular dysfunction.
My gut response is that we are still treating them medically for HF so it should be coded but I am wondering if anyone else has addressed this concern. Now is stage A HF was to be coded, we may have a problem because that is really just a patient with risk of developing HF. Am I understanding this correctly?
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Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
A team of people at our hospital are actively working on Care Process Models for several significant diagnosis, Heart Failure being a current focus. They are using the ACC/AHA classification (Stage/Class) to guide care and are encouraging our physicians to adopt this terminology.
Our physician advisor is concerned that we may end up coding Heart Failure in cases where it may not be appropriate because these guidelines are referring to 'risk' of HF. He is specifically concerned about whether a patient with Stage B HF should be coded as having CHF when they are asymptomatic but do have some ventricular dysfunction.
My gut response is that we are still treating them medically for HF so it should be coded but I am wondering if anyone else has addressed this concern. Now is stage A HF was to be coded, we may have a problem because that is really just a patient with risk of developing HF. Am I understanding this correctly?
[cid:image001.png@01CFCC39.F73A29A0]
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404