Emerging Medical Trends in Response to COVID-19

New medical trends are emerging as preparations are underway for the incoming financial, organizational, and human burden that will be thrust upon hospitals and medical facilities across the nation due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus and its corresponding disease (COVID-19). Health services worldwide are taking exceptional measures in order to better adapt to the pandemic, prompting current trends in healthcare impacting organizational change. With certain problematic developments unfolding in foreign contexts determined to be ahead of the US in the timeline of coronavirus transmission, administrative officials in domestic medical facilities are undertaking efforts to shore up perceived shortcomings at local and regional levels.

As such, there has been a shift in emphasis from non-urgent medical interventions (i.e. elective procedures for aesthetic or functional purposes) to testing and the bolstering of intensive care capabilities. The call of the medical profession in its response to the coming health crisis appears to be unequivocal: “All hands on deck!”

Reallocation of Resources

The healthcare system will begin to brace for impact. They’ve started reallocating resources and rerouting efforts to meet the current and burgeoning need. Refer to our previous article, “How the Coronavirus Will Impact the Availability of Resources in Medical Facilities,” for more information.

Medical Trends

Importantly, medical facilities have begun to delay less complicated, low-risk procedures. With surety of compensation in favor of COVID-19 cases associated with heightened urgency but also intrinsic complexity and risk. The shift from “high-margin” procedures to the expensive and precarious handling of coronavirus patients is accompanied by issues. They feel the cost, but can’t quantify it.

Intensive care units are receiving extra beds and supplies. Reports from other countries show that providing extensive access to ICU services will prove a determining factor in the management of potentially fatal cases.

Getting Ahead of the Shortage

Medical facilities are also proactively combatting a perceived staffing crisis at all levels. Ranging from nurses to doctors and all manner of specialists and experts. They’re sending varieties of competent workers to the front lines. To brace for the inevitable extent of incoming new and prospective patients.

The collective channeling of energy and resources to identify, process, and treat COVID-19 patients cannot be overstated. A few factors predicate the long-term effectiveness of the healthcare response to COVID-19. Namely, ample supply lines, robust mobilization of competent workers, on-site preparedness and organization. And the undistorted flow of information, conditioned by the wide availability of proper testing and managing of patient information. It is incumbent upon all healthcare professionals to do their part as confirmed cases become more prevalent. Screening, testing, processing, and treatment are each characterized by their own spheres of responsibility and competence. All levels of medical action will bear equal weight in the combined response to the COVID-19 crisis.

It Begins with Testing

The proper flow of information begins with testing. Though the scarcity of material resources (ventilators, masks, etc.) and competent staff are also cause for concern. It is no less important that efforts go toward the testing and processing of new and prospective patients. Proper screening on the part of processing staff is also consequential.

Medical Trends

Administrators and medical specialists alike will be called upon to contribute to the extraordinary effort required to face the challenge posed by COVID-19. By the same token, the exceptional circumstances of a pandemic demand attentive and responsible action on the part of medical coding professionals. Medical trends dictate the increase in case frequency will necessitate enhanced numbers of specific coding tasks. Attentiveness to precise classifications and distinctions will aid in the proper transfer of information. A recent supplement issued by the CDC on February 20 regarding the “coding of encounters related to coronavirus” details the most important official coding assignments related to COVID-19 diagnosis (CDC, 2020). Our previous article, “Coding for Coronavirus Outbreak: Interim Guidance from the CDC,” explores the evolution of COVID-19, as well as explains the official coding guidelines laid out by the CDC.

In particular, here are three salient points on current medical trends in healthcare impacting organizational change:

  1. Precise codes for illness caused by COVID-19 include those for Pneumonia, Acute Bronchitis, Lower Respiratory Infection, and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) (see document, p. 1-2).
  2. In the instance of non-confirmed cases involving patients who exhibit related signs and symptoms, coders are to assign the appropriate code(s) for each of the signs and symptoms (e.g. for cough, fever, etc.) and specifically not to assign the code B97.29, even if “suspected,” “possible,” or “probable” COVID-19 is documented.
  3. Additional codes may be necessary to fully document various scenarios in accordance with the official ICD-10-CM guidelines.

Need COVID-19 Training?

Do you want to learn how to apply the new 2022 ICD-10 COVID-19 codes? Sign up for our COVID-19 ICD-10 Coding Learning Path. Find out how to code Coronavirus infections, symptoms, screening, and more. The webinar provides an update to the FY2022 Official Coding Guidelines for COVID-19.

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Medical Trends

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