Wiki 97 Dermatology exam

[snt314]

I am using the 97 guidelines - dermatology exam - to score an e/m visit. In the shaded box for "SKIN" the 2nd listed bullet, inspection and/or palpation of skin and subcutaneous tissue.... this bullet has 8 sub-bullets underneath (body areas). Do you count the sub-bullets as actual bullets towards the exam? Or does the doctor have to document 8/10 sub-bullets to receive credit for the main bullet? (Sorry if this is confusing).

 

[MikeEnos]

There is a note in the 1997 exam (depending on which version you have) that answers this question:

1997 Specialty Exam: Dermatology

Inspection and/or palpation of skin and subcutaneous tissue (e.g., rashes,
lesions, ulcers, susceptibility to and presence of photo damage) in eight of
the following ten areas:

• Head, including the face
• Neck
• Chest, including breasts and axillae
• Abdomen
• Genitalia, groin, buttocks
• Back
• Right upper extremity
• Left upper extremity
• Right lower extremity
• Left lower extremity

NOTE: For the comprehensive level, the examination of at least eight
anatomic areas must be performed and documented. For the
three lower levels of examination, each body area is counted
separately. For example, inspection and/or palpation of the skin
and subcutaneous tissue of the right upper extremity and the left
upper extremity constitutes two elements.