ED observation billing

I've always documented an ED Obs note for patients I am purposefully keeping in the ED for an extended period of time to observe/re-examine/re-test them to determine admission or discharge. Management now telling me that I can obs just about everyone who is in the ED for >3 hours. If it takes 3 hours to get labs/rads back, then I count that time as the 3 hour observation and create an obs note. I don't have to purposefully "place" the pt in observation specifically to recheck something... Read more
Source: Student Doctor Network - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: Emergency Medicine Source Type: forums