Medical Assistants and ICD-10-CM: Define Your Fate  

Category: ICD-10

The saying "the only constant is change" has never been more true than within the realm of health care.  Currently, change often comes at such a rapid pace that what is new and improved today is considered passé or outdated tomorrow.   While continual improvement is a worthy aim, the process of improvement can often be daunting, if not downright painful.    Without an understanding of the value of the improvement or the reason behind wanting to improve, it is difficult to find the motivation to move forward in a concerted effort towards the desired outcome.

Let's take, for example, the change of ICD-10-CM, which is slated for implementation October 1, 2013. Medical Assistants (MA) may pose the questions: "Why does the industry need to make this change?" "How will it be beneficial?"  "How will it affect my job?" and "What can I do to prepare?"

If you haven't asked these que...