Why is ICD-10 Training Important To All Members Of My Staff?
Some medical practices, billing services, insurance companies or healthcare service companies may believe that only select members of their staff should obtain formal ICD-10 training. In some cases, they feel that certain staff members do not need this information to do their job. Other employers feel that if they send one key staffer to formal training then they can train the balance of the staff at a later time. Both mindsets are flawed and the fact of the matter is that every member of the healthcare crew needs to be properly and formally trained when it comes to ICD-10.
The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is more than simply a few additional codes to learn or look-up. The entire formatting system of medical coding has changed, so everything that was previously learned about ICD-9 is now entirely obsolete. Even employees like receptionists or laboratory technicians who may have has just the smallest amount of peripheral knowledge of coding need to be brought up to speed on the new system.
In reality, the new system is so complex that specialized training sessions is the only way to be absolutely certain that your staff is fully qualified to deal with coding activity going forward. If coding is done incorrectly then you may miss out on lost revenue. If staff members are not comfortable and adept at the new system, then they may waste valuable work-time struggling to find the correct code. This is unhealthy for any medical business and can stall even a busy, well-staffed practice.
One of the key advantages to specialized sessions is the knowledge that all of your staff will receive the exact same training and will be on the same page when it comes to coding practices. This will allow for practice consistencies, whether it is the scheduling, nursing, laboratory, or billing end of your business.
ICD-10 training sessions are interactive experiences that will leave your staff comfortable with the new coding system and will prove to be a valuable asset to any medical team. Also, any ancillary staff (such a reception, file clerks, referral processors, etc) will be cross-trained in coding and will then be able to pitch in if necessary when it comes to any coding related office duties.
Of course, physicians need to be trained as well since they are on the front lines of patient care. The more information the physician has concerning coding options and formatting, the more skilled they will be when charting, ordering tests, providing referrals and completing superbills.
