focused review of patient record documentation operative report

by Dr. Ivy Robel II 3 min read

CASE 1-11-1.doc - CASE 1-11 Focused Review of Patient …

36 hours ago  · CASE 1-11 Focused Review of Patient Record Documentation: Operative Report As the HIM documentation supervisor, you are meeting with the quality improvement (QI) manager to assist in developing an audit template to be used for a quality review of patient record operative reports. Research the latest Joint Commission standard requirements to provide the QI … >> Go To The Portal


The “focused CDI review,” if applied correctly and consistently, can solve the problem of missing query opportunities to clarify the medical record, as well as increase the quality of each query, thus helping prevent the reporting of inaccurate acuity levels, resource consumption, quality measures, length-of-stay measures, provider quality scores, and more.

Full Answer

What are the key elements of Operative report documentation?

So let’s walk through some key elements of the operative report documentation. All relevant pre- and post-operative diagnoses should be documented, including underlying co-morbid conditions that you consider relevant for the procedure performed.

What is the history/indications for surgery section of the op report?

The History/Indications for Surgery section of the op report describes why the surgery is needed and the actions preceding the surgery, if applicable.

What is the heading of an operative report?

The Heading of an operative report contains: Facility Information – Name and address of the facility and the patient’s medical record number for that facility. Patient Information – Patient’s full legal name, date of birth/age, and sex. Some procedures are sex-/age-specific. Date of Service – Date the surgery was performed.

What are the general principles of medical record documentation?

Medicare’s General Principles of Medical Record Documentation state the CPT and ICD-10-CM codes reported on the health insurance claim form or billing statement should be supported by the documentation in the medical record.

What are the five C's in medical record documentation?

The Six C's of Medical Records Client's Words, Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Chronological Order and Confidentiality. Client's Words – a medical assistant should always record the patient's exact words. They shouldn't rephrase or summarize the sentence.

Which purpose would documentation in a patient record have?

The clinical documentation in a patient's record forms the basis for current and future care of that patient by the healthcare provider. The documentation in the record will be relied upon by clinicians in the healthcare provider setting to make decisions regarding the patient's care.

Why is it important to review clinical documentation?

The importance of clinical documentation It captures patient care from admission to discharge, including diagnoses, treatment and resources used during their care. When the documentation is complete, detailed, and accurate, it prevents ambiguity, and improves communication between healthcare providers.

How do I write a medical record review?

How to Review Medical Records: The Value of Legal Nurse...Request the Relevant Medical Records. ... Organize the Medical Records. ... Critically Analyze the Medical Records. ... Identify Medical Experts and Assist Legal Counsel in Retaining Qualified Experts. ... Re-evaluate Medical Record Requests.More items...•

Why is recording and reporting important in healthcare?

The records form a permanent account of a patient's illness. Their clarity and accuracy is paramount for effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients. The maintenance of good medical records ensures that a patient's assessed needs are met comprehensively.

What is the importance of documentation?

Documenting your processes ensures consistency, efficiency and standardization. It allows everyone following them to perform at their best and be clear about your expectations. Taking the time to document each of your procedures in a step-by-step format will save time and money in the long run.

Why is patient care documentation important?

The purpose of medical documentation goes beyond simply recording patient care so that medical professionals can monitor and plan the patient's status and care. It reduces the risk of treatment errors and improves the likelihood of a positive outcome.

What is the purpose of clinical documentation?

Clinical documentation is used to facilitate inter-provider communication, allow evidence-based healthcare systems to automate decisions, provide evidence for legal records and create patient registry functions so public health agencies can manage and research large patient populations more efficiently.

How can patient documentation be improved?

5 tips to improve clinical documentationDefine professional standards. ... Expand education. ... Create peer-to-peer support systems. ... Review information. ... Allow patients greater access to EHRs.

What is patient record review?

Hospitals and other health systems utilize medical record review to identify instances of harm to patients, ensure quality improvement and thereby enhance patient safety. Accurate review of relevant medical records is also important for medical claims management.

What is medical document review?

A legal medical record review allows for concise and accurate summarization of medical records making it easier for lawyers to review pertinent information. Identify treatment inconsistencies: A comprehensive medical record review allows for better management of medical claims.

What is a record review?

A Record Review (RR) involves a dictated thorough review of an individual's medical records and other relevant information focusing on the disease development, injury mechanism, past medical and surgical history, prior diagnostic study results, and type of treatment the individual has received, along with outcomes of ...

What is the purpose of a coder's job?

And for discontinued procedures, the reason for discontinuing the procedure must be documented.#N#A coder’s job is to read the entire report from start to finish to capture all billable services and be the first line of defense against any errors or discrepancies before the claim is submitted.

What is the purpose of an operative report?

The operative report is the document used most to reimburse claims for the surgeon, surgical team, and the facility.

Why do auditors use operative reports?

Auditors and payers use the operative report to verify that the documentation supports all codes reported on the claim. Let’s breakdown the four basic sections of an operative report and their requirements.

What is the first line of defense for coding and claims payment?

Documentation is your first line of defense for coding and claims payment. The operative report is perhaps the single most important document in a surgical chart. It is the official document that captures what transpired in the operating room. It must support the medical necessity for treating the patient, describe each part ...

Why is it important to keep your medical records up to date?

Keep your records up-to-date in order to provide the best resource for patient care and evidence that appropriate and timely care was provided. Clinically pertinent information. The medical record is a primary mechanism for providing continuity and communication among all practitioners involved in a patient's care.

What is current complete records?

Current, complete records which assist diagnosis and treatment, and which communicate pertinent information to other caregivers also provide excellent records for risk management purposes.

What should not be documented in Massachusetts?

What should not be documented. Derogatory or discriminatory remarks. In Massachusetts, patients have the right to access both office and institutional medical records and may be sensitive to notes they view as disrespectful or prejudicial. Include socio-economic information only if relevant to patient care.

Is incident report part of patient record?

Incident reports are not part of the patient record. Only clinically pertinent incident related information should be entered in the patient record. Put time and date on all entries in the medical record. Notes should be contemporaneous. Label added information as addendum and indicate when it was entered.

Can incomplete documentation impede patient care?

Missing, incomplete, or illegible documentation can seriously impede patient care and the defense of a malpractice claim, even when the care was appropriate. The following advice on documentation includes issues identified through analysis of malpractice claims. The most current information.

Can a patient's perceptions be inaccurately reported?

In addition, the patient's perceptions and recollections may be inaccurately reported. If, after complete information is considered, you do judge your patient's prior care to have been flawed, a factual summary of clinical events and honest answering of patient inquiries is advised.

Can you alter medical records?

Do not alter existing documentation or withhold elements of a medical record once a claim emerges. Periodically a physician defendant fails to heed this age-old advice. The plaintiff's attorney usually already has a copy of the records and the changes are immediately obvious.

What is insucient documentation error?

Reviewers determine that claims have insucient documentation errors when the medical documentation submitted is inadequate to support payment for the services billed (that is, the reviewer could not conclude that some of the allowed services were actually provided, were provided at the level billed, or were medically necessary). Reviewers also place claims into this category when a specific documentation element that is required as a condition of payment is missing, such as a physician signature on an order, or a form that is required to be completed in its entirety.

Is CPT copyrighted?

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2020 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSAR apply. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Applicable FARS/HHSAR Restrictions Apply to Government Use. Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

What is coded data?

Coded data is used for reimbursement purposes and to ensure proper risk stratification, such as in CMS Value-Based Purchasing, Pay-for-Performance, and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. Coded data is used to report SOI/ROM as well as physician and hospital “profiling.” It also supports healthcare policy and public health reporting.

What is a subsequent review of a medical record?

For any given record, the initial and subsequent reviews may not always be performed by the same CDI specialist, so for the purposes of this paper, the term “subsequent” refers to any review of a previously reviewed record, not only the re-review of a record by the same individual.

What is H&P in medical?

The H&P provides concise information regarding a patient’s history and exam findings at the time of admission. In addition, it outlines the plan for addressing the issues that prompted the admission. The provider should capture his or her medical decision-making for the inpatient admission in this document. Following are some of the elements for which a CDI specialist should review:

What is the process of record review?

Here, CDI specialists encounter a great deal of clinical evidence for POA conditions, even if not initially documented in the medical record. ED diagnoses may be final-coded , but like all diagnoses, they must be clearly documented, be clinically supported , and meet the UHDDS definition of a secondary diagnosis.

What is the greatest challenge to identifying an optimal, universal CDI record review process?

One of the greatest challenges to identifying an optimal, universal CDI record review process is contending with differing organizational CDI scopes of work. While this paper offers a standard review process, differing organizational end goals may require different review emphases.

What is an operative note?

The operative note is not only a medico-legal and patient care document. It’s usually the only information a payor wants when there is a dispute about your reimbursement. So let’s walk through some key elements of the operative report documentation.

Can you state unknown in a pre-op diagnosis?

For example, if the tumor or lesion pathology is not known pre-operatively, it is acceptable to state “unknown” in the pre-op diagnosis. If the frozen section comes back positive for a malignancy, this could be stated in the post-op diagnosis area.