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Physician Query Process: Part 3: Appropriate Use Of
Yes/No Physician Queries
Christopher G. Richards, RHIA, CCS, Senior Associate,
Barry Libman, Inc.
As part of a continuing series of discussions relevant to
the coding community, Libman Education presents this 11-part series on the
importance of a well implemented physician query process.
Specific instances where Yes/No queries are acceptable,
but in general, queries should not be designed to ask questions that result in
a Yes/No response. Like everything in
life, there are exceptions.
1. Exception: POA queries when a diagnosis has already
been documented.
Was the pressure ulcer POA? Yes/No
OTHER/COMMENT________________
2. Substantiating or further specifying “a diagnosis that
is already present in the record”
Is this patient’s diabetes insulin dependent? Yes/No
OTHER/COMMENT________________
3. Establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between
documented conditions such as manifestation/etiology, complications and
conditions/diagnostic findings
Is there a cause and effect relationship between the
patient hypertension and their heart failure?
Yes/No
OTHER/COMMENT________________
4. To resolve conflicting practitioner documentation
A consultant states the patient’s BMI is 30 but the
dietician states it is 41.7.
Is the dietician’s calculation correct? Yes/No
OTHER/COMMENT_________________
Anytime you are presenting a physician with a Yes/No type
query, always offer an “other” option for uncertain/unclear and to create a
space for the physician to leave a comment.
Next: Dealing With Legibility Issues And Challenging
Handwriting?
For more information contact:
Christopher G. Richards, RHIA, CCS
Senior Associate, Barry Libman, Inc.
crichards@barrylibmaninc.com
www.barrylibmaninc.com
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