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Each year in the U.S., burn injuries result in more than 500,000 hospital emergency visits and approximately 50,000 acute admissions. Early intervention is vital to the overall survivability and outcome of burn patients. Over the past 50 years, there have been significant improvements in the assessment and treatment of burn patients. This one-hour presentation will cover burn anatomy/pathophysiology, coding issues related to selecting the correct diagnosis for the type and severity of burns, and the correct PCS code(s) for reconstruction of the burn site. There are a variety of regenerative skin grafts now available, and we will review the correct code selection associated with these.

Learning Objectives/Agenda

• Learn to identify key terms in the clinical record needed to code to the highest specificity related to burns
• Learn to identify the severity of the burn based on the anatomy and pathophysiology described in the medical record
• Learn to discern the extent of a burn and the different types of burns
• Review PCS code Root procedures and the nuances of applying them to burns
• Determine the correct graft material and PCS code if applicable, including new technology groups

Why is this topic important?

Coding guidelines are updated quarterly, and it is important to stay current with the changes in codes and the rules that guide their application. This topic is seldom addressed for hospital coders and whether you are new or seasoned this is a good review with updated information.

Who would benefit from this topic?

• Coders who work at a Trauma 1 facility with or without a burn center
• Coders who work in an emergency room
• Surgical coders who see these types of injuries despite where you work
• All coders needing a refresher on burns and burn coding. There is always a need for coders with Trauma experience and this is a good place to start

What is the presenter's background/expertise on this topic important?

Nancy is an RN with 45 years in the healthcare industry and 30 of those spent coding. She has worked in trauma 1 centers, burn units as both a nurse and a coder/CDI professional. She has a BS in Biology and Chemistry and is fluent in pathophysiology. She was a triage nurse in a National Guard MASH unit for the US Army and a nurse in Yellowstone National Park, where the thermal pools were the source of many burns seen in their small emergency room. She loves to teach and was the VP of education for AAPC years ago.

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