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What is a 3M encoder? (more) - student
Posted: Aug 20, 2012
Some employers are wanting experience with 3M Encoders. Curious as to what that is and how coders use is in the work environment. Thanks so much.
Encoder - 3M
[ In Reply To ..]3M Encoder is the wonderful software program coders use. It takes place of manually looking every single code up in the ICD-9 Book. It acts like a coder would if they were looking up a diagnosis in the book and going down the line for specificity of the diagnosis.
Example: Physician documents sleep apnea.
Manually, you would look up apnea in the ICD-9 and then scroll down to see which apnea you need. Newborn? Psychogenic? Sleep. Then go to tabular.
With the Encoder you would enter the word apnea, it will bring up a list, newborn, psychogenic, sleep, sleep with, obstructive, and you click on the correct one. Choose it, and it puts it into your diagnosis list.
I love the Encoder. It works very well. It also is called a grouper, because it automatically groups the diagnoses into the correct DRG category. Of course, you always need the book for obscure codes, and to check deeper sometimes.
It is a tool, the coder is still the driver and the decider. You could not use an Encoder if you did not have a solid education in coding by the book.
so helpful - student
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you so much for that explanation. It was very informative. I am loving my coding classes and look forward to using my skills with today's technology. Have a good one.
3M vs Quadramed - Coder
[ In Reply To ..]3M is a decision-tree encoder. It asks questions that lead you to the right code.
There is another kind of encoder -- the electronic code book. QuadraMed encoders feature an electronic code book. With that, you select your codes much like you would in a paper code book, just online.
Once you get your codes entered, the software (both kinds) examines them for possible errors. For instance, if you cannot use a particular code with another, the software will alert you to that and you'll have to check it and make a decision. When it selects a DRG based on what you coded, it might suggest checking the record for other conditions that would increase the DRG (make it better).
This sounds very "smart," but in reality the software is just programmed to give you a warning every time it sees code xxx.x or a warning every time it sees DRG XYZ.
It will do this with CPT codes, too. It is programmed to alert when a procedure is included in another and shouldn't be, or if the diagnosis did not warrant doing that procedure. The coder then has to fix it or override it.
thanks - student
[ In Reply To ..]I also thank you for your response. Student = beginner = not knowing anything about the technology of coding beyond books. It sounds as if programs like 3M and Quadramed will be great to work with (as a tool) and will help us figure out correct choices. Have a good one.