Education shall set you free

The most important aspect of your ICD-10 transition plan is education. Pretty much everyone in the institution needs to re-tool their skill set to accommodate ICD-10. You could train the trainer and have that person or persons train everyone else, in which case you lose the productivity of both the trainer and those being trained. Or, you can outsource your training to an outside party. Timing is crucial. You do not want to do it all now and have people forget it before go-live. On the other hand, you do not want to cram it all in at the last minute. As the expression goes you can eat the elephant one bite at a time. That is, education is a multi-year process. It even continues after go-live to ensure accuracy and compliance. You may need to add people or use out-sourced resources to get you over the hump. Trust us to help you with this process. If outsourcing your ICD-10 training, here are some points to consider. Feel free to use them as you evaluate all the various training options, including TrustHCS!

• Past training experience
• Use of certified, experienced trainers
• Individualized training programs
• Pre-assessment, as well as ongoing progress assessments
• Available resources to deal with back-logs and productivity issues
• Multi-media tools used both on-line and on-site
• Comprehensive training for executives, physicians, coders, revenue cycle etc.

Cancer Registry: The Forgotten Issue?

HIM Directors are keenly aware of the transition to ICD-10 (see our blogs). Meaningful use of EHRs, 5010 billing changes, RAC audits and staffing issues are front and center on the list of threats facing healthcare today. HIM departments and CIOs are confronted with an ever-expanding list of “to dos” coupled with decreasing margins and cries to cut expenses.

In light of all the pressing issues, have you remembered to plan for and implement important changes in Cancer Registry? We hope so. Since the new schedule for abstracting and editing started in Jan. 2011.

The new burden on registries is enormous. Not only are the schedules changing but all four reference books are in flux. Here’s the TrustHCS official list of registry changes:

• Changes in schedules
• Changes in all four reference books
• Changes in cancer reporting requirements and standards
• Changes in cancer staging
• Additional field and software changes
• New rapid reporting requirements will be implemented and enforced

While changes are difficult to manage, they are here for a reason. Together they make reporting more current and provide important information leading to better cancer treatments and saved lives. It’s that old “saved lives” concept that makes changes hard to ignore.

Don’t let Cancer Registry be forgotten in your organization. Set the stage with your senior management to get the resources you need before it becomes a crisis. Be proactive and implement the change. Somebody has to do it! We’re here to help.

Registry Change: Ready or Not

It seems building a meaningful EHR at the same time you are converting to ICD-10 at the same time recovery auditors and core measure reviewers are breathing down your neck is not enough. This year, the added pleasure of substantial changes to Cancer Registry needs to fit into your spare time.

When I say substantial changes, I really mean substantial! These changes are as big, if not bigger than those anticipated for coding. They include:

• Changes to all reference books
• Changes to reporting requirements and standards
• Changes to cancer staging
• Changes to reporting software
• Additions to the required data fields
• New rapid reporting requirements
• And more!

Now that these changes are in place, how are you dealing with them? Did you plan adequately for them? Did you evaluate your staffing and educate your registrars? Did you communicate your needs up and down the chain of command?

In the wake of all this change, many registry departments are woefully behind and barely keeping up with new cases. For others, things are fine and you have successfully navigated the disruption. Either way, let us know how 2010 cancer registry changes are impacting you and your organization.

And if you’ve developed any new best practice processes, we’re all ears.