NOV 03, 2015
Injury and Trauma Cases: How to Apply Encounter Status
Question: When should I use the required A vs. D in the seventh position for ICD-10 when caring for patients with injury or trauma? I’ve heard varying opinions on this.
Answer: Report an A for the initial encounter. Use this when the physician actively treats the condition during the initial encounter (e.g., ED encounter, evaluation by new physician).
Report a D: Subsequent encounter after the physician performs the initial treatment, but the patient continues to receive care during the healing or recovery phase.