Answer:
Step 1: Find the condition in the alphabetic index.
Begin the process by looking for the main term in the alphabetic index. After locating the term, review the sub terms to find the most specific code available. Instructional notes in this section will help guide the reader with information such as “see,” “see also,” “with,”"without,” “due to,” and “code by site.”
Step 2: Verify the code and identify the highest specificity.
The second step in the process is verifying the code in the tabular index. This is the alphanumeric listing which organizes codes by disease and injury. Additional detail is found here to create the most complete code. For example, the default code for asthma in the alphabetic index is J45.909. If is the reader selects this code without consulting the tabular index, an unspecified code would be reported.
Step 3: Review the chapter-specific coding guidelines.
The final step in locating a code is a review of the chapter-specific coding guidelines found before the alphabetic index of the ICD-10 manual. This index includes guidelines for specific diagnoses or conditions. Some of the more complex diagnosis codes can be found here including HIV and sepsis. Without consulting this section, important sequencing guidelines would be missed.
Hope this helps!!! :D
