Wiki Desperate D

[Desperate Denise]

Quick question.

If a patient tore her cuff in 2008 and then tried conservative management- then has rotator cuff surgery 9 months later is that 23410 or 23412? Having discussion with docs. Acute is an injury I thought however remote.

Thanks - DD

 

[aprilroc]

In the documentation I use for reference, it all says that the OP note should state whether it is chronic or acute.

see

www.outpatientsurgery.net/2009/03/print&id=7624

also

www2.aaos.org/aaos/archives/bulletin/apr04/code.htm

Maybe this will help, hang in there. You will get through this

 

[LTibbetts]

I have posted this type of question many times in this forum and I always get the same answer...."three months and under is acute, everything else is chronic." When the doc says conservative management, that usually means that the patient has had this problem for a while. I also agree with April as far as documentation. If you are unsure, then always query the physician

 

[Desperate Denise]

You are absolutely right - I need to sit down with the docs and have them spend more time dictating their op notes - they need to be more specific and explain the types of lesions as well as the basis for each procedure - not just list them.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me.

Denise