The final rule implementing ICD-10-CM/PCS recommended 50 hours of training for hospital inpatient coding professionals (and 8 to 10 for other coding professionals)  to move from competence with ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS. That’s a lot of training, with a significant price tag! Make sure your training dollars pay off. Here are six guiding principles for designing your ICD-10 training strategy:

1) Customize training to the role

Determine who needs to learn both ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, verses learning just ICD-10-CM for example. Question the status quo and intentionally target training. If you routinely assign ICD-9-CM procedures on outpatient visits for example, investigate why you are doing that and determine if that will still be necessary after implementation of ICD-10.

2) Assess competence and tailor training to the individual

Adult learners learn best when training is relevant and useful, with a clear application. Don’t waste people’s time (and your training dollars) by making them study something they already know or won’t ever use.

3) Provide training at the right time

Timing is key. Train too early, without continued practice and reinforcement,  and you’ll spend more training dollars in re-training  information that they’ve forgotten. Make sure you’ve mapped out a training plan for coders that ensures continued hands-on with ICD-10-CM/PCS from the time they begin training in earnest right through the implementation date.

4) Leverage the full implementation time span

This is not a time for procrastination. Plan ahead, working backward from a go live date and build in sufficient time to allow Coders in particular to truly gain proficiency in working with the new code sets. For instance, you should build in a cushion of time (I’d say 2-3 months at least), following completion of formalized training, before the go live date, to focus on more advanced application of the ICD-10 code sets. This will help the coders achieve proficiency in applying the new code sets and gain confidence, before they have to jump in and start doing it in a production environment.

5) Employ varied training methodologies

Adult learners have a wide variety of learning styles. For optimum effectiveness (and the biggest bang for your buck) use multiple different methods (webinars, online, study groups – i.e. verbal, visual, interactive, etc.).

6) Leverage training organization-wide

ICD codes are used throughout hospitals, in nearly every department. In developing your customized role-based training, consider how the learners themselves might contribute to the training effort. Those who require expert level knowledge of ICD-10-CM/PCS may be able to help train others who need a more moderate understanding. Keep in mind, one of the best ways to learn something is to have to teach it to someone else.

Mary H. Stanfill - Vice President of Health Information Management Services

January 3, 2012