Getting your ICD-10 training timed just right

Healthcare providers probably will want to outsource their ICD-10 training to Goldilocks.

They don't want to start training medical coders too late or they won't be able to code medical claims properly after Oct. 1, 2014. Start too early and those trained medical coders are likely to forget the knowledge that isn't being applied yet.

So training has to be timed just right.

But dual coding may require to get at least one medical coder trained in ICD-10 as soon as possible. First, read Bonnie Cassidy's seven-step plan for a smoother ICD-10 transition. She has a few good reasons to use ICD-10 codes in addition to ICD-9 codes:

1.  Testing and training programs will be more effective
2. Clinical documentation deficiencies will be exposed
3. Revenue impacts of ICD-10 coding can be analized

This is going to require one ICD-10 proficient coder as soon as possible. And if that medical coder is kept busy, there is little worry that they will forget their new knowledge. And that early adopter could become the in-house trainer.

Sounds good if healthcare providers can afford a medical coder who needs to spend less time coding claims and more time planning the ICD-10 transition. And ICD-10 trained medical coders are in demand. Keeping them happy and on staff will require work.

It may not be a matter of pay. The early adopters may be happy with a career path that meets their goals. Hopefully Goldilocks offers career counseling also.