ICD-10 CM/PCS training ideas

Recently, I attended a large ICD-10 planning meeting. Attendees came from four different states and covered nine hospitals. There were coding, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and revenue cycle experts.  I wanted to share my take-aways on the question, “How will we train our coders?”

Here’s what I came away with:

• HIM directors and managers should be the first to become familiar with ICD-10 CM/PCS
• Read literature, blogs, and websites to understand the transition
• Attend ICD-10 seminars and classes
• Begin to meet as a group with other coders on a regular basis to share what you learn
• Develop an ICD-10 newsletter that goes out to coders and physicians on a quarterly basis
• Make sure your coders are in the loop and know the timeline for training and implementation
• Coders need to complete an anatomy and physiology education specifically geared toward ICD-10 in the next six months
• At least three levels of training will be needed for non-coders, business office staff, coders
• Hospital coders using ICD-10-PCS will need more time
• Coding and CDI synergy will be a focus
• Assess coders  for critical thinking skills
• Perform process mapping for all areas of coding and make appropriate process improvements now
• Use face-to-face training  for coders initially
• Continue to supplement coder education  with audio conferences or webcasts for further learning
• Start using dual coding beginning April 1, 2014
• Teach coders first using books and then expand to encoder use
• Ratio of ICD-10 trainer to coders should be 8:1
• Increase staffing through vendor support
• Anticipate permanent staffing increases
• Develop super-users who are anxious to learn ICD-10 now and mentor others, not trainers but expert coders who can mentor others during the dual coding.  There will be questions!
• Developing expertise in ICD-10-PCS will require lots of practice from simple procedures to advanced procedures
• Coders need strong knowledge of ICD-10-PCS guidelines  and root operations
• Focus on your top 10-20 MS-DRGs (depending on your size) and your top 10 procedures and make sure you coders are proficient in coding those, include CDI opportunities for those as well
• Update your physician query forms to include new ICD-10 CDI opportunities now.