A physician or other qualified health care professional (QHP) reviews an electronic medical record (EMR) that contains a computed tomography (CT) scan report, an operative note, and a pathology report that came from three different specialties within the same hospital. Is this EMR considered a single unique source because all documents are from the same entity (the hospital) or three independent unique sources of data because they came from three different specialties? ...
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Article Overview
This article addresses a coding and documentation question about whether multiple reports found in an electronic medical record should be treated as one or more data sources when evaluating medical decision making. It is aimed at physicians, other qualified health care professionals, and coding professionals who work with E/M documentation. The discussion focuses on the general concept of unique source recognition, review of outside records, and how independent interpretation of diagnostic tests may relate to the data element in medical decision making.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding how record sources are counted affects documentation review and medical decision making analysis for evaluation and management services. The article helps readers distinguish between hospital-level record review and source-level distinctions within that review, which can influence how the data element is understood.
What You Will Learn
- How electronic medical record documents may be considered when reviewing outside records
- How the concept of a unique source applies to medical decision making data review
- How independent interpretation of diagnostic tests may relate to record review in a general sense
- How hospital-based records are discussed in the context of source counting
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Other qualified health care professionals
- Medical coders
- Documentation specialists
- Compliance staff
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