AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2016 Quarter 4; ICD-10-CM NEW/REVISED CODES
Choking Game
A 16-year-old female patient was brought to the emergency department (ED). The ED physician documented that she was disoriented and also noted that she had bloodshot eyes and visible signs of marks around her neck. Once the patient was stable, she admitted that she played the choking game, allowing one of her close friends to tighten a scarf around her neck to help her “feel good” because she thought this was a better option than smoking marijuana, since marijuana would show up on drug tests. The provider’s final diagnosis is disorientation due to intentional choking while trying to get high. What is the correct code assignment for disorientation as a result of playing the choking game? ...
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Article Overview
This article covers an ICD-10-CM coding update related to the choking game, including the addition of a more specific activity code and background on the behavior, associated risks, and documentation considerations. It is intended for coding professionals and clinical documentation staff who need to understand how the topic is referenced in medical records and how the updated classification affects recordkeeping. The article also includes a brief case-based discussion that places the topic in an emergency department context without broadly reviewing other coding systems.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate identification of this type of documentation affects data quality, surveillance, and reporting of injuries and symptoms associated with risky activities among children and adolescents.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames an ICD-10-CM update related to the choking game
- Why more specific activity documentation matters for tracking cases
- What general clinical and documentation context may appear in records involving this behavior
- How the article uses a case scenario to illustrate the topic in an emergency department setting
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation improvement professionals
- Emergency department coding staff
Codes Discussed
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