|  | Healthcare Industry | Medical Billing

What Is Concurrent Coding?

Medical records are important to the well-being of the patient and the bottom line of the hospital. Traditional medical coding practices require impersonal communication between coders and primary-care providers. This communication takes time and can result in misinterpreted information. With concurrent coding there is no time wasted on after-the-fact correspondence and all of the information is exchanged in person.

  1. How It Works

    • Traditionally, medical coders have been segregated from primary care providers. Working in offices and cubicles within the coding department, medical coders often have to rely on after-the-fact information to compile medical records. With concurrent coding, medical coders are on the floor of a hospital and have access to primary care providers. They shadow the patient for the duration of their hospital stay, maintaining real-time records. Upon completion of the hospital stay, the coder compiles all of the records and finalizes them.

    The Benefits

    • There are numerous benefits to concurrent coding. Allowing coders to be present during all stages of treatment ensures greater accuracy in a patient's health records and faster reimbursement for the hospital. The increased access to primary-care providers allows coders to acquire clarification in person, and in a timely manner. Achieving more accuracy in patient records lessens the chances of medical errors. With a decrease in medical errors, hospital ratings improve.

    Roadblocks

    • Physician approval to having a coder present during treatment is one of the biggest hurdles facing concurrent coding. With a coder present, there is a risk of distraction. Coders may need to ask questions or get clarification on something, and those questions can take the physician's focus off of the patient. A loss of focus on the patient and their problems has the potential to result in medical errors. Medical examinations are stressful. Having an extra person in the room can increase the discomfort a patient feels, especially when the extra person is not a doctor, nurse or medical technician.

    From Paper to Digital

    • Since wireless devices are not allowed on hospital floors, medical documentation is still written on paper. Coders create physical records while on the floor, then they create digital records upon their return to the coding department. While the coder still has to digitize the records, the speed of the coding process is improved because there is no waiting period for forms to arrive, nor does the coder have to take extra time communicating with primary care providers. They have all the information they need and can focus on coding.

Medical Billing - Related Articles