Author Topic: Inpatient/obs missing orders  (Read 3560 times)

Ashpr

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Inpatient/obs missing orders
« on: June 11, 2014, 02:07:43 AM »
I'm lost in this case, Please help!......A patient has been physically in the hospital for 38 hours.  The patient is listed as an outpatient in terms of patient class and there are no observation charges on the claim.  A review of the medical record confirms that there was no written order for either inpatient admission or observation.  Please explain what factors in terms of hospital processes, procedures and/or policies could potentially be contributing to this apparent anomaly.



Thanks



Sriram_Sub

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Re: Inpatient/obs missing orders
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2014, 05:23:24 AM »
If the hospital record is not specifying anything about ordering an inpatient admission or an observation, what else does it show to justify the patient's stay in the hospital for 38 hours?
Sriram

Ashpr

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Re: Inpatient/obs missing orders
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2014, 04:04:57 PM »
A tricky question right? I have no IDEA!

PMRNC

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Re: Inpatient/obs missing orders
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2014, 06:35:42 PM »
You don't say if there was a claim? Are you looking for coding? what exactly is the question? As medical billers and/or coders we aren't really in a position where we need to know "WHY" in that scenario, we need only what we need to do our jobs.
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RichardP

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Re: Inpatient/obs missing orders
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2014, 07:20:39 PM »
Please explain what factors ... could potentially be contributing to this apparent anomaly.

A:  Fell through the cracks in a large county hospital in Los Angeles (treats mostly indigent folks).

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Inpatient/obs missing orders
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2014, 07:20:39 PM »