ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Reader Question:
Technical Terms for Falling Down
Published on Sat Feb 01, 2003
Question: A patient presents after a fall that occurred at work. The physician dictation states that the patient "took a mechanical fall while at work." The workers' comp carrier wants to know the definition of "mechanical fall." I can't find a written definition for this term. Is there an exact definition? Colorado Subscriber Answer: The purpose of calling a fall "mechanical" is to show definitively that the patient didn't have a syncopal episode, i.e., fainting. A"mechanical process" took place when the fall occurred. The patient tripped over a carpet, for example, or slipped on a wet floor.
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