Wiki Suicidal Ideation

[laura.vaughn1@bhsi.com]

Could someone advise me as to if Suicidal Ideation would be considered High Risk as one of the Components required in the Medical Decision Making?
If I have 4 Diagnosis codes in (A)
2 points for review of records (B)
would you consider Suicidal as High Risk in (C)

 

[JRae5M]

It always helps to have support from the documentation. If the clinician has stated that there is active SI with a viable plan, then this would be considered
something that could produce imminent death w/o clinician intervention. The clinician's management option would point you to the severity as well. Did the clinician order one-on-one suicide observation? Was a suicide risk assessment ordered? Was a cert done and the patient admitted? Was a rapid IM needed to settle the patient? These would indicate high risk.
Possibly, also, query the clinician about time. Sometimes an evaluation with SI present can be dominated by counseling, so don't forget that option with an E/M.