Clinical documentation is the cornerstone for all patient medical records. This information should be of the highest quality to allow for optimal patient outcomes as well as supporting research, medical coding and other uses of the medical record. Its purpose is to adequately relate the patient’s current and historical conditions and treatments with primary focus placed on situations that affect the current medical encounter. It also supports the provider’s defense should the case become a legal issue.

Webinar’s Goals

Review of 7 criteria that all entries in the medical record should include
Impact of documentation on coding & claims
Establishing a CDI team

  • Significance of abnormal lab results: querying the provider.
  • Measurement of lesions, when taken and inclusion of margins. Why it matters & how reimbursement may be affected.
  • Start & stop times & methodology for infusions & discrepancies in billing. Complete reporting for administration and substance.
  • Diagnostic testing and medications should be supported in a diagnosis. Unsupported documentation may cost you money.
  • Depth of wounds and cause should be clear. Clarity needed for both depth and origin of wound.
  • Severity of illness. Hospitals and payers are increasingly scrutinizing patient severity. Lack of detail costs money.
  • Diagnosis present on admission? Certain conditions do not generate additional revenue if occurrence after admission.

Areas Covered

The ICD-10 code set requires explicit documentation of conditions & treatments in order to support the severity of patients under treatment as well as allow for the significant specificity required by this code set. Ambiguous documentation and generic coding will no longer guarantee reimbursement and may generate a claims denial for lack of medical necessity. In this session, we will review the theory of high-quality clinical documentation which has the support of healthcare regulatory guidelines and peer-review research.

Additional consideration involves medical outcomes that may result in legal action. When clinical documentation is vague, missing key elements and conflicting statements, the provider may find that he/she is handicapped in supporting medical decisions and patient results, particularly when the result is a negative outcome for the patient.

In today’s healthcare environment, many patients have become educated consumers of medical services. They are more inclined to request their own medical record, carefully review explanation of benefits from payers, and request a review of any information they deem to be incomplete or questionable.

Target Audience

  • Coding
  • Billing
  • Revenue Cycle
  • Physicians
  • Mid-level providers
  • Nurses
  • Claims follow-up
  • Compliance
  • Auditors

Venue: Recorded Webinar

Enrollment option

Speaker

Dorothy D. Steed
Dorothy Steed is an Independent Healthcare Consultant and Educator.   She has served as Medicare specialist and a physician audit supervisor for hospital systems with 47 years of experience in healthcare. She is an instructor at a state technical college in Georgia and provides auditing & training in both facility and physician services. She is credentialed…

Related Events

The Future of Telehealth
Compliance Webinars
Live Webinar

The Future of Telehealth

Telehealth completely changed in 2020 when the Public Health Emergency was put into effect. Now in 2025, many of those temporary changes are expiring and the telehealth business has exploded. These methods of communication between provider and patient are loved by many, and the convenience of telehealth in healthcare has become a common occurrence. This webinar will be reviewing the current parts of telehealth that are being considered permanent in the 2026 Physicians Fee Schedule Final Rule and the new evaluation and management services that are new codes for CPT in 2025 related to telehealth. We will find out what the do’s and don’ts of telehealth that are here to stay, as well as implementing these new codes and regulations into your practice. These new rules and codes are important to any one currently offering telehealth as well all who are considering it to add it to their practice in order to be compliant and maximize reimbursement for the services performed. Areas Covered in this Webinar The CMS Telehealth List and how to use it Medicare’s rules G codes for Medicare telehealth CPT addition of 17 codes to the E/M section for Telehealth Education for office staff Implementation on your software programs Who Will Benefit Physicians Advanced Nurses Physicians Assistant Billers Coders Compliance Managers Administrators Case Managers Claims Processors

HIPAA Breach Risk Assessment for Ransomware Attacks
Compliance Webinars
Live Webinar

HIPAA Breach Risk Assessment for Ransomware Attacks

HIPAA Breach Risk Assessments determine whether a Ransomware attack constitutes a HIPAA Breach that triggers Breach Notification Rule reports and notifications. A Ransomware attack is automatically presumed to be a HIPAA Breach unless you do a HIPAA Breach Risk Assessment that demonstrates the attack resulted in only a low probability of compromise to the affected protected health information (PHI). This webinar explains how to do a Ransomware HIPAA Breach Risk Assessment. The Problem Solved by this Webinar The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) declared that a breach of unsecured PHI is presumed to have occurred when electronic protected health information (ePHI) is encrypted as the result of a ransomware attack on a HIPAA-regulated entity (health care provider, health plan, health care clearinghouse, or business associate). The entity must then comply with the applicable breach notification provisions, including notifying affected individuals without unreasonable delay, the Secretary of HHS, and the media (for breaches affecting over 500 individuals), in accordance with HIPAA breach notification requirements. However, it is not a breach if the ransomware-victimized entity can demonstrate that there is a low probability that the encrypted ePHI has been compromised. This webinar explains how to do that. Areas Covered in the Webinar A Breach Risk Assessment can determine whether a ransomware attack is a breach of unsecured ePHI, triggering embarrassing reports and notifications. Factors that can be applied in performing a Breach Risk Assessment. OCR’s guidance about specific factors that can demonstrate a low probability of compromise to ePHI encrypted by a ransomware attack. How to perform a Breach Risk Assessment step-by-step. How to document a Breach Risk Assessment and why you must document it. What to do if you cannot demonstrate a low probability of compromise to ePHI. Why You Should Attend This Webinar Attend this webinar to learn how to perform a Breach Risk Assessment with a special emphasis on ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks may have only a low probability of compromising ePHI. A Breach Risk Assessment can determine whether a ransomware attack resulted only in a low probability of compromise to ePHI and provide Covered Entities and Business Associates with Documentation to overcome the presumption that the ransomware attack was a Breach.. Who Will Benefit Health Care Covered Entities HIPAA Compliance Officials – Privacy and Security Officers Chief Compliance Officer Practice Managers Health Information Technology Supervisors Risk Managers Group Health Plan Administrators Third Party Group Health Plan Administrators Covered Entity Senior Management and Owners Health Care Providers practicing as individuals or in small groups Attorneys for Covered Entities – In-house and Outside Counsel Business Associates HIPAA Compliance Officials – Privacy and Security Officers Chief Compliance Officer Business Associate Senior Management and Owners Risk Managers Attorneys for Business Associates – In-house and Outside Counsel

HIPAA in 2026: What Changed, What’s Coming, and What It Means for Your Organization
Compliance Webinars
Live Webinar

HIPAA in 2026: What Changed, What’s Coming, and What It Means for Your Organization

Over the last few years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights has made modifications to patient privacy requirements. The agency is on track for enhancing care coordination, empowering patients, and reducing administrative burden. In addition, on the Security Rule side, the agency released a proposed rule to overhaul significant requirements and make cybersecurity safeguards a priority. Knowing what an organization must do to meet these new regulatory requirements can be challenging. The webinar will address what has already changed in privacy, cover proposed Privacy Rule modifications, and cover the Security Rule overhaul proposals. Timeline and compliance implications will be covered. After completing this webinar, a Covered Entity or Business Associate will have a clear understanding of what has changed and what will change. Objectives Who Must Comply with HIPAA Requirements? What are the HIPAA Security and Privacy Rules? What Has Already Changed in Privacy? What are the Proposed Privacy Rule Modifications? What are the proposed Security Rule modifications? What is the Timeline & Compliance Implications? What recommendations should be followed now? Q&A Webinar Highlights Learn from an expert on the implementation of the HIPAA rules Understand what the HIPAA management process currently requires Learn how to implement these changes for your organization Who Should Attend Compliance Officer HIPAA Privacy Officer HIPAA Security Officer Medical/Dental Office Managers Practice Managers Information Systems Manager Chief Information Officer General Counsel/lawyer Practice Management Consultants Any Business Associates that access protected health information

Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Revenue Cycle Functions: What You Need to Consider
Compliance Webinars
Live Webinar

Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Revenue Cycle Functions: What You Need to Consider

Many providers have considered outsourcing functions in the revenue cycle. Like all businesses, some third-party companies do excellent work for providers, but there may be others that look for ways to take advantage of their provider. Outsourcing has its own pros & cons that must be carefully considered. We will review major common areas that providers must weigh strategically before making a decision whether to outsource and selecting the best partner for your needs. It is vital providers know exactly who is handling their claims and what they are doing with their information. Definitions of third-party vendors Legal responsibilities of the provider Common industry trends Important questions to ask vendors & contractors Who Will Benefit Physicians Practice managers Medical assistants Nurses Compliance staff Billers Coders Revenue Cycle Risk Management Mid level providers