Hospitals and clinics across the country have spent the last two years ramping up readiness efforts for the implementation of ICD-10, a deadline now set for October 2015. These providers have already invested significant amounts of both time and money into chiropractic EHR software that can best accommodate the system's tens of thousands of new codes into existing physician workflows. But despite the progress made, a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) found that just 10 percent of medical practices were adequately familiar with the new documentation requirements for ICD-10. In other words, physicians and staff in nearly 90 percent of the nation's clinics are currently unprepared for the new level of documentation needed by ICD-10.

As EHR Intelligence notes, if not drastically turned around within the next year or so, this level of unpreparedness could have disastrous consequences for both the industry and its patients. With the clock slowly but surely ticking, it's imperative that practices still not ready for ICD-10 adoption double down on their education efforts, or risk facing a backlog that could seriously hamper both an office's workflow and overall patient care.

"The daily demands of patient care can be overwhelming, making the ICD-10 deadline seem remote in comparison. But the extensive changes in documentation take time to learn, requiring practice and repetition to become automatic," writes the source. "Once ICD-10 is fully implemented, documentation that lacks sufficient detail has the potential to wreak havoc with cash flow. Rejected claims and claims that are reimbursed at a lower rate are real possibilities that can have a serious impact on your bottom line."

Outfitting your clinic with the most up-to-date chiropractic documentation software can ensure a smoother, more efficient transition to ICD-10 come next year.