Question: Our facility has created a team to focus on documentation concerns related to patient safety indicator 15 (Accidental puncture or laceration), but we aren’t sure of some requirements. Are we required to report E codes in conjunction with cases that fall under PSI 15?
Answer: Patient safety indicator (PSI) 15 is driven by secondary diagnosis codes involving accidental punctures or lacerations. This area involves what are termed “technical difficulties.” Note that MDC 14 (pregnancy, child birth, and puerperium) are exempted. Certainly, if there is an appropriate E-code or E-codes to report, then use them, but the driving force is with the secondary diagnosis or diagnoses indicating the accidental puncture or laceration.