The ICD-10 implementation deadline delay has left many in the healthcare industry confused about next steps to take. While some organizations will use this additional time to revise their plans, others will stick to their original timelines. The industry website ICD10 Monitor provided the following suggestions on how healthcare organizations can make the most of the delay:

Continue dual coding

According to the source, many of ICD-10's earliest adopters have been dual coding for at least a year. The delay will allow for an easier transition for healthcare organizations that may need to move slower. There is also the opportunity to cross-train more staff and reinforce more educational initiatives. 

"Dual coding delivers tremendous advantages in coder accuracy, payor testing and financial impact assessments," the source states. "More time for dual coding with ICD-10, even if it only involves a few cases per week, can offer a benefit windfall for health information management (HIM)." 

Improve clinical documentation integrity (CDI)

The majority of healthcare providers already have some type of CDI program in place, but ICD-10 will require greater specificity. ICD10 Monitor recommends that organizations review charts of their top 10 to 15 procedures and recode them under ICD-10. They can then use this information to make adjustments for documentation improvement or template redesign. 

Review and adjust 

New programs need to be continually reviewed and updated to improve efficiency. While the latest delay is frustrating, it may be beneficial to take advantage of this extra year.

So what should your practice do with the extra year before the ICD-10 deadline? There is no simple solution to fit the needs of every healthcare organization. What you can do however, is purchase chiropractic EHR software that is ICD-10 compliant.