TOP
10
FOR
ICD- 10
ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THE JOURNEY
It’s a long journey to ICD- 10 implementation. Organizations that need directions—
or a jumpstart—can use a new checklist to map out 10 milestones for the first leg
of the journey.
By Chris Dimick
HEALTHCARE FACILITY STAFF unsure how to start the conversion to ICD- 10 now
have a ready-reference road map to jumpstart their planning.
A list of 10 to-dos developed by the AHIMA Clinical Terminology/Classification Practice Council outlines the essential first tasks organizations must accomplish to put their
transition programs into gear.
The list distills the first phase of AHIMA’s comprehensive four-part guide, the newly
updated “ICD-10-CM/PCS Transition: Planning and Preparation Checklist.” The top-
10 list is intended to be used in tandem with the full checklist, which contains more
detailed information.
Organizations already well into their implementation planning also can use the
checklist to assess the tasks they have completed, says Ann Zeisset, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P,
professional practice manager and coding expert at AHIMA.
The top- 10 list provides measureable goals for all areas of a healthcare facility that are
intended to keep an organization on track to a successful implementation of ICD- 10,
according to Therese M. Jorwic, MPH, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, assistant professor
