tci Part B Insider - 2009 Issue 43
PART B CODING COACH: Eliminate Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Uncertainty With Clear Diagnosis Parameters
Tip: Other conditions 'mimic' ventilator-associated pneumonia and can lead to misdiagnosis. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a difficult diagnosis to make, but once the doctor diagnoses it in a patient, your E/M options may increase. Maintain diagnostic accuracy and pinpoint E/M levels with these from-thefield VAP coding tips. Be Precise When Reporting VAP When you come across a case of suspected VAP (997.31), consider how long the patient has been on a ventilator before showing signs of pneumonia. In general, VAP refers to pneumonia that occurs more than 48 hours after endotracheal intubation, according to the Cleveland Clinic (www...
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