Reader Question:
Multi Trauma Visits Require High Decision-Making
Published on Sat Feb 01, 2003
Question: Patients with multiple trauma from a fall or motor-vehicle accident arrive by ambulance and require several x-rays (four or more) and CAT scans. Both the emergency physician and the radiologist review the tests. In addition, the patients require a complete physical exam and some labs. How should I factor this data in to "complexity of data reviewed"? Should I consider this data extensive or moderate? Virginia Subscriber Answer: If you use the Marshfield Clinic Audit Tool, you would get 1 point for ordering labs, 1 point for ordering x-rays, and 2 points for direct visualization, totaling 4 points. That corresponds to a high-complexity amount of data reviewed. Remember, this is only one of the three areas of MDM. You would need to have an extensive number of diagnoses or management options or high risk to have MDM of high complexity.
