Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Complications from DVT kill about 200,000 Americans each year. Now that I have your attention, let me share with you the definition, symptoms, and preventions for this condition. The condition DVT involves blood clots in the deep veins, usually in the calf or thigh. The danger occurs when a clot breaks off from the leg vein and moves (now called an embolism) into the lungs (now called a pulmonary embolism). This is a deadly situation. Symptoms of DVT can include pain, redness, and heat at the site of the clot. Ways to prevent DVT include moving one’s legs frequently, especially on long car trips and during plane travel; avoiding tight, restrictive clothing on the legs; and discussing risks and preventive measures with one’s physician, clinical assistant, or nurse when having surgery or a hospitalization. For more information, including some short videos, go to www.realage.com and to www.preventdvt.org.
Nail Fungus
Nail fungus (onychomycosis) of the feet is becoming an epidemic, probably because of the difficulty in getting rid of it as well as the propensity for it to recur. Onychomycosis of the feet is usually caused by dermatophytes. Our busy modern lifestyles have contributed to the risk of contracting nail fungus.
One way to keep foot nails healthy is to wear shoes that fit properly. This lessens the trauma to nails, which can weaken their resistance to fungus. Wearing different shoes from day to day also helps, as it allows shoes at least 24 hours to dry before being worn again. Other preventive measures include avoiding walking barefoot in public places, especially gyms and places where lots of people gather and dampness occurs; letting feet dry well; and changing socks frequently. Nail fungus loves dark places and sweaty feet. When manicures are performed, it is smart to check that the salon soaks the instruments in a disinfectant solution that kills nail fungus, and not just alcohol, which will not kill it.
Medical assistants should be aware of foot health in all patients, but especially in patients with diabetes, circulatory compromise, and peripheral vascular disease. Statistics suggest that one third of all people between 50 and 70 years of age suffer from nail fungus and that half of all persons over 70 have it.
Teaching patients to take care of their feet to avoid nail fungus, informing them about treatment options if they do contract it, and encouraging diligence and persistence when treating nail fungus are all good medical practices. To learn more about nail fungus, visit the Mayo Clinic website at www.mayoclinic.com or go to www.medicinenet.com, the Diseases and Conditions pages, and look under “N” for Nail Fungus.
When Will We Finally See ICD-10?
Revisions to the outdated and ineffective ICD-9 CM system are long overdue. Some experts claim the current ICD-9 CM is downright dangerous for the U.S. healthcare system.
We are currently using terminologies and classifications from the 1970s. Health and medicine have changed dramatically since ICD-9 CM was written, and these codes just do not work anymore. The code standards set by HIPPA in 1996 cannot be met, and neither can the criteria for a procedural coding system from HCVHS in 1993 nor the criteria for the new services and technologies that must be acknowledged in CMS payment systems. Major health concerns such as tracking data on public health issues and reducing medical errors depend on a system of accurate data that we are not able to provide with the antiquated ICD-9 CM system.
It is hard to believe that this journey toward adopting the ICD-10 CM began over a decade ago! It was almost three years ago that NIVHS and Congress recommended that CMS begin the adoption process to replace the 30-year-old ICD-9 system. This massive undertaking is obviously very difficult, and it is critical that it be done right.
For more information, consult the CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) website at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/icd10des.htm. To read the Position Statement of the American Health Information Management Association on the ICD-10, click on www.ahima.org.
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