REGINALD068
Guest
I've always struggled with this. Can someone give me a simple way to remember when to appropriately use the A/D?
To piggyback on cgaston's answer, it is possible for a condition to move from A to D and back to A and then back to D, depending on what is being done and which provider is performing the service
I know this is several years later but I was hoping maybe you could still help with the whole A vs D situation - so our patient had an open knee dislocation which our provider addressed surgically. My doc is now removing the ex-fix and doing an exam under anesthesia; so would I code that as an A or a D? I guess I'm confused bc we're actively treating the problem so I want to code A but it's part of the original procedure so would that make it a D instead?the example was a pt is treated in the ER for a fracture and they use the A, then the patient is followed up with a different provider and they use the same injury code with a D, this is so far correct.
the post went on to state......." but refers to an orthopedist for resetting a malunion, that orthopedist is going to switch back to an A " which is incorrect. A follow visit to treat a malunion is coded using the 7th character for the subsequent visit for malunion or non union which is the P, Q, R or K, M, or N depending on whether the original injury was closed or open or open type III.
hopefully that helps to clear up the confusion.
now your question was a diagnosed ankle sprain for which no treatment was prescribed.. remember active treatment is not always going to be as overt as surgery. If the provider told the patient to limit activity and elevate and ice the injury that still qualifies as active treatment if this is the initial presentation by the patient to obtain active treatment and not a follow up from the ER.