MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'icd'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:02:23 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181960&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FGFmRr9VJvx8%2F Chuck Podesta is Fletcher Allen Health Care’s chief information officer. ICD-10 would not be so daunting if the deadline was not occurring during the rush to get EHRs for meaningful use. Add in value-based purchasing, bundled payments and transitioning to ACOs, and you can see why many CIOs are retiring early or migrating to the vendor or consulting world. We are just over two years away from the October 2013 deadline, and there is much work to be done. ICD-10 contains 68,000 codes, as opposed to the 13,000 currently used in the ICD-9 world. There is a code for every condition that exists on the planet. The revenue cycle system, which includes registration, HIM and billing/AR, will be the lynch pin to ICD-10 readiness. Having a solid vendor partner and a strong product is key to a succ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181960 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:56:35 +0100 5181960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158993&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcardiac-devices-causing-more-infections-whats-the-cause%2F2011.08.25 A new report published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and reported in theHeart.org and elsewhere, suggests the infection rate of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CEID’s) between 1993 and 2008 has greatly increased from 1.53% in 2004 to 2.41% in 2008 (p < 0.001) with a dramatic rise in 2005: Click image to enlarge The authors explain this sudden increase on the basis of comorbities: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158993 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5158993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159315&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fdoctors-documentation-how-get-physicians-board-icd-10-initiatives ICD-10 implementation is a problem that affects how physicians will practice medicine. But just how to you persuade them that they need to get involved in the training and planning now? The first thing you do is put a physician on the ICD-10 steering committee. That physician is going to be your champion who gets his or her peers to understand and support the changes needed. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159315 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:56:36 +0100 5159315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050825&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ficd-10-implementation-how-anticipate-what-needs-change Hopefully I have persuaded you that the change from ICD-9 codes to ICD-10 codes is big. But it may surprise you to learn it may be less intimidating than you think. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050825 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:41:37 +0100 5050825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062331&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Fneil%2F2011%2F07%2F14%2Fmostashari-plays-good-cop-unintentionally-making-cms-look-inflexible%2F Probably unintentionally, it seems like various HHS branches are playing good cop-bad cop right now. I’m in Ojai, Calif., right now (please don’t hate me because of it) for the annual Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS) Physician-Computer Connection meeting, a gathering of chief medical information officers and others in the field of what AMDIS likes to call applied medical informatics. That contrasts with the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), which tends to draw more from the academic side. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) apparently is the good cop. National health IT coordinator Dr. Farzad Mostashari was unable to make it out here from Washington, but he addressed the gathering by teleph... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062331 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:53:25 +0100 5062331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984533&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fdeath-google-health-twitter-reactions By now, the news coverage of the loss of Google Health has probably hit an all-time high. The opt-in service will be deactivated by January 2012, and Google officials say any data that remains in the database after that point will be permanently deleted. Introduced in 2008, the endorsed reasoning behind the demise of the PHR tool is that it was unsuccessful in drawing in users beyond those who are exceptionally tech-savvy, therefore leaving out a majority population. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984533 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:32:23 +0100 4984533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975866&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-physicians-prefer-ventilated-and-sedated-patients%2F2011.06.28 You ever wonder what doctors really think but are afraid to say out loud?  Here’s one example: “I wish all my patients were on a ventilator” There’s a reason vented and sedated patients are considered desirable.  In addition to the obvious economic benefits of ROS unobtainable Billing critical care CPT 99291, 99292 There are the less talked about, but equally pleasant side effects most hospitalists, ER doctors, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists,  surgeons, infectious disease doctors, endocrinologists, psychiatrists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and physical therapists wouldn’t admit, but would agree, without hesitation.  As a general rule: Patients on ventilators are just faster, easier and more pleas... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975866 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0100 4975866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953046&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F3WSCeHECGNo%2F Two articles I’ve written in the last 24 hours have gotten me thinking that we’ve already entered the post-implementation era of EMRs, even as implementation remains in progress at so many healthcare organizations. While the vast majority of hospitals and physician practices in the U.S. still don’t have full-featured EMRs in place, many are already looking well into the future. As you may already know, HIMSS on Tuesday released its first-ever survey on “clinical transformation.” According to HIMSS and survey sponsor McKesson, “Clinical transformation involves assessing and continually improving the way patient care is delivered at all levels in a care delivery organization. It occurs when an organization rejects existing practice patterns that deliver in... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953046 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:59:25 +0100 4953046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841669&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ftop-five-icd-10 As the buzz at HIMSS this year indicated, ICD-10 is on the short list of things keeping hospital executives up at night. From 17,000 codes under ICD-9 to 155,000 under the new regulation, ICD-10 takes coding and reimbursement to a whole new level – and will exponentially impact the financial health of every hospital. Here is what every provider needs to know as they prepare for the transition:   No sticky read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841669 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:14:48 +0100 4841669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636528&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fafter-icd-10-will-coders-ever-regain-icd-9-efficiency-levels If anyone is suggesting that ICD-10 will not create a productivity drop in the days after compliance, they must be practicing silent protest. Most experts agree that come the flip-switch October 1, 2013 compliance deadline even seasoned, well-trained coders will take longer with the ICD-10 than they did with ICD-9. The overarching question is whether or not coders will master ICD-10 and, in so doing, resume ICD-9-era productivity? read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636528 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:22:30 +0100 4636528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626769&cid=t_119051_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F23%2Fkaleidoscope-3-2011-wk-12%2F It has been long since I have posted a Kaleidoscope post with a “kaleidoscope” of facts, findings, views and news gathered over the last 1-2 weeks. There have been only 2 editions: Kaleidoscope 1 (2009 wk 47) and 2 (2010 wk 31). Here is some recommended reading from the previous two weeks. Benlysta (belimumab) approved by FDA for treatment of lupus. Belimumab is [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626769 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:37:20 +0100 4626769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4565905&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Findependent-peer-reviewed-scientific-journals-just-how-independent-are-they%2F2011.03.09 On September 27, 2010, the peer-reviewed scientific journal Europace published online-before-print a case report entitled “Spontaneous explosion of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator” by Martin Hudec and Gabriela Kaliska. In the pdf of that case report a figure containing a color photo of the affected patient’s chest, chest X-ray, and two pictures of the extracted device (one seen here) were included. The pictures and case presentation were dramatic and the case very rare. Both were perfect reasons to report such an important case to the medical literature. And so these doctors sent the case to Europace on June 29, 2010, and the article was accepted after revision on August 16, 2010, with the article appearing online September 27, 2010. The authors must have felt v... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4565905 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4565905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532318&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fdont-let-customized-applications-snarl-cash-flow-during-icd-10-conversion Most healthcare organizations have modified or customized their billing applications to meet their own unique needs in regard to payer mix, clinical programs, or provider-based billing arrangements. While these customizations are fine for their intended purposes, they nonetheless pose rather large obstacles to the ICD-10 code conversion process. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532318 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:48:50 +0100 4532318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545031&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fv%2FNnYiPbIAzEQ%3Fhl%3Den%26amp%3Bfs%3D1 As has become custom at HIMSS, I sat down with Jonathan Bush, chairman, CEO and president of athenahealth, at the 2011 conference in Orlando, Fla., last week. But due to some technical difficulties in getting the room we thought we had reserved and in getting my audio recorder to work (OK, OK, I didn’t have fresh batteries on me), I busted out the HD video camera. (Wouldn’t you know, the battery was losing steam there, too, so I had to plug the camera in. I have since determined that the USB port wasn’t working, so I exchanged it this past weekend. But I seriously digress.) In this interview, we talk athena’s business, meaningful use, 5010/ICD-10, ACOs, cloud computing and health reform. We poke a little fun at the “boat show” that the vendor expo has be... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545031 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:00:18 +0100 4545031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455332&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2F7-tactics-making-icd-10-urgent What with meaningful use, EHRs, HIPAA 5010, and countless other healthcare projects, ICD-10 is on the backburner at many organizations. Yet, the deadline is approaching, achieving compliance is more complex than it may appear and the time is here to move ICD-10 up that priority list. With that in mind, two executives at Care Communications, a health information management consultancy, share their collective advice on raising the ICD-10 conversion's profile amid the din. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455332 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:38:01 +0100 4455332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424303&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fsurvey-one-third-health-organizations-not-ready-hipaa-5010 Even with less than a year left until the compliance deadline – and monetary reimbursement on the line – a disconcerting number of healthcare entities indicated that they are not yet prepared for HIPAA 5010. HIMSS most recent ICD-10/5010 Readiness Survey, in fact, determined that among respondents “one third report they either don’t have a plan for [HIPAA 5010] testing, or won’t test until the fourth quarter of this year.” read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424303 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:27:29 +0100 4424303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331083&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmeaningful-use-are-all-your-bases-covered%25E2%2580%25A8 On the surface, proving “meaningful use” (MU) of an electronic health record (EHR), at least the bare minimum required to receive federal funding in 2011, doesn’t appear to be overly complicated. Upon closer inspection, however, certain details outlined in requirements may not be as easy to comply with as previously thought. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331083 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:50:48 +0100 4331083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309666&cid=t_119051_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F04%2Fwhy-doctors-oversell-benefits-undersell-risks-and-side-effects%2F Virtually across the board of medicine and psychiatry, doctors will constantly and consistently oversell the benefits of a given treatment, and undersell the risks and side effects of it. This may not be as surprising when you look at some of the key factors into how medical and psychiatric treatment is learned and then conducted on patients. Why do doctors often oversell the benefits of a given treatment, and minimize the risks and side effects of it? 1. Treatment is rarely experienced first-hand. While you don’t need to undergo surgery to understand the benefits of surgery or how to do surgery, you will surely have a great appreciation to the patient’s perspective if every surgeon was required to get an appendectomy before being allowed to practice. Surgeons know, in most ca... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309666 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:24:09 +0100 4309666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265929&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ftop-5-icd-10-cost-savings-categories Given that ICD-10 compliance day is still nearly three years from now, most of the chatter about a total industry-wide sum for new code sets has leaned toward projecting an overall cost. But there's a flip-side: the cost-savings that converting to ICD-10 will bring the healthcare realm – and to the tune of billions of dollars. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265929 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:20:49 +0100 4265929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219844&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwedi-nchica-revamp-icd-10-timeline What with many healthcare entities already so far behind on both HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 implementations as to render industry timelines almost worthless, WEDI and NCHICA reworked their recommendation. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219844 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:45:22 +0100 4219844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119198&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fnine-ways-icd-10-will-better-your-business The healthcare industry might not yet realize this simple fact: Although this does not garner much in the way of media attention, ICD-10 promises to improve the business of healthcare in numerous ways. Despite the cost, expanse, and overwhelming transformation payers and providers will have to undertake to achieve ICD-10 compliance, ultimately it will be a boon for both healthcare in America and those organizations that serve up that care. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119198 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:15:09 +0100 4119198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065449&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmckessons-three-icd-10-myths McKesson presented three common ICD-10 misconceptions, and what the firm considers to be the truth opposing each. McKesson's myths, presented during a Webinar last week, overlap with ICD10Watch's own Top 5 ICD-10 myths debunked, quite naturally, though not entirely. So it's worth breaking them out for readers: (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065449 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:23:45 +0100 4065449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045095&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsex-and-your-defibrillator%2F2010.10.08 Have a defibrillator and feel like getting frisky? For the first time that I can recall, there’s a very helpful article published in Circulation addresses the concerns of implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) patients and sexual activity. There’s all kinds of helpful tidbits, like this one: A study of 1,774 patients who had experienced an acute myocardial infarction showed that sexual activity was a likely contributor in fewer than 1 percent of cases. In fact, regular physical exertion, such as that associated with sexual activity, was associated with a decreased risk of cardiac events in patients. Now that’s helpful! Recall that defibrillators are designed to detect rapid, potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Most of the time, sexual activity does not lead to hea... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045095 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4045095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036765&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhy-2011-year-build-hardware-your-icd-10-budget Allocating resources, financial and otherwise, for ICD-10 is certain to be a complex, multi-layered and ongoing achievement. The range of software applications and personnel has garnered much attention thus far, but hardware will cost healthcare organizations, too – and that's not just servers. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036765 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:30:55 +0100 4036765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018249&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fcacs-tide-rising-icd-10 Plenty of folks said this would be coming and now it has begun – computer-assisted coding tools started rolling toward ICD-10 in the form of one acquisition, a trio of partnerships, and a new tool. Hardly the first such CAC wares to support ICD-10 but, taken together, they represent a collective wave of what's to come. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018249 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:57:37 +0100 4018249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013299&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmilestone-vocabulary-resources The Vocabulary Task Force of the HIT Standards Committee is hard at work specifying the vocabularies and codesets that should be publicly available to accelerate certification and meaningful use efforts. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013299 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:42:42 +0100 4013299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013314&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=39278&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogsite.mdbuyline.com%2F%3Fp%3D45 Each year, over 1 million patients receive some form of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).  Unfortunately, current pacemakers are not compatible with intense magnetic fields generated by MRI technology because the magnetic field can cause the pacemaker to rotate within the body, malfunction/fail, or cause electrical/thermal burns due to the antenna effect of the lead, thus, putting the patient at risk.  Due to these risks, over 300,000 patients in the U.S. with pacemakers are ineligible for MRI exams each year.  So why not use a different imaging method for those with a pacemaker or ICD?  According to Dr. Carlos E. Vargas, M.D., assistant professor of Radiation Oncology at University of Florida, “The advantage of MRI is that it is much better to work with than... MD Buyline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013314 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:20:52 +0100 4013314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998990&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshould-old-age-be-a-cause-of-death%2F2010.09.24 The Washington Post asks whether “old age” should be reconsidered as a legitimate cause of death for the elderly. Because more people are dying at very advanced ages with multiple system failure, it’s often harder for physicians to pinpoint the specific underlying cause, but using “old age” as a catch-all term could make mortality data less meaningful, the article said. An upcoming revision of the International Classification of Diseases might provide some guidance: “Each revision of the ICD is the right moment to reconsider this question,” the co-head of the ICD’s mortality statistics committee told the Post. (Washington Post) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998990 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3998990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994065&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhat-icd-9-and-icd-10-code-freeze-means-you The ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee has confirmed that ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes will be frozen - but there's both good and bad news about that for provider and payers. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994065 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:26:03 +0100 3994065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972982&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhy-icd-10-ought-be-part-oncs-ehr-best-practices-list When selecting and planning implementation of an EHR (Electronic Health Records) system, healthcare organizations of all sizes have much to consider – just don't overlook HIPAA 5010 or ICD-10 from the onset. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972982 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:21:27 +0100 3972982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965526&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhy-icd-10-ought-part-oncs-ehr-best-practices-list When selecting and planning implementation of an EHR (Electronic Health Records) system, healthcare organizations of all sizes have much to consider – just don't overlook HIPAA 5010 or ICD-10 from the onset. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965526 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:21:27 +0100 3965526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929309&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ficd-10-wrong-side-medical-loss-ratio-naics-draft-proposal ICD-10 looks a bit beleaguered this week. That's after state insurance commissioners issued a proposal under which health insurers would not be permitted to consider ICD-10 within their medical-loss ratio (MLR) – and physician and hospital organizations backed the idea. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929309 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:17:30 +0100 3929309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957965&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Ficd10-qa Y2K threatened power outages, food and water shortages, bank failures – all of which would render folks around the globe cold, hungry, thirsty, and without any way to get money to quell those. That catastrophe never happened, but ICD-10 has since been compared to Y2K, warranted or not. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957965 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:02:06 +0100 3957965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3880952&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmckinsey-icd-10-among-regs-requiring-payers-rework-90-percent-it-architectures Here's a prophecy guaranteed to make healthcare CIOs and their staffs wake up in a midsummer night's cold-sweat: a triptych of regulations, when taken together, will require payers to transform almost all IT systems and architecture. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3880952 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:56:41 +0100 3880952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876750&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F08%2F11%2Fwhat-uk-icd-10-use-can-teach-the-us-icd-10-implementations%2F I guess kind of like they just had Shark Week on TV, this week on EMR and HIPAA has been ICD-10 week. So far I’ve covered EMR vendors ICD-10 planning, moving to ICD-10 and bridging from ICD-9 to ICD-10. In response to my previous ICD-10 posts, Gordon Fenton provided this interesting insight about the UK’s experience with ICD-10. Over in the UK we already use the ICD10 along side the OPCS code to generate our HRG’s which is the currenvy that commissioners and providers use in the billing process. While I am based on the commissioner side I know that our providers employ coders whose specific job is to translate Doctors notes into ICD and OPCS codes. The main challenge will be in varifying and validating the codes being applied by providers, the IT is just a small issue. I... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876750 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:04:14 +0100 3876750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876754&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F08%2F06%2Fan-emr-vendors-approach-to-bridging-from-icd-9-to-icd-10%2F This report will show the available ICD-10 codes. The doctor can study it, start to change, or ignore it. 3. The staff can opt to let the software map one ICD-10 to the ICD-9 or manually enter the code of their choice. 4. Our electronic claims software will have a flag per insurance carrier indicating whether or not it will accept ICD-10. For those that will, we will map the ICD-9 to the 10 and send that code. If no map identified, we will generate an error edit. 5. At some point down the road, we will use the information collected from billing to update the doctor’s preferred list of dx codes in the EMR. 6. We will have to augment customized programs at each client site that may be doing reports based on ICD-9. Related posts:A Look at Moving to ICD-10 The push to ICD-10 is rapidly... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876754 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:37:30 +0100 3876754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3831431&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fthree-more-understated-aspects-icd-10-part-two ICD-10 is a multi-headed beast. As such, there are many faces to the new code sets; some are well known while others, often just as important, are not so understood. In our first installment, ICD10Watch reported the facets that readers likely do not, but really ought to, know more about. That triptych has since proven to be something of a beginning. And so the list of understated ICD-10 aspects continues: (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3831431 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:54:35 +0100 3831431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827147&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F08%2F04%2Fa-look-at-moving-to-icd-10%2F The push to ICD-10 is rapidly approaching. That’s why I was interested to know how EMR vendors were going to get the ICD-10 code list. However, there are going to be a lot of other nuances for EMR vendors to move from ICD-9 to ICD-10. The following is a short description of some real data around the move from ICD-9 to ICD-10. It’s from a newsletter sent out by ArcSys including some interesting data from a real clinic. It’s going to be interesting to make the transition to ICD-10 along with all the fun things happening around Meaningful Use. On October 1, 2013, all claims processing needs to be transitioned to the new ICD-10. As you can well anticipate, this will be a major change for the healthcare industry. As a practice, your biggest challenge will be the re-education o... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827147 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:20:02 +0100 3827147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808738&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D3210 I’ve been hard at work over the weekend getting new ICD apps out for WebOS. ICD-9 for WebOS has been released in the App Catalog (as a 99¢ app) and the initial version is the same as the free Preware/Homebrew version posted earlier. However, the App Catalog version will soon have a a free update which includes an internal database to enable one to perform ICD-9 searches without needing an Internet connection. The online search function is still maintained giving this app “hybrid” functions. I have also submitted a new ICD-10 application which does the same thing as for the updated ICD-9 – online search as well as an internal database for offline searches. I hope the app will be approved soon and going by previous app review approval processes, I think it should be ... The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808738 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3808738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808732&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F07%2F29%2Fwhat-are-emr-vendors-planning-for-icd-10%2F I remember when I first started my job at a healthcare facility 5+ years ago, I ran into these codes they called ICD-9. Yes, this was all very foreign to me, but I learned quickly the meaning of ICD-9. I also learned quickly that the EMR vendor which had been selected (before I was there) didn’t provide a list of ICD-9 as part of their EMR software (they do now). They did provide an upload feature and so we exported a list out of our old PMS, cleaned them up a little and then uploaded them into the new EMR. Not a fun or effective process even that way. Obviously, we’ve come a long way in five years. There are plenty of free lists of ICD-9 codes around the net that people can use, manipulate and add to their EMR software pretty easily. However, I couldn’t help but wonder w... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808732 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:35:49 +0100 3808732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802475&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ficd-10-absent-latest-health-it-priorities-report Perhaps it's waiting on the back burner but ICD-10 did not make the cut of health IT's most important projects for 2010 and 2011, at least not among healthcare executives. That little fact emerged during a study conducted by CSC, which found that “neither IT nor operational executives placed a high priority on converting to ICD-10,” Diana Manos of Healthcare IT News reports in Meaningful Use top priority for healthcare executives. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802475 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:41:55 +0100 3802475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3787033&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D3182 Just a quick blog to mention that ICD-9 and DSM-IV apps are being developed for WebOS (i.e. the Palm Pre/Plus and Pixi). At the moment they are in PreCentral. The ICD-9 app has been uploaded to the repository and is already available via Preware (don’t know what Preware is? You should learn how to Install Preware as there are lots more goodies not available in the Palm App Catalog). The DSM-IV app is in an earlier stage of development but you can download the app (in zipped form) from the Forum and install it using WOSQI (which you would have if you have installed Preware via WOSQI). Anyway to whet your appetites, here are some screenshots : They’ll eventually find their way into the App Catalog, but if you can’t wait, jump onto the Preware bandwagon now! Update: DSM-... The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3787033 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3787033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750129&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ftop-3-understated-aspects-icd-10 To many healthcare IT professionals the phrase ICD-10 is downright frightening. Mammoth in expanse and expense, the conversion, along with the requisite HIPAA 5010, is the stuff of Jungian nightmares, early retirement, or profound career changes. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750129 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:42:26 +0100 3750129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3665970&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-man-is-not-equal-to-the-sum-of-his-medical-problems%2F2010.06.16 I believe that those controlling the purse strings are steering modern medicine towards the practice of seeing patients more as the sum of their medical problems than as individual people. Patients have become streams of data as opposed to real human lives. Consider the dynamics of a family: a wife may worry about her husband while their child adores a father she instinctively knows to be irreplaceable. Modern medicine, however, may only see a diabetic with hypertension and a cholesterol-level running too high. The computers programmed for those advocating the power of data to revolutionize medicine would boil this man down to his “meaningful” essence….numbers, for the above imaginary man: 250.00, 401.0, and 272.0. (more…) (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3665970 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:00:43 +0100 3665970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635743&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprovide-healthcare-get-investigated%2F2010.06.07 When I started medical school, if someone had told me that providing healthcare to my patients would be grounds for a Department of Justice inquiry into the care I delivered, I would have laughed in their face. But the government’s desperate financial times require desperate measures. From the Report on Medicare Compliance: Both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) are focusing investigations on Medicare billing for implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) surgery. The reimbursement rate for ICD surgery is one of the higher dollar Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groupings (MS-DRG). The DOJ’s investigation is focusing on both medical necessity and MS-DRG coding validation issues, while the RACs are currently only conducting MS-DRG validation re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635743 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3635743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603597&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-positive-power-of-compulsive-medicine%2F2010.05.26 Most experienced physicians expect uncertainty in caring for real people with average everyday problems. Yet those inexperienced or uninitiated in medicine tend to see the practice of medicine as exact or even absolute. I remember waiting in vain as a medical student and resident for my instructors to illuminate a path towards certitude. Instead, I was given something far more real and lasting: An acceptance of the indeterminate mixed with the drive to be compulsive on behalf of my patients. During my internal medicine internship, I remember a more-senior resident during our daily morning report bemoaning her uncertainty by saying, “But I just don’t know what’s wrong with my patient.” Although she was visibly upset, our program director’s reaction to her comment bordered on amus... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603597 Wed, 26 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3603597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567922&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fcase-for-remote-medical-device.html With the recent reports of hacking ICD's, especially when a skilled set of engineers stand within six inches of the device, we can see the next Tom Clancy story line:"A famous head of state, lounging in the comfort of his home, suddenly is afflicted with a series of shocks from his defibrillator, then collapses to the floor. His aides, uncertain what just happen, attempt to revive him, to no avail. Meanwhile, in a country far, far away, the terrorists are exchanging high fives..."These threats, as we can clearly see, are a Clear and Present Danger. (I know, not very original, but you get the drift.)Not that security isn't important, it is. But should it be a show-stopper to innovation as we attempt to deliver care to our burgeoning patient population in the years ahead?The reality on the g... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567922 Sun, 16 May 2010 14:01:00 +0100 3567922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529816&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fwhen-drugs-become-extinct.html Doctors are all familiar with marketing efforts to promote new drugs, but once the new drugs older drugs in the medical marketplace, who serves as advocates for the continued manufacture of older FDA-approved drugs? In a short answer: no one.For those of us dealing in cardiac arrhythmia management, this presents difficult challenges to patient care if people are unable to take the newer drugs due to side effects. These patients no longer have a fall-back option to turn to for medical therapy when the older drugs have become extinct on the marketplace.Examples of antiarrhythmics that have reached extinction status in the US include many of our older antiarrhythmic drugs such as procainamide, mexilentine or quinaglute.Take for instance a recent case: A older person with recurrent ventricular... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529816 Mon, 03 May 2010 22:43:00 +0100 3529816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522658&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fgarbage-in-garbage-out.html The question came up at a recent meeting:“How many atrial fibrillation ablations did I perform last year?”It was a seemingly simple request. One that our vast array of computer technology and Electronic Medical Record should be able to conquer in a few microseconds. So after an administrator talked to the responsible Information Technology officer and they searched and scanned the appropriate clinical and billing files, a day later came the answer:Exactly one.My swollen legs can attest to the inaccuracy of this result. Yet with the speed of the hospital intranet, the results were broadcast as gospel in an e-mail to those who needed to know. Decisions were being made. Projections for upcoming years decided.Which lead me to ponder the obvious.How helpful will our electronic medical recor... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522658 Sat, 01 May 2010 12:21:00 +0100 3522658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3504940&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fnumbers.html Thirteen.Unlucky? Ejection fraction.Three.Coronaries.Clean.One hundred sixty-five.Milliseconds.QRS.Thirty two.Years.Defibrillator.Four hundred ninety.Pounds.* Sigh *One hundred one.Degrees.Reprieve.Thirty.Days.Afebrile.Thirteen.Thousand platelets.Later.Twenty-four.Respiration.Recumbent.One hundred.Thousand platelets.Now?-WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. (Source: Dr. Wes) Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3504940 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:45:00 +0100 3504940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460250&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F03%2F31%2Ficd-10-and-meaningful-use-lack-incentives-for-doctors%2F One of the really interesting conversations I had recently was with Tori Sullivan from Capgemini. Tori is knee deep in the fun that is ICD 10 and the transition to ICD 10. However, one thing that she said really struck a major chord with me during our discussion. She said… “ICD 10 and Meaningful Use Don’t Focus Enough Incentives for Doctors.” Basically, what’s the benefits for doctors to implement these regulations and changes? If you’ve ready me for any length of time, you probably have realized that I’m a doctor’s advocate. I strongly believe that some of the major reasons that EMR software hasn’t been adopted more widely is because far too many of the EMR software don’t put enough focus on the doctor. Like it or not, Doctors ar... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460250 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:13:54 +0100 3460250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354357&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fturning-off-implanted-defibrillators.html End-of-life issues with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) and the need (or not) for deactivation policies is being discussed at the palliative medicine blog, Pallimed. Shoot on over and lend your $0.02 to the discussion.-WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. (Source: Dr. Wes) Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354357 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:22:00 +0100 3354357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298411&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fpodcast-himss-ceo-steve-lieber-2010.html Last Thursday, for the fourth consecutive year, I sat down with HIMSS CEO H. Stephen Lieber for an interview ahead of the opening of the annual HIMSS conference. For the third consecutive year, the recording actually worked. And for the second consecutive year, I went to HIMSS headquarters in downtown Chicago for the interview, rather than waiting for the conference itself. Unfortunately, the HVAC system in the conference room was rather noisy, so there is some background noise. Still, the voices come through loud and clear.I wrote a story based on this interview in Monday's FierceHealthIT, but here is the world premiere of the full recording.Podcast details: Interview with HIMSS CEO H. Stephen Lieber on the 2010 HIMSS conference, recorded Feb. 18, 2010. MP3, stereo, 128 kbps, 31.7 MB, ru... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298411 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0100 3298411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059737&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Ficd-implantation-hugh-hefner-style.html Well, at least it's one way to make a former tattoo three-dimensional:Just putting the sexy back... :)-WesPhoto used with patient permission.Musings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. (Source: Dr. Wes) Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059737 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:19:00 +0100 3059737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862512&cid=t_119051_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fif-lawyers-billed-like-doctors-billed.html Imagine if lawyers had to bill like doctors:Beginning July 1, 2010, under the Legal Billing Obfuscation Act of 2009, lawyers will receive their payments for services rendered after approval by a central US government Payment Distribution Authority (USPDA). To receive payment from the Authority plaintiff and defendant complaints must be coded and filed electronically using the International Classification of Legal Complaints, 10th edition (ICLD-10), copyright © 2009, American Bar Association and Legal Proceeding Terminology (LPT) codes, copyright © 2009 American Bar Association. The full publication of each of these codes will be available in print March 1st 2010 and in electronic form on DVD in July 2011. To familiarize lawyers with the new coding scheme requested by the USPDA, a small s... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862512 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:07:00 +0100 2862512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2727246&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tempdev.net%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D882 Occasionally when you’re working in the field you run into products that make everyone’s life easier and you want to tell everyone about them because you like them so much. I have run into a new product that I like and doctors love: IMO. One of the biggest problems providers face when going on an EHR is finding the diagnosis for the patient. Often times the EHR uses Ingenix and doesn’t provide any other form of mapping. So what does IMO do that’s different? IMO takes 15,000 ICD9s and maps them to 160,000 terms so that providers can use their own terminology to finally be able to find the diagnosis they’re looking for. SNOMED uses only 90,000. The other great thing? For groups who want to get better at HCC/RAF coding, they provide assistance with that also! Yo... Implementing EMRs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2727246 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:21:58 +0100 2727246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667553&cid=t_119051_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Ficd-10-implementation.html Lisa Eramo has written a piece for HealthLeaders Media about ICD-10 implementation issues and timelines. The article is available online: Providers May Need Four Years to Implement ICD-10.[snippet]"Industry experts have repeatedly said that ICD-10 implementation must begin immediately in order for hospitals, health plans, and vendors to meet the October 1, 2013 compliance deadline. But now there is detailed evidence to prove it."[snippet] (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667553 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:10:00 +0100 2667553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598322&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fit-staffing-issues.html The newly published July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks includes a story I wrote about the worsening staffing crunch in health IT.Between the rush to install EMRs by January 2011, tighter HIPAA privacy and security requirements and the transition to ICD-10 coding and ANSI X12 5010 transactions, it could be a tough next few years for IT departments. But you probably already knew that. (Source: Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog) Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598322 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:53:00 +0100 2598322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477570&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7195 Amazing video of a young Belgian football player who collapses on the field but is saved by his implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD): Dr. Wes says: In this video, Van Loo is seen walking from the field and then collapsing at 7 seconds, his legs are seen twitching at 15 seconds as his automatic defibrillator fires to restore his heart rhythm to normal, and then by 21 seconds after the event he regains conciousness and sits up. According to some reports, Van Loo was not allowed to return to soccer unless he had an ICD implanted due to his known cardiac disorder. (via KevinMD.com) This just goes to show how ICDs can save the lives of those prone to life threatening cardiac arrhythmias. I dare say they are vastly underused in Malaysia. from the Malaysian Medical Resources Video: Football ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477570 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2477570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353921&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F08nCQqKnxoE%2F I’ve been hearing a bit of discussion about ICD-10 really helping to solve some of the problems of interoperability. Their contention is basically that ICD-10 is more precise in its description of the diagnosis and so therefore the information that is coded using ICD-10 will then provide more specific codified information that can then be rather easily shared. If you haven’t read about the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, here’s a good article about the transition. In theory, this is completely accurate. If everything went as outlined, we could really get a lot of interesting information for studies and for interoperability of health data out of our ICD-10 codes. The problem is that in reality ICD-10 is just going to cause even more problems for sharing quality data. Not ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353921 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:55:05 +0100 2353921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144706&cid=t_119051_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F68dPnbcYjlQ%2F   For something that is a little smaller than an i Pod, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator carries quite a punch. The implant has small wires running to the chambers of the heart. If there is any disruption like ventricular fibrillation the implant sends off a burst of electricity to force the heart into a normal rhythm. Before the (ICD) an attack of ventricular fibrillation was often deadly. The implant works on the same premise as the heart paddles that are used in most emergency rooms or trauma centers, to shock a patient back to life. The invention of the (ICD) has given people with heart problems, a freedom that a few years ago was unheard of. A young mother in Washington State, has a new lease on life due to her implant. She said, “That she rarely notices that the (ICD... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144706 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2144706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2108645&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=38130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tempdev.net%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D534 Remember that whole blog I had the other day about how the government should lead by example? Well today they pushed the implementation of ICD-10 codes by 2 years. See, I feel like no one takes any regulation in health care seriously because every time they release a regulation, it always ends up getting pushed a couple of years. If you’d like to read more about it, head on over to HHS Issues Final ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards Rules. My favorite quote was: “These regulations will move the nation toward a more efficient, quality-focused health care system by helping accelerate the widespread adoption of health information technology,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said.  “The greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets will fully support quality reporting, p... Implementing EMRs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2108645 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:09:47 +0100 2108645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1768915&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D1745 Kevin MD says Get Ready For ICD 10 in 2011. This prompts me to update my previous post on ICD 10 codes for your PDA/Smartphone. In summary here they are again, with some new additions. Use with the reader of your choice. Freeware options: Databases: PilotDB and MobileDB versions Handbase version Excel version (New! - courtesy of Palmdoc.net ) Text lists: Word/Text format TealDoc format iSilo format Web based: Online version from the WHO: bookmark this link in your PDA’s browser! I checked out how the WHO’s ICD 10 Online site looks in Blazer. I was initially concerned as it is a framed page but it renders OK in Blazer and the search and results display decently on the little screen. I am a believer in the Future is Online and that “cloud computing” will be a major ... The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1768915 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1768915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717065&cid=t_119051_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fprivacy-please.html A weekend trip to Maine for a family wedding turned into a business trip (and a tax deduction) when I was reminded that the 16th National HIPAA Summit and related Privacy Symposium were taking place at Harvard University this week. Since I was flying in and out of Boston, I hesitantly forked over the $150 extortion—er, change—fee to American Airlines and sprung for a hotel room, mostly so I could attend a heated debate—er, “roundtable discussion” (even though the table was not round)—about whether patient privacy rules were effective.I’m pretty sure it was worth the money. Boston usually is. While in the area, I also got a tour of athenahealth’s Watertown headquarters. I learned that “chief athenista” and new daddy Todd Park is on paternity leave for the next several mo... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717065 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:20:00 +0100 1717065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513578&cid=t_119051_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2FfhkGRysDM1A%2Fpost-tubal-ligation-syndrome.html Dr. Berger gives helpful advice to women with symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome that may help with them with insurance coverage for testing and treatment. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513578 Sat, 03 May 2008 22:54:30 +0100 2513578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419135&cid=t_119051_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F282993209%2F More and more children with congenital heart disease are receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to maintain proper heart rhythm. ICDs were first introduced for adults in the 1980s, but little is known about how well they work in children, who account for less than 1 percent of recipients. A report in the April 29 Journal of the American College of Cardiology summarizes the largest pediatric experience to date. It finds the devices to be life-saving, but also suggests that they tend to deliver more inappropriate shocks to children than to adults, making it important to watch children with ICDs closely. Bottom line is we need to carefully monitor children with devices and have more frequent equipment checks. Though an inappropriate shock would be uncomfortable, like a kick ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419135 Sat, 03 May 2008 21:25:22 +0100 1419135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1304936&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fhacking-icd-ham-radio-opinion.html Roy Poses wrote at "Hacking an ICD" that:An ICD is a device whose correct operation is critical for the health and safety of patients in whom it is implanted. One would think that the managers responsible for the design of such devices would have pushed to make sure that the operation of such devices could not be hacked or accidentally altered in ways that could put patients' health and lives at risk.Indeed.It is probably not well known that in addition to being a Medical Informaticist, I am also a ham radio enthusiast, licensed at the Extra class. I know more about electronics than most physicians - and most IT people in hospitals to boot, although that often didn't matter in the dysfunctional world of hospitals and health IT.As a medical informaticist and ham radio operator, I am concern... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1304936 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:28:00 +0100 1304936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1303215&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fhacking-icd.html Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are battery-powered, computerized electronic devices implanted in the body. They are designed to detect dangerous heart rhythms and administer a shock to the heart to stop these them. We have discussed these devices before, including a story about how one manufacturer suppressed data that suggested some of their ICDs were less reliable than heretofore thought. It appears that a new, and potentially worrisome adverse effect of these devices has just been discovered.An article to be published in the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy [Halperin D, Heydt-Benjamin TS, Ransford B et al. Pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators: software radio attacks and zero-power defenses. IEEE Symposium Security Privacy 2008; in press. Link here.] demons... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1303215 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:35:00 +0100 1303215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814188&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F21%2Fathletes-and-internal-defibrillators-can-they-live-together-in%2F Filed under: ResearchThe current standard for anyone with an implanted defibrillator is that they should avoid participating and competing in intense sports of any kind, but the younger the patient the less compliant they often are. And with more and more younger patients getting ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators) it's becoming more and more important to get a clear understanding of exactly how the devices are affected by physical activity. As of now doctors warn against playing in sports just because they have no idea how strenuous exercise, adrenaline, and physical jolts/impacts can affect defibrillators. They assume it's all risky, but they really don't know for sure, which is prompting new research. Seems like this is a quality of life issue, really. Taking care of yourself... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814188 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 814188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=658718&cid=t_119051_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fneuropsychology-abstract-of-day-adhd.html CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that geographic location plays a limited role in the reasons for the large variability of ADHD/HD prevalence estimates worldwide. Instead, this variability seems to be explained primarily by the methodological characteristics of studies.PMID: 17541055 [PubMed - in process] (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=658718 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:07:00 +0100 658718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612075&cid=t_119051_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F17%2Flittle-company-helps-big-industry%2F Filed under: Daily newsThere are many relationships in life where a big someone needs the help of a small someone to succeed, or to survive. It's like a celebrity thanking "all the little people." Not that they really do that anymore, but you get the idea. Well Cambridge Heart, a small company manufacturing heart stress test equipment is in a position to do just that for the slowing $6 billion dollar I.C.D. (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) industry.The industry has been struggling slightly due to difficulties balancing the high costs ($50,000 per patient) and limited lifespan of the equipment (approx 5 years) with figuring out exactly who needs these devices. As many as 80% of people who have an ICD won't "use" it in its lifetime.So where does Cambridge Heart come in? They provide ... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612075 Thu, 17 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 612075