[gerinursetara]

I'm new at the MDS thing, and I'm looking for a code sheet to use in LTC that will keep me from having to keep going into the BIG book and looking up the codes. I suppose I could go through and make one up on my own time, but I thought maybe someone had something they use, and could "borrow" it to me. Thanks!! Tara

[Rexie68]

I made up my own...of the ones I use most frequently (hip fracture, constipation (564.0), GERD (530.81), ambulatory dysfunction, HTN, UTI (599.0) and on and on..you'll start to remember them) but it's hard to give the exact code without having the exact diagnosis, because even a hip fracture can be coded down to what part of the hip is broken, HTN with or without CHF, etc. You basically have to make up your own of what you need most frequently, but keep that big blue book handy! I flagged my book, with common dx, so that it's easier to find those last two digits of the code. Good luck!!

[Daytonite]

I'm a coder. I can honestly say that I've never seen anything that you are asking for that is commercially produced. Almost all the coders I know and have worked with, including myself, make their own "cheat sheets" of the codes they use the most. Eventually, because we use them so much, we end up memorizing the codes anyway. I also have to tell you that every coding supervisor discourages this practice because of the danger of copying a code onto these cheat sheets incorrectly. Coding guidelines require that a code be verified by checking it in the coding manual each time. What you can do is mark pages in the coding manual so you can turn to them quickly. Use post-it notes. My code books are loaded with them.

[cotjockey]

We use an online program called Revenue Cycle Pro...you type in the diagnosis and it brings up a list of possible codes. I wish we could talk our doctors into being more specific...things like "diabetes" or "dementia" just don't give enough information.

[dbsue1954]

THE ICD9 WEBSITE HELPS ME OUT ALOT. IT IS QUICKER AND EASIER TO FLIP SCREENS AND LOOK IT UP THAT WAY I THINK. I ALSO HAVE CREATED MY OWN LIST OF FREQUENTLY USED CODES, TOO. TRY THE WEBSITE AND SEE IF THAT HELPS SPEED THINGS UP A BIT. IT IS ALWAYS UPDATED TOO.