MedEdPORTAL (Jul 2011)
Office Based Coding 101: It's a No Brainer
Abstract
Abstract This comprehensive training program is designed to introduce and enhance the evaluation and management of current procedural terminology coding skills for the office setting. The use of color, imagery, and small group learning aid retention of the information presented. The program stresses level of service code selection based on medical decision making. A unique color-coded audit form is used to maximize the visual learning experience. A PowerPoint presentation and 12 weekly maintenance-of-skills scenarios are additional teaching methods. The workshop is designed to be completed in 90 minutes. On the day of the workshop they complete a preintervention evaluation and a 10 item pretest. They are then divided into groups of five and given several copies of the color coded audit sheet to be used during the presentation and discussion. The PowerPoint slides aid in describing of the necessity to code properly and the elements that comprise the 99212–99215 and 99202–99205 levels of service. Interspersed are pretest questions. Groups are asked to discuss the level of service designation and reach consensus for each case scenario as they appear in the presentation. At the conclusion of the module, a 10 item posttest is administered and participants are asked to complete a program evaluation. Following the workshop learners receive a weekly maintenance of skills scenario by email. Evaluation is based on posttest performance. This coding workshop was developed as part of a Master's in Academic Medicine degree requirement at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. The workshop was presented to a group of Family Medicine residents. Pre- and posttest assessments were made around the workshop and at the end of 12 weeks. No significant improvement in ability to choose correct level of service was detected for the group, but participation was low despite incentives. Those individuals that participated in the maintenance of skills segment regularly showed statistical improvement in post-posttest scores. The color coded audit sheet is the product of over 10 years of modifications by all the authors.
Keywords
