Introduction to ICD Classification - Classification Systems (U2IP&DB) Essay

Introduction to ICD Classification - Classification Systems (U2IP&DB) - Essay Example e United States official system for assigning codes to procedures and diagnoses based on the World Health Organizations Ninth Revision, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9)† (MediLexicon, 2008, pg. 1). Four main steps are involved in the process of selecting the proper ICD-9-CM codes. These must be followed in detail in order to ensure that the diagnosis is accurately described by the code. The steps described in the following paragraph are necessary in order to establish the proper ICD-9-CM code (Pelaia, 2003, pg. 7). The first step in assigning the proper ICD-9-CM code is to â€Å"review the medical record documentation in order to properly identify the terms that best describe the patient’s diagnosis† (Pelaia, 2003, pg. 8). The second step in assigning the proper code is to â€Å"look up the terms that best describe the patient’s diagnosis in Volume 2 (the alphabetic index) and identify the ICD-9 code that best matches the diagnosis† (Pelaia, 2003, pg. 9). The third step in assigning the proper ICD-9-CM code is to â€Å"look up the selected code in Volume 1 (the tabular list) to make the code selection. Careful attention should be paid to ‘includes’ and ‘excludes’ notes and other instructions in Volume 1† (Pelaia, 2003, pg. 10). Finally, all information should be carefully reviewed and verified. It is extremely important for a medical coder or for a medical professional responsible for ensuring that the correct diagnostic codes are being recorded for the procedures performed at a medical facility is using an up-to-date code book. Failing to use a current code book can result in a variety of mishaps that can easily be avoided. If a person loses his or her current code book, it should be replaced immediately. First of all, it is essential that medical personnel keep proper records in order to stay compliant with legal regulations. Using an old code book could result in the wrong diagnosis being recorded for a patient which could