In a new memo to its state survey agencies, CMS said it would use Joint Commission ligature recommendations—drawn from a task force that was convened by the commission and included several CMS suicide prevention experts—as the federal agency goes forward with clarifying and updating Interpretive Guidelines for its surveyors.
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Tag Archives: Joint
Q&A: The Joint Commission on human trafficking
In June, The Joint Commission Quick Safety Issue 42: Identifying Human Traf-ficking Victims was published. Elizabeth Even, MSN, RN, CEN, is the associate director of Clinical Standards Interpretation in the Division of Healthcare Improvement at The Joint Commission. She is board-certified in emergency nursing (BCEN) as well as trauma nurse–certified and has served as one of the clinical leads in developing a three-tiered security approach in response to violent traumas in an urban Level I trauma center.
Excise Mucous Cyst & debride osteophytes left ring finger DIP Joint
Radiographic Findings consistent with mucous cyst & significant degenerative arthritis in the DIP joint.
Op Report: A curvilinear incision was made over dorsum of the left ring finger DIP joint. Dissection was carried through subcutaneous tissue. Full-thickness skin & subcutaneous tissue flaps were elevated. The mucous cyst was localized pretty centrally over the extensor mechanism distal to the DIP joint. The cyst was identified & mobilized & excised and originated from the dorsal ulnar corner of the joint. Both the dorsal Ulnar & dorsal Radial corner of the joint were identified & osteophytes were debrided with a rongeur off the base of the distal phalanx. The penrose drain was removed & bleeding controlled with electrocautery. The incision was irrigated & closed.
Coded with 26210 & 26160. One of our coders says per Margie Vaught that this is how we should be billing these. I feel that 26160 would include the debridement of the osteophytes since all through same incision. Can anyone advise on this issue. I found several questions similar to this, but am confused on why would these billed together when done through same incision. CPT Code 26210 is a Column 1 code with 26160 being a column 2 code, but unbundling is allowed. Thanks in advance for anyone who may be able to help.
Open debridement of sternoclavicular joint
Hello everyone, I’m not sure which code to use for an open debridement of the sternoclavicular joint?
OP NOTE:
An incision was made through the previous incision. There was an area of dehiscence medially and using a new #15 blade, the dehisced area was excised in an elliptical fashion for complete excision of the abnormal tissue and cosmetic re-approximation later. At this paint the fistula and infected tissue overlying the sternoclavicular joint was removed. Several Monocryl sutures were identified and removed. 6 liters of saline with antibiotics in the saline solution were used to copiously irrigate the sternoclavicular joint. A curette was used as well as a rongeur to debride between irrigation sessions. All tissue remaining was normal appearing . A rongeur was used to debride the anteromedial aspect of the proximal clavicle, taking the bone and soft tissue to clean tissue. Closure was then described.
Than you
Sternoclavicular joint abcess I&D with clavicular head debridement–Help please!!
Hoping for some help with the report below, our surgeon is billing 21627 (sternal debridement) but it does not seem like the correct code for this to me.
PROCEDURE PERFORMED:
Incision and drainage of sternoclavicular joint abscess with clavicular head
debridement and placement of wound VAC.
INDICATIONS FOR PROCEDURE:
The patient is a 68-year-old male with multiple medical problems who presented
with a painful right sternoclavicular joint. The patient on CT scan was found
to have abnormalities consistent with an abscess.
FINDINGS:
The patient had an area of destruction of the clavicular head with abscess of
the sternoclavicular joint.
DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE:
Under sterile and controlled conditions, the patient was prepped and draped in
usual sterile fashion. An incision was made over the sternoclavicular joint
and it was noticed the patient had a cavity, which was entered. The patient
had a cloudy purulent fluid. This was drained. Cultures were obtained. It
was noticed the patient had partial destruction of the head of the clavicle.
At this point in time by means of a curette and a rongeur, the head of the
clavicle was partially debrided. The cavity was irrigated thoroughly with
irrigator solution. At the completion of the procedure, a wound VAC sponge
was tailored and placed in the wound. The wound VAC was placed to 125 mmHg
continuous pressure. The patient is to be monitored in PACU.
Prolotherapy/Stem Cell joint injections
Has anyone had any luck with what procedure codes to bill out regarding PRP/Stem Cell Injections for different joints? Our pain management provider is about to start billing these codes. Research I have found so far show:
M0076 HCPCS
0232T CPT
0481T CPT
M0076 HCPCS
0232T CPT
0481T CPT
Do I bill these in conjunction with each other? 20999 looks incorrect to bill with 0232T.
Switching AOs: Kettering Health answers why they changed from Joint Commission to HFAP
Kettering Health Network (KHN) is a non-profit network of eight hospitals, 10 emergency centers, and over 120 outpatient facilities in southwest Ohio. In 2016, the network reported more than 1 million outpatient visits, nearly 62,000 patient discharges, and about 315,000 emergency visits. KHN used to be accredited primarily by The Joint Commission, before deciding to switch all its facilities to HFAP in 2011.
joint injections during the global period
Question:
can 20610-79 be reported when the doctor performs a joint injection following a surgery if the patient comes for pain after one week or a month out from surgery.
thanks
Joint Commission: Sentinel events declined again in 2017
The Joint Commission recently released its final sentinel event statistics for 2017. The same medical miscues as last year top the list; however, it seems encouraging that the total number of reported sentinel events declined for a second consecutive year while the proportion of self-reported incidents continued to climb.
CMS and Joint Commission clarify door-closing devices standards
Examine all automatic door arrangements in light of the newest clarification on fire doors from CMS and revisions to The Joint Commission’s Life Safety standard on providing building features to protect against fire and smoke hazards.