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Fragmented Health Information Management (HIM) coding results in financial costs running into the hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
That means there is a huge amount of pressure on medical coders to ensure accurate, timely, and thorough coding. The problem is they often work in disconnected silos throughout healthcare systems.
This post delves into the issue and explores the most practical solution to empower your team and navigate these complexities with greater ease.
Medical coding translates healthcare diagnoses, procedures, services, and equipment into standardized taxonomies (code sets). The role of a medical coder encompasses accurately and completely assigning codes for patient services.
Accurate and complete coding has a direct impact on insurance reimbursement and ensures hospitals are paid fairly and completely.
One of the foremost challenges for HIM coding is the fragmented, decentralized workflows across healthcare organizations. These silos can lead to inconsistencies, such as duplication of efforts, compounding errors, and difficulty managing uniform training.
For example, errors due to updated payer rules and the latest coding standards, like ICD-10 and CPT updates, often happen unintentionally in siloed formats and result in ongoing financial losses.
Many health systems are moving to a centralized model where coders work for multiple facilities from a central location. When your medical coding operates on a centralized model, you’ll see optimal resource utilization that elevates the quality and integrity of your community’s health data. Benefits include:
Let’s unpack some of the most effective strategies for bridging siloed workflows and boosting coding efficiency.
To address the challenges of changing coding standards and regulations, healthcare organizations must invest in ongoing education, training, and efficient communication for coding technicians. This includes standardized, regular updates on coding guidelines, easy-to-access resources, and professional development opportunities.
Addressing workforce shortages and skill gaps requires a multifaceted approach, including competitive compensation, career advancement opportunities, and a supportive work culture. Encouraging teamwork and knowledge sharing among coders can also help mitigate these challenges.
Implementing advanced coding software can enhance accuracy and efficiency. However, it's crucial to select technology that integrates seamlessly with existing workflows and to provide comprehensive training for coders.
Such technology, backed by extensive training, allows coders to work on cases from multiple hospitals, streamlining processes and reducing billing delays.
MEDHOST HIM Worklist is a cloud-based, multi-tenant platform designed to improve productivity and maximize revenue streams for medical coders. Our platform consolidates fragmented workflows within a centralized model that enables users to code for multiple hospitals while prioritizing encounters.
Because our platform seamlessly integrates with MEDHOST Enterprise, coders can tap into near real-time information and a host of time- and cost-saving encounter management solutions.
To learn more, reach out to us at inquiries@medhost.com or call 1.800.383.6278.
