Doctors now diagnose in code. ICD code, that is.

“Hi, it’s Dr. Smith, are you taking consults today?” the voice on the other side of my short-range hospital phone said.  I recognized the caller’s name as one of the new hospital doctors, known as hospitalists. “Of course,” I said, “What have you got?” I guess some groups have a specific doctor for the day “take” the consults.  If I am in the hospital, I am always taking consults. “Great,” the hospitalist says. “I have a 67-year-old female with chronic systolic heart failure and diabetes type 2 (uncontrolled) who presents with acute blood loss anemia likely from upper GI bleed.  She was given two units of blood in the ER, and we wanted to get you on board.” As I write down the patient’s name and room number, I try to remember what it was like before everyone spoke in billing codes.  “Acute blood loss anemia” was not something that I was taught about specifically in medical school, or even residency.  We learned about bleeding ulcers, and bleeding varices, and bleeding arteriovenous malformations, and diverticular bleeding, and a bunch of other diseases that cause bleeding.  We learned about iron-deficient anemia, and pernicious anemia, and sickle cell anemia, but there was not even a page in the textbook about “acute blood loss anemia.” Could I handle the management of this rare and unusual disease? Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media gu...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician GI Hospital Hospitalist Source Type: blogs