Due to increased patient volumes in the facility, the coding manager at Communit
ID: 127172 • Letter: D
Question
Due to increased patient volumes in the facility, the coding manager at Community Hospital is faced with an increased discharge not final bill (DNFB) rate. The management staff of the HIM department has brainstormed the following list of potential solutions to rectify this problem. Create an affinity diagram using the categories and potential solutions.
Potential Solutions
• Implement computer assisted coding (CAC)
• Send coders home to work remotely
• Implement flex time
• Perform a work imaging study to see how the coders are spending their time
• Hire a coding support person to handle the clerical activities
• Have all coders code only one patient type (i.e., inpatients, outpatients, emergency room, ancillary)
• Hire more coders
• Provide more coding training
• Change encoders
• Change the coding workflow
• Train coders to code more than one patient type
• Send all coders to a regional coding meeting
Explanation / Answer
Affinity diagram based on categories and potential solutions in order to organise team members and enhance in work load:
Category 1: Organising existing coder team
A. Train coders to code more than one patient type
B. Implement computer assisted coding
Category 2: updating skills
A. Provide more coding training
B. Send all coders to a regional coding meeting
C. Have all coders code only one patient type that is inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, ancillary.
Category 3: Providing flexibility to work from home
A. Implement flex time
B. Send coders home to work remotely
C. Change the coding workflow
Category 4. Increase in team members
A. Change coders
B. Hire a coding support person to handle clerical activities
Category 5: Evaluation of changes implemented
A. Perform a work imaging study to see how the coders are spending their time.