Enhancing VRA Testing in Young Children By Marc Iskowitz The challenges of testing children between the ages of 6 months and 2 1/2 years make visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) a necessary component of pediatric assessment. By adopting certain improvements to their VRA technique, such…
Quiz Offers Coding Practice CCS Prep! Quiz Offers Coding Practice Deborah Day-Oliver RRA, CCS, CPC ADVANCE Columnist As we approach the end of the CCS Prep! segments, and as the certified coding specialist (CCS) and CCS physician based (CCS-P) exams draw closer, we decided…
The Key to Coding for Managed Care: The Key to Coding for Managed Care: ACT NOW By Brad Sweet Special to ADVANCE One of the fastest growing segments of health care today is the managed care marketplace. It seems that hardly a day goes…
Destiny Brings Police Officer Into the Field of Medical Transcription PROFESSIONAL Profile Destiny Brings Police Officer Into the Field of Medical Transcription ‘There’s room in medical transcription for a lot of different people. It’s never boring or stagnant.’ —Betty A. Honkonen, BS, CMT By…
Applying Epidemiology Studies to the HIM Classroom ISSUES in Education Applying Epidemiology Studies to the HIM Classroom Valerie J.M. Watzlaf, PhD, RRA ADVANCE Columnist Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations. It strives to determine why some…
When to Code Debridement As a Separate Procedure CODING Corner When to Code Debridement as a Separate Procedure Peggy M. Hapner, RRA, CCS ADVANCE Columnist Even though the current procedural terminology (CPT) code manual includes guidelines for assigning debridement as a separate procedure, many…
Can HIM Professionals Cross the Line into Case Management? Can HIM Professionals Cross the Line into Case Management? (Editor’s note: The following article is based on a seminar titled “Case Management: A New or Alternative Career Path for HIM Professionals,” presented by Maxine Uttenreither,…
National Medical Transcriptionist Week Is Here! COVER STORY National Medical Transcriptionist Week Is Here! Don’t Miss this Opportunity to Salute that Special MT in Your Life By Susan Pierce, CMT, ART Special to ADVANCE In 1985, Public Law 98-609 established “National Medical Transcriptionist Week”…
COVER STORY If Disaster Strikes * If Disaster Strikes Packaging Key to Specimen Transport Safety By Gail O. Guterl ADVANCE Assistant Editor The pilot and co-pilot hadn’t expected any trouble. The day was sunny– almost spring-like–and the cargo plane appeared to be running smoothly.…
CONTINGENCY FEE BILLING Is It an Endangered Species? By Joseph J. Russo, Esq. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently investigated irregularities of laboratory billing practices of Ohio hospitals, which was referred to as the “Ohio Hospital…