Barring any further delays, 2015 looks like the year all U.S. medical providers transition to the new ICD-10 coding system. So come October 1st, many providers could be holding a collective breath, hoping for a smooth transition without any big surprises, cash flow disruptions, or hits to productivity.
Hoping is good, preparing is better. But what’s the best training strategy?
Here are 10 quick tips on ICD-10 training from CareCloud’s on-demand ICD-10 webinar:
Ralph Catalano, CareCloud VP of Operations
#1. Start with the basics. Help providers and staff understand the what, the why, and the how – how ICD-10 will affect their workflows. “When you take some of the mystery out of it … then you can start to have really informed conversations about what in the practice needs to change,” says Ralph Catalano, CareCloud’s VP of Operations, during the on-demand webinar.
#2. Use a project approach. “One of the most important things you can do is treat this like a project. Work backwards from the October 1 deadline to plan and make the project manageable,” Ralph says.
#3. Focus on role-specific training. Tailor ICD-10 training to the specific needs of providers, administrators, and billing staff to make their preparation more effective and time-efficient.
#4. Play favorites. Start by picking the top 5 or 10 codes your practice uses every day. Mastering this subset can remove fear and build confidence about the full ICD-10 transition.
#5. Take Time to Test. No one likes a last-minute scramble. Ensure you leave enough time for adequate testing so you and your practice feel more comfortable before the ICD-10 deadline. Here’s the official ICD-10 timeline from CMS for small, medium and large practices.
#6. Practice, practice, practice. Billers familiar with new software features can better minimize claim denials. Clinicians fully aware of documentation requirements, and who practice in advance, will be ahead come ICD-10 implementation time.
#7. Find a flexible trainer. Any educational vendor you choose should offer a variety of ICD-10 training options. Different people learn in different ways. Some will benefit from self-learning modules, others from hands-on training or video formats.
#8. Stay specialty-specific. If you choose a vendor, make sure they can deliver ICD-10 training content tailored to your particular specialty. General ICD-10 training will only take you so far.
#9. Teach and check. Do periodic checks to monitor comprehension and progress. Did staff internalize the knowledge so they can effectively act on it? Are they up-to-date on self-paced learning?
#10. Focus on the positive. Although the potential problems get a lot of attention, don’t forget many believe ICD-10 will bring benefits as well, Ralph says. The greater specificity of ICD-10 documentation, for example, could drive improved patient care and more accurate reimbursement for many practices.
Ready to learn more? Watch the on-demand webinar: “ICD-10: Short-Term Steps for Long-Term Success.”
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